Leviticus 7

CHAPTER 7THEME: Concerning the trespass offering; concerning the peace offeringThe instructions to the priests are continued for these two offerings. These two offerings were more personal than the others. The trespass concerned the individual Israelite, and was not a congregational matter. The peace must finally be enjoyed by the individual in the body of believers. The emphasis is upon the service of the priest. This is a picture of what the Lord Jesus has done and is doing for us today at God’s right hand. He is still girded with the towel of service. He still cleanses. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1Jn_1:9).

Leviticus 7:1

CONCERNING THE TRESPASS OFFERINGThe ritual of the trespass offering follows the same pattern as that of the sin offering. Although it is for acts of sin, the offerer is reminded that the sacrifice is holy. The worth and merit of Christ cannot be over-emphasized. When we see our sin nature and our sinful acts in all their enormity and frightfulness, then we shall see the wonder, greatness, and holiness of Christ. My friend, you will never appreciate the Lord Jesus as your Savior until you see yourself as the terrible sinner that you are. I’m not calling you a low-down sinner. That is what the Word of God calls each one of us. The blood is mentioned but is not emphasized as it is in the sin offering. We are told, however, that there is one law for them. There is a danger that we may tend to make the blood a commonplace thing. It should be dealt with reverently and reticently. It is precious, and we should be on guard that we do not treat that which is precious and holy as if it were commonplace.

Leviticus 7:8

Actually there was one part of the animal that was not burned. It was the skin, and that went to the priest. This speaks of being covered or clothed in the righteousness of Christ. God is satisfied with the Lord Jesus, and He sees us as being in Christ. “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference” (Rom_3:22). Being clothed in Christ’s righteousness is what Jesus referred to in His parable of the wedding feast. The man who entered without being clothed in a wedding garment was bound and cast out (Mat_22:11-13).

Leviticus 7:9

Everything baked in the oven or dressed in the frying pan was to be for the priests. This particular type of meal offering went to the priests in its entirety.

Leviticus 7:11

CONCERNING THE PEACE OFFERINGThe emphasis here is upon the fact that it must be a freewill offering. The reason is for thanksgiving. This has a special meaning for believers. “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” (Heb_13:15). The fruit of our lips should be giving thanks to His name. Friend, we cannot come to church to worship unless we are prepared to offer the sacrifice of praise to God. A complaining, criticizing Christian is in no position to worship God. How important this is!

Leviticus 7:13

Notice this very carefully. In verse Lev_7:12, the cakes and wafers were to be unleavened. In verse Lev_7:13, the bread was to be leavened. This seems strange. Why should this be when leaven is a principle of evil? It is because in verse Lev_7:12 it is showing Christ as our peace offering and he is without sin, without leaven.

In verse Lev_7:13, it is the offerer who gives thanks for his participation in the peace. His sins have been forgiven and he has peace with God but there is still evil in him; leaven is still present. Peace with God does not depend on the believer attaining sinless perfection. The leaven is still there. Oh, how important it is to realize this! “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1Jn_1:8). The believer is to confess his sin for forgiveness and cleansing, then he is to walk by the new nature in the power of the Holy Spirit. “For sin shall not have dominion over you …” (Rom_6:14).

The leavened bread was a heave offering. It was to be elevated toward heaven. Just so, our hearts are to be opened to God for Him to search us and know us and to lead us in the way everlasting (Psa_139:23-24).

Leviticus 7:15

The peace offering was to be eaten at once. There was to be no delay. Thus, we are to stay very close to Christ for peace of conscience and for power over temptation. My friend, stay close to Christ! He gives peace only to those who are His own, to those who have entered into this glorious, wonderful fellowship with Him. We must look to Him and rest upon Him. When you find that Christ is adequate and wonderful, then the peace of God that passeth all understanding will enter into your heart. What a picture these sacrifices are of the Lord Jesus! Now I am going to pick some verses out of the rest of the chapter.

Leviticus 7:19

An unclean person who ate of the peace offering was excommunicated. Even so today, there must be confession of sin on the part of the believer if he is to enter into fellowship with God.

Leviticus 7:22

We have already discussed the prohibition of eating blood. This is to remind us that man was redeemed by blood and that this is the basis and ground of our acceptance before God. They were also forbidden to eat the fat because the fat belonged to the Lord.

Leviticus 7:26

We have already discussed the prohibition of eating blood. This is to remind us that man was redeemed by blood and that this is the basis and ground of our acceptance before God. They were also forbidden to eat the fat because the fat belonged to the Lord.

Leviticus 7:28

Aaron, his sons, and the priests received as their portion of the peace offering the breast and the shoulder. The breast speaks of the love of Christ for us. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom_5:8). " …who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Gal_2:20). " …having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end" (Joh_13:1). The shoulder speaks of the power and strength of Christ. He is able to save to the uttermost. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one” (Joh_10:27-30). He loves His own with an everlasting love and He can save to the uttermost. This is our portion in Christ! All of these sacrifices in the Old Testament were not an end in themselves. The Old Testament saint was saved by faith just as we are saved by faith. “Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD” (Psa_4:5). God was pleased when the sacrifices were brought in faith and in thanksgiving (Psa_50:12-15 and Psa_51:19). God was displeased when the sacrifices were brought as a dull routine and were polluted (Mal_1:7-14). All the sacrifices in the Old Testament demanded a more perfect antitype. This is found in Christ! “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Heb_9:28).

Leviticus 7:35

God sums up here the instructions given to Aaron and the priests in the law of the offerings of chapters 6 and 7.