What is the meaning of Deuteronomy 18:3? This shall be the priests’ share God Himself sets apart a portion for those who serve at the altar, underscoring that ministry is sustained by His provision rather than by human ingenuity (Numbers 18:8-11; Deuteronomy 10:9). By calling this allotment a “share,” the Lord affirms both His generosity and His justice: priests forego land inheritance, so He gives them a guaranteed income. In 1 Corinthians 9:13-14 Paul reaches back to this precedent to show that gospel workers today are likewise entitled to live from their ministry—always by God’s design, never by coercion. from the people who offer a sacrifice Worship and giving travel together. When Israelites drew near with an offering (Leviticus 7:29-30), they not only honored God but also enabled the priesthood to function. Malachi 3:10 echoes this principle for every generation: withholding from God harms both priestly service and personal blessing. Hebrews 13:15-16 shows the New-Covenant parallel—praise and generosity rise together as a single fragrance before the Lord. whether a bull or a sheep Large or small, costly or modest, every acceptable animal required the same priestly portion (Leviticus 1:2; 22:19). The Lord refuses partial treatment; He values obedience over size. Psalm 69:31 reminds us that a humble offering can delight Him more than “an ox or a bull with horns and hooves.” Our giving today—great or little—carries equal significance when offered in faith. the priests are to be given The wording leaves no room for negotiation; the gift is mandatory. Leviticus 7:31-34 codifies it, and Galatians 6:6 applies the principle: “The one who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor”. God protects His servants from dependence on popular favor, rooting their sustenance in His law rather than in people’s moods. the shoulder Often associated with strength and leadership, the shoulder portion (Leviticus 7:32) symbolizes God’s recognition of the priest’s heavy load of intercession. When Samuel set apart the shoulder for Saul at a covenant meal (1 Samuel 9:24), he echoed this theme: the one entrusted with responsibility receives sustaining strength from God’s table. the jowls The jaw or cheek—instrument of speech—highlights the priest’s calling to teach (Deuteronomy 33:10). As Israel’s spiritual mouthpiece, the priest is fed from the very part that signifies proclamation. A negative counter-example in 1 Samuel 2:12-17 shows Eli’s sons seizing meat greedily; their abuse of this provision led to judgment, reminding us that God’s gifts must be received with gratitude, not grasped with entitlement. and the stomach The stomach (or maw) is the seat of inward appetites. Setting it aside for the priest stresses purity in inner motives. Leviticus 3:3-4 required the fat around the entrails to be burned to the Lord, yet the stomach itself is given to the priest—balancing devotion to God with care for His servant. Philippians 3:19 warns against those “whose god is their stomach,” urging ministers today to keep desire in check even while legitimately living from the altar. summary Deuteronomy 18:3 illustrates God’s thoughtful provision for His ministers: every time an Israelite worshiped through sacrifice—bull or sheep—the priest received strength (shoulder), speech (jowls), and sustenance (stomach). The arrangement protected priests from want, safeguarded worship from neglect, and reminded the people that giving to God always overlaps with caring for those who serve Him. For believers today the pattern endures: worship that costs us nothing is incomplete, and those who labor in the Word are meant to be honored and supported—cheerfully, consistently, and as an act of obedience to the Lord who owns every portion. |
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