Topical Bible: Offerings: Meat: Ordinances Concerning

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In the Old Testament, the concept of offerings is central to the worship and religious practices of the Israelites. Among these offerings, the "meat offering," more accurately referred to as the "grain offering" in modern translations, holds significant importance. The term "meat" in the King James Version is derived from the Old English word for food in general, not specifically animal flesh. The grain offering is detailed primarily in the book of Leviticus and is part of the broader sacrificial system instituted by God for His people.

Biblical Foundation

The ordinances concerning the grain offering are primarily found in Leviticus 2 and Leviticus 6:14-23. The grain offering was a voluntary act of worship, an expression of devotion and thanksgiving to God. It was distinct from animal sacrifices and was often offered alongside them.

Components and Preparation

The grain offering consisted of fine flour, oil, and frankincense. Leviticus 2:1 states, "When anyone presents an offering of grain to the LORD, his offering shall consist of fine flour. He is to pour olive oil on it, put frankincense on it." The offering could be presented in various forms: uncooked, baked in an oven, cooked on a griddle, or fried in a pan (Leviticus 2:4-7).

Salt was a required component of the grain offering, symbolizing the covenant between God and Israel. Leviticus 2:13 instructs, "You must season all your grain offerings with salt. You must not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offering. You are to add salt to each of your offerings."

Prohibitions

Certain ingredients were prohibited in the grain offering. Leviticus 2:11 states, "No grain offering that you present to the LORD shall be made with leaven, for you are not to burn any leaven or honey as an offering made by fire to the LORD." Leaven and honey, which can ferment, were seen as symbols of corruption and were thus excluded from offerings made by fire.

Purpose and Symbolism

The grain offering served multiple purposes. It was an act of worship and dedication, acknowledging God's provision and sovereignty. The offering of fine flour, a staple of sustenance, symbolized the offerer's life and labor, given back to God in gratitude. The inclusion of oil and frankincense added elements of richness and fragrance, enhancing the offering's value and symbolism.

The grain offering also had a communal aspect. A portion of the offering was burned on the altar as a memorial portion, while the remainder was given to the priests for their sustenance (Leviticus 2:2-3, 10). This sharing underscored the community's support for the priesthood and the mutual dependence between the people and their spiritual leaders.

Priestly Instructions

Leviticus 6:14-18 provides additional instructions for the priests regarding the grain offering. The priests were to eat the remainder of the offering in a holy place, emphasizing the sanctity of the offering and the holiness required of those who partook in it. The passage also reiterates that the offering is most holy, like the sin offering and the guilt offering.

New Testament Perspective

While the New Testament does not prescribe the continuation of the grain offering, its principles of thanksgiving, dedication, and acknowledgment of God's provision remain relevant. The grain offering foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, who fulfills the law and embodies the perfect offering to God. Believers are encouraged to offer themselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1), reflecting the spirit of devotion inherent in the grain offering.

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Exodus 29:40,41
And with the one lamb a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil; and the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering.
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Exodus 30:9
You shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall you pour drink offering thereon.
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Exodus 40:29
And he put the altar of burnt offering by the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation, and offered on it the burnt offering and the meat offering; as the LORD commanded Moses.
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Leviticus 2:1
And when any will offer a meat offering to the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour; and he shall pour oil on it, and put frankincense thereon:
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Leviticus 5:11,12
But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil on it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon: for it is a sin offering.
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Leviticus 6:14-23
And this is the law of the meat offering: the sons of Aaron shall offer it before the LORD, before the altar.
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Leviticus 7:9-13,37
And all the meat offering that is baked in the oven, and all that is dressed in the frying pan, and in the pan, shall be the priest's that offers it.
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Leviticus 9:17
And he brought the meat offering, and took an handful thereof, and burnt it on the altar, beside the burnt sacrifice of the morning.
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Leviticus 23:13,16,17
And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire to the LORD for a sweet smell: and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of an hin.
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Numbers 4:16
And to the office of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest pertains the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, and the daily meat offering, and the anointing oil, and the oversight of all the tabernacle, and of all that therein is, in the sanctuary, and in the vessels thereof.
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Numbers 5:15,18,25,26
Then shall the man bring his wife to the priest, and he shall bring her offering for her, the tenth part of an ephah of barley meal; he shall pour no oil on it, nor put frankincense thereon; for it is an offering of jealousy, an offering of memorial, bringing iniquity to remembrance.
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Numbers 8:8
Then let them take a young bullock with his meat offering, even fine flour mingled with oil, and another young bullock shall you take for a sin offering.
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Numbers 15:3-16,24
And will make an offering by fire to the LORD, a burnt offering, or a sacrifice in performing a vow, or in a freewill offering, or in your solemn feasts, to make a sweet smell to the LORD, of the herd or of the flock:
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Numbers 18:9
This shall be your of the most holy things, reserved from the fire: every oblation of theirs, every meat offering of theirs, and every sin offering of theirs, and every trespass offering of theirs which they shall render to me, shall be most holy for you and for your sons.
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Numbers 28:5,9,12,13,20,21,26-31
And a tenth part of an ephah of flour for a meat offering, mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil.
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Numbers 29:3,4,14
And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram,
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Library

The Cavils of the Pharisees Concerning Purification, and the ...
... in the Temple defiled all kinds of meat that touched ... before eating - at least of
sacrificial offerings - to Solomon ... if in this Law Rabbinic ordinances came into ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxxi the cavils of.htm

Traditionalism, Its Origin, Character, and Literature - the ...
... in the customary grace at meat,' as propounded ... it includes all the ordinances concerning
idol-worship ... the various classes of sacrifices, offerings, and things ...
/.../chapter viii traditionalism its origin.htm

The Deputation from Jerusalem - the Three Sects of the Pharisees ...
... the Sadducees would have paid it from free-will offerings. ... well as its abstinence
from wine, meat, and all ... also, what may seem more ethical ordinances, such as ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter ii the deputation from.htm

The Lord's Day --The Worship of the Apostolic Church --Its ...
... elsewhere""Let no man judge you in meat, or in ... 216:3] As the sacrifices, offerings,
and other ... that He was not otherwise present in these symbolic ordinances. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter i the lords daythe.htm

Acts XXI
... of which they have heard concerning you are ... burnt-offerings, sin-offerings, and
meat-offerings, [522] and ... blotted out the handwriting of ordinances which was ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xxi.htm

"The House of Israel"
... to keep all the commandments and ordinances of Jehovah. ... indeed is the Lord's answer:
"In tithes and offerings. ... the store-house, that there may be meat in Mine ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 59 the house of.htm

The Morning-Meal in the Pharisee's House - Meals and Feasts among ...
... to do so, and sit down to meat without this ... would He publicly and openly set aside
ordinances of man ... was to prevent the eating of sacred offerings in defilement ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xii the morning-meal in.htm

Scriptural Types.
... New Testament of the "carnal ordinances" of the ... When we raise inquiries concerning
the interior nature ... friendship, was prescribed for all meat offerings (Lev.2 ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxvii scriptural types.htm

The Coming of a Deliverer
... The sacrifices and offerings of the Mosaic ritual were ever pointing ... of the One toward
whom all the ordinances of the ... They gave Me also gall for My meat; ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 58 the coming of.htm

"Lo, I Come": Exposition
... thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have ... and the Aaronic priesthood,
and all the ordinances of it ... but as thou wilt." It was his meat and his ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/lo i come exposition.htm