Leviticus 9:20
and placed these on the breasts. Aaron burned the fat portions on the altar,
and placed these on the breasts.

The fat portions were laid upon the breasts of the peace offering before being presented to the Lord. The fat belonged exclusively to God, while the breast and right thigh were assigned to the priests after the required offering rites (Leviticus 7:30–34). This arrangement upheld both God’s claim to the best portion and His provision for those who served at His altar. The shared peace offering also expressed restored fellowship between the Lord, the priesthood, and the worshiper.

Exo 29:22-25 Take the fat from the ram, the fat tail,…
Exo 29:26-28 Take the breast of the ram of Aaron’s ordination…
Lev 8:25-29 And Moses took the fat—the fat tail, all the fat…

Aaron burned the fat portions on the altar,

Aaron offered the fat to the Lord as commanded, acknowledging that the finest and richest portion belonged to Him. The smoke ascending from the altar testified to Israel’s acceptance before God through the sacrifice He had appointed. The priestly portions that remained would sustain Aaron and his sons in their sacred service, while the offering itself pointed beyond the Levitical priesthood to Christ, whose complete self-offering secured lasting peace with God.

Lev 7:31 The priest is to burn the fat on the altar…
Exo 29:13 Take all the fat that covers the entrails and the lobe…
Lev 3:3-5 From the peace offering he is to bring a food offering…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The leader of the Israelites, who is overseeing the consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests.

2. Aaron
The brother of Moses, who is being consecrated as the high priest.

3. Aaron's Sons
They are being consecrated alongside Aaron to serve as priests.

4. Israelites
The people of God, witnessing the consecration ceremony and the offerings being made.

5. Tabernacle
The sacred place where the offerings are made, representing God's dwelling among His people.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Obedience
The detailed instructions followed by Moses and Aaron emphasize the importance of obedience to God's commands. In our lives, we should strive to follow God's guidance as revealed in Scripture.

Holiness and Consecration
The consecration of Aaron and his sons highlights the need for holiness in those who serve God. As believers, we are called to live lives set apart for God's purposes.

The Role of Sacrifice
The offerings made by Aaron point to the necessity of sacrifice in approaching God. This foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, reminding us of the cost of our redemption.

God's Presence Among His People
The tabernacle represents God's desire to dwell among His people. Today, through the Holy Spirit, God dwells within us, guiding and empowering us for His service.

Community Witness
The Israelites witnessed the consecration and offerings, reminding us that our faith and actions are a testimony to those around us. We should live in a way that reflects God's glory to others.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the obedience of Moses and Aaron in Leviticus 9:20 challenge us in our daily walk with God?

2. In what ways does the consecration of Aaron and his sons relate to our calling as a "royal priesthood" in 1 Peter 2:9?

3. How can we apply the concept of holiness and consecration in our personal and communal lives today?

4. What does the role of sacrifice in Leviticus 9 teach us about the significance of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross?

5. How can we, as a community of believers, better reflect God's presence to those around us, similar to how the Israelites witnessed the events in Leviticus 9?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 29
This chapter provides the instructions for the consecration of the priests, which is being carried out in Leviticus 9.

Hebrews 7
Discusses the priesthood of Jesus, drawing parallels to the Levitical priesthood and highlighting the fulfillment of the Old Testament priestly system in Christ.

1 Peter 2:9
Refers to believers as a "royal priesthood," connecting the priestly role in Leviticus to the spiritual role of believers today.
A Sign Expected and ReceivedR.M. Edgar Leviticus 9:1-24
A Solemn BenedictionW. H. Jellie.Leviticus 9:1-24
Aaron in the Duties of His OfficeJ. A. Seiss, D. D.Leviticus 9:1-24
Advent GloryLeviticus 9:1-24
Blessing the PeopleF. W. Brown.Leviticus 9:1-24
Christ's Priestly BlessingRichard Newton, D. D.Leviticus 9:1-24
God's Acceptance of the SacrificesChas. Simeon, M. A.Leviticus 9:1-24
Gracious FireDean Law.Leviticus 9:1-24
Of the Divers Occasions of the Sending of Miraculous Fire Upon the SacrificesA. Willet, D. D.Leviticus 9:1-24
Sacrificial Preparation for Jehovah a AppearingW. H. Jellie.Leviticus 9:1-24
Subject: God's Glory Manifested in the Blessedness of His PeopleR.A. Redford Leviticus 9:1-24
The Fire in the GospelA. Willet, D. D.Leviticus 9:1-24
The Miraculous FireF. W. Brown.Leviticus 9:1-24
The Priest At the AltarW. Clarkson Leviticus 9:8-21
Aaron's First Priestly ServicesJ.A. Macdonald Leviticus 9:8-24
People
Aaron, Moses
Places
Teman
Topics
Aaron, Altar, Breast-pieces, Breasts, Burned, Burnt, Fat, Maketh, Offered, Perfume, Pieces, Placed, Portions, Smoke
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Leviticus 9:19-21

     5166   liver and kidneys

Leviticus 9:20-21

     5140   breasts

Library
"Then the Fire of the Lord Fell. " 1 Kings xviii. 38
It was fire that came direct from heaven. It was not the first time it had fallen; we read of it in Leviticus ix. 24 as coming from before the Lord, and consuming the sacrifice. It was God's way of showing His power and his favour, and it was something that could neither be imitated nor produced by anyone else besides Jehovah. I.--THIS FIRE CAME AT A TIME OF APOSTACY. The nation, headed by King Ahab, had gone very far away from God. They needed some signal display of God's power to win them back
Thomas Champness—Broken Bread

Section 26-36. That the Son is the Co-Existing Word
Section §26-36. That the Son is the Co-existing Word, argued from the New Testament. Texts from the Old Testament continued; especially Ps. cx. 3. Besides, the Word in Old Testament may be Son in New, as Spirit in Old Testament is Paraclete in New. Objection from Acts x. 36; answered by parallels, such as 1 Cor. i. 5. Lev. ix. 7. &c. Necessity of the Word's taking flesh, viz. to sanctify, yet without destroying, the flesh. 26. But that the Son has no beginning of being, but before He was made
Athanasius—Select Works and Letters or Athanasius

Leviticus
The emphasis which modern criticism has very properly laid on the prophetic books and the prophetic element generally in the Old Testament, has had the effect of somewhat diverting popular attention from the priestly contributions to the literature and religion of Israel. From this neglect Leviticus has suffered most. Yet for many reasons it is worthy of close attention; it is the deliberate expression of the priestly mind of Israel at its best, and it thus forms a welcome foil to the unattractive
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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