Thank-offerings, also known as thanksgiving offerings, are a significant aspect of the sacrificial system in the Old Testament, reflecting the Israelites' gratitude towards God for His blessings and deliverance. These offerings are a subset of the peace offerings, which are detailed in the Levitical law. The thank-offering is a voluntary act of worship, expressing thankfulness for God's provision, protection, and answered prayers.

Biblical Foundation

The primary scriptural basis for thank-offerings is found in the book of Leviticus. Leviticus 7:11-15 outlines the regulations for peace offerings, including thank-offerings: "This is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings that one may present to the LORD: If he offers it as an expression of thankfulness, then along with the thank offering he is to offer unleavened cakes mixed with oil, unleavened wafers coated with oil, and well-kneaded cakes of fine flour mixed with oil. Along with his peace offering of thanksgiving, he is to present an offering with cakes of leavened bread. From the cakes he must present one portion as a contribution to the LORD; it belongs to the priest who sprinkles the blood of the peace offering. The meat of the sacrifice of his peace offering of thanksgiving must be eaten on the day he offers it; none of it may be left until morning."

Purpose and Significance

Thank-offerings serve multiple purposes within the Israelite community. They are a tangible expression of gratitude to God, acknowledging His sovereignty and benevolence. These offerings also foster a sense of community and fellowship, as they are shared meals that include the offerer, the priests, and often the poor or needy. This communal aspect underscores the unity and mutual support within the covenant community.

The thank-offering is distinct from other sacrifices in that it is not primarily for atonement or purification but is an expression of a heart filled with gratitude. It reflects a personal and communal acknowledgment of God's goodness and faithfulness.

New Testament Perspective

While the New Testament does not prescribe thank-offerings in the same sacrificial terms as the Old Testament, the principle of thanksgiving remains central to Christian worship and life. The Apostle Paul frequently exhorts believers to give thanks in all circumstances. For instance, in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, he writes, "Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

The New Testament broadens the concept of thank-offerings to encompass a lifestyle of gratitude, where believers are encouraged to offer their lives as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1). This spiritual act of worship transcends the ritualistic offerings of the Old Testament, emphasizing a heart posture of continual thankfulness.

Theological Implications

Thank-offerings highlight the importance of gratitude in the believer's relationship with God. They remind the faithful of the necessity to recognize and respond to God's grace and provision. The practice of thank-offerings in the Old Testament foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, through whom believers have access to a life of perpetual thanksgiving.

In summary, thank-offerings in the biblical context serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of gratitude, community, and worship in the life of God's people. They point to a deeper spiritual truth fulfilled in Christ, encouraging believers to live lives marked by thankfulness and praise.8426. todah -- thanksgiving
... 1), choirs (2), confession (1), hymns of thanksgiving (1), praise (1), sacrifices
of thanksgiving (1), thank offering (2), thank offerings (4), thanksgiving (18 ...
/hebrew/8426.htm - 6k

Sacrifice Renewed
... Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye have consecrated yourselves unto the Lord,
come near, and bring sacrifices and thank-offerings into the house of the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/sacrifice renewed.htm

The Divine Liturgy of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark, the ...
... Accept, O God, by Thy ministering archangels at Thy holy, heavenly, and reasonable
altar in the spacious heavens, the thank-offerings of those who offer ...
//christianbookshelf.org/various/early liturgies/the divine liturgy of the.htm

Thankful Service.
... Such Churches are thank-offerings, signs of our gratitude to Him who on earth was
homeless, who was born in a stable, who had not where to lay His head. ...
/.../the life of duty a years plain sermons v 2/sermon lix thankful service.htm

"The Last Things"
... Accordingly, when sacrifices, whether of the altar or of alms, are offered for the
baptized dead, they are thank offerings for the very good, propitiations for ...
/.../augustine/handbook on faith hope and love/chapter xxix the last things.htm

What a Sacrifice Is, and what are the Species of Sacrifice.
... trespass. Whereas the eucharistic sacrifices were the oblation, the
drink-offering, thank-offerings, first-fruits, tithes. [Thus ...
/.../melanchthon/the apology of the augsburg confession/part 30 what a sacrifice.htm

Epistle xi. --To Hermammon.
... 3. Afterwards he subjoins the following:"Splendid surely were the thank-offerings,
then, which Macrianus brought them [884] for that empire which was the ...
/.../dionysius/the works of dionysius/epistle xi to hermammon.htm

Chel. The Court of the Women.
... "At the south-east was the court of the Nazarites: because there the Nazarites boiled
their thank-offerings, and cut their hair, and put it under the pot.". ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 29 chel the court.htm

Manasseh's Sin and Repentance
... And he repaired the altar of the Lord, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and
thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the Lord God of Israel.'"2 ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/manassehs sin and repentance.htm

The Benefit to the Souls of the Dead from the Sacraments and Alms ...
... When, then, sacrifices either of the altar or of alms are offered on behalf of all
the baptized dead, they are thank-offerings for the very good, they are ...
/.../augustine/the enchiridion/chapter 110 the benefit to the.htm

Concerning the Festivals; and How Each Day of Such Festival is to ...
... metropolis, because of the temple therein to be built, and keep a festival for eight
days, and offer burnt-offerings, and sacrifice thank-offerings, that we ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 10 concerning the festivals.htm

Thank-offerings (3 Occurrences)
Thank-offerings. Thank-offering, Thank-offerings. Thanks .
Multi-Version Concordance Thank-offerings (3 Occurrences). ...
/t/thank-offerings.htm - 7k

Willing-hearted (3 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 29:31 And Hezekiah answereth and saith, 'Now ye have filled your hand
to Jehovah, come nigh, and bring in sacrifices and thank-offerings to the ...
/w/willing-hearted.htm - 7k

Thank-offering (5 Occurrences)
Thank-offering. Thankless, Thank-offering. Thank-offerings . Multi-Version
Concordance ... (DBY YLT). Thankless, Thank-offering. Thank-offerings . ...
/t/thank-offering.htm - 8k

Thank (68 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 29:31 Then Hezekiah answered, Now you have consecrated yourselves to
Yahweh; come near and bring sacrifices and thankofferings into the house of ...
/t/thank.htm - 27k

Dedicated (37 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 29:31 Then Hezekiah answered, Now you have consecrated yourselves to
Yahweh; come near and bring sacrifices and thankofferings into the house of ...
/d/dedicated.htm - 19k

Hezeki'ah (120 Occurrences)
... 29:31 Then Hezekiah answered and said: 'Now ye have consecrated yourselves unto
the LORD, come near and bring sacrifices and thank-offerings into the house of ...
/h/hezeki'ah.htm - 35k

Monthly (11 Occurrences)
... peace offerings"; minchah, "offering," "present"; zebhach shelamim, "sacrifice of
peace offerings"; zebhach ha-todhah, "thankofferings"; zebhach nedhabhah ...
/m/monthly.htm - 93k

Burnt-offerings (86 Occurrences)
... Chronicles 29:31 Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye have consecrated yourselves
unto Jehovah; come near and bring sacrifices and thank-offerings into the ...
/b/burnt-offerings.htm - 38k

Consecrated (101 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 29:31 Then Hezekiah answered, Now you have consecrated yourselves to
Yahweh; come near and bring sacrifices and thankofferings into the house of ...
/c/consecrated.htm - 38k

Answereth (144 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 29:31 And Hezekiah answereth and saith, 'Now ye have filled your hand
to Jehovah, come nigh, and bring in sacrifices and thank-offerings to the ...
/a/answereth.htm - 36k

What is a peace offering / fellowship offering? | GotQuestions.org

Who was King Manasseh in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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