In Leviticus 3 God gives Moses directions on how to perform a fellowship offering. First off, when you read this chapter you notice that the fat off of the animals was always given to the Lord. Why is that? In ancient Israel, fat represented the richest and best part symbolically. Again, we see that God desires our first and best. Not our leftovers. The rest of the animal was consumed by the priests and the worshiper. It symbolized peace with God, thanksgiving and fellowship, and shared communion between God and his people. Jesus fulfills the deeper meaning of the fellowship offering. He restores peace between God and man, he brings believers into communion with God, and he provides the final sacrifice. The fellowship meal foreshadows believers sharing fellowship with God through Christ. This also connects symbolically to The Lord’s Supper, the marriage supper imagery in Revelation, and Christian communion and worship. All of these different ways of atonement for sins ultimately points to what Jesus Christ is for us. Jesus’s blood was the only blood that could ultimately atone for our sins perfectly and permanently. He is also the last and permanent high priest and mediator between us and the father. There is no need for the tabernacle, an earthly mediator, or sacrifices anymore. To perform them or to think you have to do them to be right with God is an outward expression against Jesus Christ and what he ultimately did for us. Love y’all! Have a great day!
Leviticus 3:1-17
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“If his offering is a fellowship sacrifice, and he is presenting an animal from the herd, whether male or female, he is to present one without blemish before the Lord. He is to lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it at the entrance to the tent of meeting. Then Aaron’s sons the priests will splatter the blood on all sides of the altar. He will present part of the fellowship sacrifice as a food offering to the Lord: the fat surrounding the entrails, all the fat that is on the entrails, and the two kidneys with the fat on them at the loins; he will also remove the fatty lobe of the liver with the kidneys. Aaron’s sons will burn it on the altar along with the burnt offering that is on the burning wood, a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the Lord. “If his offering as a fellowship sacrifice to the Lord is from the flock, he is to present a male or female without blemish. If he is presenting a lamb for his offering, he is to present it before the Lord. He must lay his hand on the head of his offering, then slaughter it before the tent of meeting. Aaron’s sons will splatter its blood on all sides of the altar. He will then present part of the fellowship sacrifice as a food offering to the Lord consisting of its fat and the entire fat tail, which he is to remove close to the backbone. He will also remove the fat surrounding the entrails, all the fat on the entrails, the two kidneys with the fat on them at the loins, and the fatty lobe of the liver above the kidneys. Then the priest will burn the food on the altar, as a food offering to the Lord. “If his offering is a goat, he is to present it before the Lord. He must lay his hand on its head and slaughter it before the tent of meeting. Aaron’s sons will splatter its blood on all sides of the altar. He will present part of his offering as a food offering to the Lord: the fat surrounding the entrails, all the fat that is on the entrails, and the two kidneys with the fat on them at the loins; he will also remove the fatty lobe of the liver with the kidneys. Then the priest will burn the food on the altar, as a food offering for a pleasing aroma. “All fat belongs to the Lord. This is a permanent statute throughout your generations, wherever you live: you must not eat any fat or any blood.”
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