Tag: Have Your “Hands” in the Offering - Leviticus 1-3

Leviticus 3:1-2 (ESV Strong's)

“If his offering is a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offers an animal from the herd, male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the Lord. And 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.

Tag:  Have Your “Hands” in the Offering

In the book of Leviticus we can get lost in all the sacrificial requirements and instructions.  We can get so wrapped up in the blood on the alter, the type of offering and the procedure of the offering that we completely miss the meaning and purpose.  In the above passage we are given the initial instructions about the “peace” offering.   The “peace” offering is not an offering to atone for a particular sin in your life. It is often referred to as the “fellowship” offering.   This is a worship sacrifice wanting to have full fellowship with the living God.   The worshipper, in this case, places his hands on the head of the animal about to be sacrificed.   This is done to demonstrate the worshippers involvement in that act of worship.   He is to identify with the sacrifice and allow the animal to take his place in the act of fellowship with God.   Of course, today, we know that Jesus is our fellowship offering.  We are, today, however, place our “hands” onto Christ’s offering.   What does that look like in this time and age?   Note what Paul told the Romans:

Romans 12:1 (ESV Strong's)

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

We are to be “living” sacrifices and identify each of our members as members of righteousness that Christ provides through the work of the Spirit.   We are to yield not just our hands, but our entire selves to Christ’s control.  In the OT the worshipper brought the sacrifice to want to fellowship with God and could only touch the animal being sacrificed.  WE have the opportunity to fully give our entire being to Christ to have His communion with us.