THE PRIESTS’ SHARE

Passage: Leviticus 7:22-38

Key verse: 36

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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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22 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 23 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, (A)You shall eat no fat, of ox or sheep or goat. 24 The fat of an animal (B)that dies of itself and the fat of one that is torn by beasts may be put to any other use, but on no account shall you eat it. 25 For every person who eats of the fat of an animal of which a food offering may be made to the Lord shall be cut off from his people. 26 Moreover, (C)you shall eat no blood whatever, whether of fowl or of animal, in any of your dwelling places. 27 Whoever eats any blood, that person shall be cut off from his people.”

28 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 29 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, (D)Whoever offers the sacrifice of his peace offerings to the Lord shall bring his offering to the Lord from the sacrifice of his peace offerings. 30 (E)His own hands shall bring the Lord's food offerings. He shall bring the fat with (F)the breast, that the breast may be waved as a wave offering before the Lord. 31 (G)The priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but (H)the breast shall be for Aaron and his sons. 32 And (I)the right thigh you shall give to the priest as a contribution from the sacrifice of your peace offerings. 33 Whoever among the sons of Aaron offers the blood of the peace offerings and the fat shall have the right thigh for a portion. 34 For the breast that is (J)waved and the thigh that is (K)contributed I have taken from the people of Israel, out of the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and (L)have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons, as a perpetual due from the people of Israel. 35 This is the portion of Aaron and of his sons from the Lord's food offerings, from the day they were presented to serve as priests of the Lord. 36 The Lord commanded this to be given them by the people of Israel, (M)from the day that he anointed them. It is a perpetual due throughout their generations.”

37 This is the law (N)of the burnt offering, of the grain offering, of the sin offering, (O)of the guilt offering, (P)of the ordination offering, and (Q)of the peace offering, 38 which the Lord commanded Moses on Mount Sinai, on the day that he commanded the people of Israel (R)to bring their offerings to the Lord, in the wilderness of Sinai.

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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

First, eating fat and blood is forbidden (22-27). The Israelites ate the meat of fellowship offerings. Regarding eating the meat, the LORD gave them two strict regulations: “Do not eat any of the fat… Anyone who eats the fat… must be cut off from his people” (22-25); “You must not eat the blood… If anyone eats blood, that person must be cut off from his people” (26). By prohibiting his people from eating fat and blood, the LORD taught his people the importance of blood and the holiness of an offering. Blood represents the life of an animal. Blood, or life, was given for our atonement, as Jesus gave his blood for our atonement. By claiming the fat portions, God taught his people that their offerings must be done in his way.

Second, the priests’ share (28-36). From the fellowship offerings, the breast and the right thigh were given to the priests (31-34). The breast and thigh were considered better portions and so God blessed those who dedicated their lives to serving him. Though the priests had no earthly inheritance, God provided for his servants on a daily basis through the offerings. When we serve the LORD, he provides us with our daily needs. Our labor in the LORD is not in vain.

Prayer: Father, thank you for your love. Help me joyfully serve your lost children and believe your great reward for me!

One Word: My great reward in Jesus!