Topical Bible: Offerings: To be Made to God Alone

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In the biblical context, offerings are acts of worship and devotion, signifying the believer's reverence, gratitude, and submission to God. The Scriptures emphasize that offerings are to be made exclusively to God, underscoring His sovereignty and the monotheistic foundation of the faith.

Old Testament Foundations

The concept of offerings is deeply rooted in the Old Testament, where God establishes specific guidelines for His people. In the Pentateuch, offerings are detailed extensively, particularly in the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy. Leviticus 1:2-3 states, "Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When any of you brings an offering to the LORD, you may bring as your offering an animal from the herd or the flock." This directive highlights that offerings are to be directed solely to the LORD, the covenant God of Israel.

The first commandment, as recorded in Exodus 20:3 , "You shall have no other gods before Me," reinforces the exclusivity of worship and offerings to Yahweh. The Israelites are repeatedly warned against idolatry and the temptation to offer sacrifices to foreign gods, as seen in Deuteronomy 12:31 : "You must not worship the LORD your God in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the LORD hates."

Types of Offerings

Various types of offerings are prescribed in the Old Testament, each with specific purposes and meanings. These include burnt offerings, grain offerings, peace offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings. Each type is a means of maintaining a right relationship with God, expressing repentance, thanksgiving, or seeking atonement.

The burnt offering, for instance, is a voluntary act of worship, symbolizing the complete surrender to God. Leviticus 1:9 describes it as "a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD." The grain offering, detailed in Leviticus 2, is an expression of thanksgiving and dedication, while the sin and guilt offerings, outlined in Leviticus 4 and 5, provide a means for atonement and reconciliation with God.

New Testament Continuation

In the New Testament, the principle that offerings are to be made to God alone is reaffirmed. Jesus Christ, in His teachings, emphasizes the importance of sincerity and purity in worship. In Matthew 4:10 , Jesus responds to Satan's temptation by quoting Deuteronomy, saying, "Away from Me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.'"

The ultimate offering in the New Testament is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ Himself, who fulfills and transcends the Old Testament sacrificial system. Hebrews 10:10 declares, "And by that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." This once-for-all sacrifice underscores the sufficiency and exclusivity of Christ's offering to God on behalf of humanity.

Spiritual Offerings

Beyond physical sacrifices, the New Testament expands the concept of offerings to include spiritual acts of worship. Romans 12:1 urges believers, "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 passage calls Christians to dedicate their entire lives to God as an act of worship, reflecting the heart of offering as a personal and spiritual commitment.

Conclusion

Throughout the Bible, offerings are consistently portrayed as acts of devotion that are to be directed solely to God. This principle is foundational to the biblical understanding of worship and reflects the monotheistic essence of the faith. The transition from the Old Testament sacrificial system to the New Testament's spiritual offerings highlights the continuity and fulfillment of God's redemptive plan through Jesus Christ.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 22:20
He that sacrifices to any god, save to the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Judges 13:16
And the angel of the LORD said to Manoah, Though you detain me, I will not eat of your bread: and if you will offer a burnt offering, you must offer it to the LORD. For Manoah knew not that he was an angel of the LORD.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Separation to God.
... May he not now congratulate himself, and claim some measure of merit, seeing he
has rendered to GOD an acceptable service ... The offerings to be made on the ...
/.../taylor/separation and service/part i separation to god.htm

Whether a Vow is an Act of Latria or Religion?
... is written (Is.19:21): "(The Egyptians) shall worship Him with sacrifices and offerings
and they ... Reply to Objection 3: A vow is made to God alone, whereas a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether a vow is an.htm

How Easy Our Saviour Has Made the Increase of Love.
... part, and had place amongst the holy offerings; and the ... regards us again; and the
more lovingly God casts his gracious eyes upon our soul, which is made to his ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter ii how easy our.htm

That after Reflecting on the Downfall of those who had Worshiped ...
... of those who had worshiped Idols, he made Choice of ... He considered, therefore, on
what God he might rely ... and served them with sacrifices and offerings, had in ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/chapter xxvii that after reflecting on.htm

Princely Service.
... sympathy; He wants the gifts and offerings that are ... of others for whom larger provision
has been made. But GOD makes no mistakes; according to their service He ...
/.../taylor/separation and service/part iii princely service.htm

Second Reason for the Incarnation. God
... because in every way the things made fell far ... they performed, as was said above,
offerings of brute ... full of irreligion and lawlessness, and God alone, and His ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/section 11 second reason for.htm

Whether the Acts of the Orders are Rightly Assigned in the Text?
... alone exercises acts immediately directed to God; because to ... whole Church belongs
to him alone who consecrates ... Reply to Objection 3: The offerings made by the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the acts of the 2.htm

Fifth Sunday in Lent
... For all these things hath my hand made, and so all ... with the blood of rams and other
offerings, and with ... of Christ, and that to those for whom God has ordained ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/epistle sermons vol ii/fifth sunday in lent.htm

The Son Alone Knows How to Praise the Father Worthily. In Christ ...
... inasmuch as the Father of all things has made Him one ... the Father, who is in Him,
and who is God the Word ... to us from the Father, we bring our offerings in simple ...
/.../argument iv the son alone knows.htm

Excursus on the Public Discipline or Exomologesis of the Early ...
... they might not themselves make their offerings, nor partake of ... we should confess
our sins to God alone, but some ... fruit in Holy Church....Confession made to God ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/excursus on the public discipline.htm