Topical Bible: Offerings: Figurative

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In the Bible, offerings are not only literal sacrifices or gifts presented to God but also carry significant figurative meanings. These symbolic offerings often represent deeper spiritual truths and principles that are central to the Christian faith.

1. Spiritual Sacrifices:

The New Testament expands the concept of offerings to include spiritual sacrifices. Believers are called to present their lives as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. Romans 12:1 states, "Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship." This figurative offering emphasizes a life dedicated to God, characterized by obedience, holiness, and service.

2. Praise and Thanksgiving:

Praise and thanksgiving are also depicted as offerings to God. Hebrews 13:15 encourages believers, "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name." This verse highlights that verbal expressions of gratitude and worship are considered sacrifices, reflecting a heart aligned with God's will.

3. Faith and Good Works:

The Bible often portrays faith and good works as offerings pleasing to God. In Philippians 2:17 , Paul describes his ministry as a drink offering, saying, "But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you." Here, Paul likens his efforts and sufferings for the Gospel to an offering, underscoring the value of selfless service and faithfulness.

4. Generosity and Support:

Generosity towards others is another form of figurative offering. In Philippians 4:18 , Paul acknowledges the gifts from the Philippians, stating, "I have received everything in full and have an abundance. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God." This passage illustrates how acts of kindness and support for fellow believers are seen as offerings that honor God.

5. Prayer:

Prayer is frequently depicted as a form of offering. In Revelation 8:3-4 , the prayers of the saints are symbolically presented as incense before God: "Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, rose up before God from the hand of the angel." This imagery conveys the idea that prayers are a pleasing aroma to God, akin to the incense offerings in the Old Testament.

6. Love and Sacrifice:

The ultimate figurative offering is the sacrificial love demonstrated by Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:2 exhorts believers, "And walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God." Christ's self-giving love is the model for believers, who are called to emulate His sacrificial nature in their relationships with others.

In summary, figurative offerings in the Bible encompass a wide range of spiritual acts and attitudes, including living a holy life, expressing praise, performing good works, showing generosity, engaging in prayer, and embodying Christ-like love. These offerings reflect a heart devoted to God and a life lived in accordance with His purposes.

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Psalm 51:17
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
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Jeremiah 33:11
The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endures for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, said the LORD.
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Romans 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
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Philippians 4:18
But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God.
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Hebrews 13:15
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
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Strong's Hebrew

5927. alah -- to go up, ascend, climb
... bringing (2), brings (1), brought (66), burn (2), burnt offerings (1), came ... a great
variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative (as follow ...
/hebrew/5927.htm - 8k

Library

It is a Wretched Slavery which Takes the Figurative Expressions of ...
... For he who follows the letter takes figurative words as if they were proper ... a sacrifice,
does not carry his thoughts beyond the customary offerings of victims ...
/.../augustine/on christian doctrine in four books /chapter 5 it is a wretched.htm

How Throughout all the East the Services of Tierce, Sext, and None ...
... For that the morning whole-burnt offerings and evening sacrifices were offered every
day continually in the temple, although with figurative offerings, we can ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter iii how throughout all.htm

Whether a Suitable Cause Can be Assigned for the Ceremonies which ...
... cause, according as they were intended for Divine worship; and a figurative or mystical ...
This was denoted in the offerings and sacrifices, by the fact that man ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether a suitable cause can.htm

But the Ambiguities of Metaphorical Words, About which I am Next ...
... For he who follows the letter takes figurative words as if they were proper ... a sacrifice,
does not carry his thoughts beyond the customary offerings of victims ...
/.../augustine/on christian doctrine in four books/chapter 9 but the ambiguities.htm

Whether the Old Law Comprises Ceremonial, Besides Moral, Precepts?
... no need for the Law to contain ceremonial precepts about certain figurative actions ...
the goddess of fruits), as some say: because, at first, offerings were made ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the old law comprises.htm

Index of Subjects.
... Historical types, 581, seq. Holocausts, or burnt-offerings, 598. ... Interpretation,
its human and divine sides, 526; of figurative language, 527, seq. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barrows/companion to the bible/index of subjects.htm

Of those Things which a Man of God Spake by the Spirit to Eli the ...
... Wherefore then hast thou looked at mine incense and at mine offerings with an impudent ...
are said of that ineffable nature not in proper but in figurative words. ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 5 of those things which.htm

On Baptism.
... Bridegroom afterwards separates those who have come in to the figurative marriage ...
For just as the offerings brought to the heathen altars [579] , though simple ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/lecture iii on baptism.htm

The Destruction of Jerusalem and the Coming of Christ. Ch. 21:5-38
... difficult to interpret; first of all, because it is phrased in figurative terms,
the ... of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and offerings, he said ...
/.../erdman/the gospel of luke an exposition/i the destruction of jerusalem.htm

Introduction.
... the works of God, and constitute the basis of all figurative language, whether in ...
The histories, offerings, and prophecies of the Old Testament are figures of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arnot/the parables of our lord/introduction.htm