May 2002
Leviticus Chapter 3
The first two sacrificial offerings detailed in the book of Leviticus dealt with burnt offerings and meal offerings. The third sacrificial offering described and instructed of the Israel people, was the peace offering.
Provided in the third chapter of the book, the details are often difficult for Bible Old Testament studiers to read or envision because of the sacrificial nature of blood offerings of animals. However, it provides insight into where many of today’s cults get the perverted inspiration to perform animal sacrifices. It also helps confirm the ultimate sacrifice Christ made in behalf of his people in substituting himself for the sins of those called.
There are three types of peace offering sacrifices detailed in the third chapter of the book of Leviticus: that of the cattle, the lamb and the goat. In the 17-verse third chapter, the first five verses deal with cattle sacrifice, verses 6-11 deal with the sacrifice of the lamb, and verses 12-16 is of the goat.
All three types of sacrifices basically call for the death, dismemberment and sacrifice ceremony of the animal in the same general manner.
First, the owner is select an male or female member without blemish. Next, the owner is to lay his hand on the head of the animal signifying it is the chosen substitute for the sacrifice.
The animal was killed at the door of the tabernacle and then Aaron and his priest sons were to sprinkle the blood around the altar. All the fat of the animal was to be given to the Lord, so it was placed on the fire for a burnt offering to create a "sweet savor unto the Lord." Lev. 3:5. Also, certain organs of the animal, the kidneys, caul above the liver, etc., were to be burned on the altar.
Some of the animal could be consumed by the priests and the offeror. The fat was always considered the Lord’s Lev. 3:16.
The sacrifice was deemed to be a "perpetual statute" to be observed by all generations to come in that neither blood nor fat were to be eaten.