How does the wave offering in Leviticus 8:28 connect to New Testament teachings? Setting the Scene—Leviticus 8:28 in Context “Then Moses took them out of their hands and burned them on the altar with the burnt offering; they were an ordination offering for a pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD.” (Leviticus 8:28) • The animals’ fat portions, the right thigh, and specific breads had just been “waved” before the LORD (v. 27). • Moses now places those same portions on the altar. The entire act—wave plus burning—completes the priests’ consecration and rises as a “pleasing aroma.” What the Wave Offering Conveyed • Presentation: The item is lifted toward heaven and symbolically placed into God’s hands. • Acceptance: God returns it to His priest, showing the offerer has been received. • Consecration: Everything waved and then burned is wholly devoted; nothing is held back. Foreshadowing Christ’s Perfect Offering • Presentation and Acceptance – As the wave offering was first placed in priestly hands, Christ placed Himself entirely in the Father’s will (John 17:19). – The resurrection is the Father’s public declaration that the Son’s self-offering was accepted (Acts 2:32). • “Pleasing Aroma” Fulfilled – “Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.” (Ephesians 5:2) – Hebrews 9:12 underscores that He entered the true sanctuary “by His own blood,” securing eternal redemption. • Permanent Priesthood Established – The Levitical priests needed repeated ordinations; “the word of the oath… appoints the Son, who has been made perfect forever.” (Hebrews 7:28) New Testament Echoes of the “Pleasing Aroma” • 2 Corinthians 2:15—believers now carry “the sweet aroma of Christ.” • Philippians 4:18—generosity offered to God is “a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice.” • 1 Corinthians 15:20—Christ’s resurrection as “firstfruits” mirrors the waved sheaf of Leviticus 23, linking all wave offerings to His victory over death. Believers as the Continual Wave Offering • Romans 12:1—“offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.” • 1 Peter 2:5—“a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” • Practical outworking: – Daily surrender of plans, resources, and desires. – Service and stewardship waved before God, then turned outward in ministry to others. Putting It All Together The wave offering of Leviticus 8:28 prefigures the once-for-all self-offering of Jesus. As the waved portions were lifted, accepted, and consumed for a “pleasing aroma,” so Christ presented Himself, was accepted by the Father, and became the eternal fragrant sacrifice. New-covenant believers, united to Him, now live as ongoing wave offerings—lives lifted to God, received in Christ, and poured out in priestly service to the world. |
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