This was a voluntary offering
Hebrew: minchah, meaning gift
Different from the burnt offering because it didn't result in atonement. Also, only a small amount was burned; the rest was given to the priests
Chapter divided into 3 sections:
1. Rules about offering uncooked grains
2. What was to be done when someone offered cooked grain
3. Instructions about how the first fruits of the grain must be offered
Thanksgiving...a gift. Acknowledged God as the source of provision and prosperity
Given as a gift of thanks for all the gifts from God
"It represents a man's gift of homage, whereby he acknowledges God's sovereignty over all things and over himself, by offering to Him a portion of that which He had graciously bestowed in abundance."
Rarely offered by itself. Often included with burnt offerings and peace offerings (at least 8 times in this book). Numbers 15:4-10 specifies how much grains was to be offered with several different kinds of animal sacrifices
Verse 1 - Oil, probably olive oil.
Frankincense: expensive to purchase. From an old French word meaning, "high quality incense." Franc meant noble or pure. From the Boswella trees, known to grow in harsh climates. Slash the bark, let the resin bleed out and harden. Known to exist for 6,000 years. Taken to Europe during the Crusades. Full quality comes out when it's burned as incense
The point is, the one who brought a grain offering was not giving God something which cost him nothing!
Verse 2 - After the one offering brought the grain, added oil and frankincense, the priest took over. The part offered was the "memorial portion" representing the whole. It's suggested that this also reminded the Israelites of what God had done for them
Verse 3 - Tells us the rest went to priests. Since it had been offered to holy God and part of it was consumed by fire on the holy altar, it must be regarded as holy and therefore eaten in a holy place (6:16).
Verses 4-10 - Three options on how to cook it
1. Oven
2. Griddle
3. Pan
Four things both types of this offering had in common:
1. Fine flour (best, worked for and worked over to remove any impurities)
2. Include oil in the mixture
3. Offered on fire
4. Remainder belonged to the priests
Verses 11-16 - Special rules
Worshipper had latitude in this offering but God still required some things. Both positive and negative commands here
Verse 11 - No leaven or honey. Not told specifically why
Yes, leaven often represents sin (and there is leaven in honey also) but not always. Both were part of the offering of the firstfruits (Exodus 23:16-17; 34:22-23; Leviticus 23:17-18)
Both elements were employed in pagan worship. Regardless of why though, this is how God wanted it!
Verse 12 shows us the offering of firstfruits which we'll see more about in Feast of Harvest in chapter 23. Since these weren't burnt on the altar, the rule about leaven and honey didn't apply
A positive command in verse 13: salt was to be included. Thought to symbolize the continuing covenant between God and His people (Numbers 18:19; 2 Chronicles 13:5). Also thought to symbolize peace and loyalty. Based on the idea that salt was a preservative in the ancient world.
"Salt of the world"
Lesson: Give what you have! (Luke 21:1-4, Widow's mite)
Burnt offerings, grain offerings, peace offerings were voluntary. Do we grasp the concept? Do we give only because we're commanded to or because we're able to?
Christ in this offering: Look at the grain. Finely milled, no hulls, dirt or particles (imperfections). It's purity and evenness, at its best. "Without sin" (Hebrews 4:15) No unevenness found in Him
Paul tells us we're expected to "be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ" (Philippians 1:10).
Sincere (Greek: eilikrines) literally means "tested by the light of the sun"
How they tested pottery looking for imperfections. The idea of being without wax is transferred to the moral realm. There should be a purity and evenness to our lives in contrast to the coarse world.
This offering meant one worked. Where did one get this grain?
Christ is also in the grain offering. Perfect (as fine flour), anointed with the Spirit (oil), offering prayers (frankincense).
Acts 10:4: Cornelius "prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God"
From The Priest's Point of View
Beginning of 14 tells us this was addressed to the priests
Pretty much the same as what we've just seen but in 17 and 18 there's an emphasis that this is a permanent offering. Anyone who touched them had to be holy
20-23 - Instructions are given for an offering when Aaron and his sons are consecrated (chapter 8). This will be a continual offering, day and night.
An ephah is about a bushel
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