THE FELLOWSHIP OFFERING

Passage: Leviticus 3:1-17

Key verse: 17

NIV

The Fellowship Offering

3 “‘If your offering is a fellowship offering,(A) and you offer an animal from the herd, whether male or female, you are to present before the Lord an animal without defect.(B) 2 You are to lay your hand on the head(C) of your offering and slaughter it(D) at the entrance to the tent of meeting.(E) Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall splash(F) the blood against the sides(G) of the altar.(H) 3 From the fellowship offering you are to bring a food offering to the Lord: the internal organs(I) and all the fat(J) that is connected to them, 4 both kidneys(K) with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys. 5 Then Aaron’s sons(L) are to burn it on the altar(M) on top of the burnt offering(N) that is lying on the burning wood;(O) it is a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.(P)

6 “‘If you offer an animal from the flock as a fellowship offering(Q) to the Lord, you are to offer a male or female without defect. 7 If you offer a lamb,(R) you are to present it before the Lord,(S) 8 lay your hand on its head and slaughter it(T) in front of the tent of meeting. Then Aaron’s sons shall splash its blood against the sides of the altar. 9 From the fellowship offering you are to bring a food offering(U) to the Lord: its fat, the entire fat tail cut off close to the backbone, the internal organs and all the fat that is connected to them, 10 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys. 11 The priest shall burn them on the altar(V) as a food offering(W) presented to the Lord.(X)

12 “‘If your offering is a goat,(Y) you are to present it before the Lord, 13 lay your hand on its head and slaughter it in front of the tent of meeting. Then Aaron’s sons shall splash(Z) its blood against the sides of the altar.(AA) 14 From what you offer you are to present this food offering to the Lord: the internal organs and all the fat that is connected to them, 15 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys.(AB) 16 The priest shall burn them on the altar(AC) as a food offering,(AD) a pleasing aroma.(AE) All the fat(AF) is the Lord’s.(AG)

17 “‘This is a lasting ordinance(AH) for the generations to come,(AI) wherever you live:(AJ) You must not eat any fat or any blood.(AK)’”

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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ESV

Laws for Peace Offerings

3 “If his offering is (A)a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offers an animal from the herd, male or female, (B)he shall offer it (C)without blemish before the Lord. 2 And (D)he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering and kill it at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and Aaron's sons the priests shall throw the blood against the sides of the altar. 3 And from the sacrifice of the peace offering, as a food offering to the Lord, he shall offer (E)the fat covering the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails, 4 (F)and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys. 5 Then Aaron's sons (G)shall burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering, which is on the wood on the fire; it is a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

6 “If his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering to the Lord is an animal from the flock, male or female, he shall offer it (H)without blemish. 7 If he offers a lamb for his offering, then he shall offer it before the Lord, 8 lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it in front of the tent of meeting; and Aaron's sons shall throw its blood against the sides of the altar. 9 Then from the sacrifice of the peace offering he shall offer as a food offering to the Lord its fat; he shall remove the whole (I)fat tail, cut off close to the backbone, and the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails 10 and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove (J)with the kidneys. 11 And the priest shall burn it on the altar as (K)a food offering to the Lord.

12 “If his offering is a goat, then he shall offer it before the Lord 13 and lay his hand on its head and kill it in front of the tent of meeting, and the sons of Aaron shall throw its blood against the sides of the altar. 14 Then he shall offer from it, as his offering for a food offering to the Lord, the fat covering the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails 15 and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove (L)with the kidneys. 16 And the priest shall burn them on the altar as a (M)food offering with a pleasing aroma. (N)All fat is the Lord's. 17 It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, in all your dwelling places, that you eat neither (O)fat nor (P)blood.”

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

The fellowship offering, also known as the peace offering, was meant to be shared with others. It gave the Israelites the opportunity to enjoy God’s peace and fellowship with others. Satan divides us, but God enables us to be united in fellowship.

The fellowship offering could be a male or female from the herd or flock, but it had to be without blemish. For this offering, worshipers placed their hand on and killed the animal, identifying with the offering. The priest poured the blood on the altar. To enjoy peace with others, our sinful selves must die and covered with the blood of Christ. Otherwise, there can be no real unity or peace. Have you died to your sinful nature to be united with others?

The priests would offered the fat by completely burning it. The fat was the most delicious and expensive part of the offering. This signified that we should give our best to the Lord. God gave a command not to eat the blood or the fat, which are not healthy or safe for us to consume anyway. Symbolically, this ritual represents giving our life (the blood) and our best (the fat) to the Lord. When we do so, we can enjoy peace with God and others.

Prayer: Father, you are the giver of peace through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Help me to give you my life and all that I have so I can enjoy real peace through you.

One Word: Have fellowship and peace through Jesus’ blood shed on the cross