SCRIPTURE BY BRITTENNE BOYKIN
Scripture Lesson Text: Leviticus 22:17-25, 31-33
Related Scriptures: Numbers 15:1-16; Leviticus 6:8-13; 7:11-36; Micah 6:6-8; Malachi 1:6-14
In this week’s scriptures, Leviticus 22:17-25, the Lord tells Moses to instruct Aaron to tell the people His requirements for acceptable sacrifices. God cautions the people that any sacrifices made by them or anyone sojourning in Israel would need to be a male bull, sheep or goat without spot or blemish. (Vs.20) God would also require any peace or free will offerings from a herd or flock to be spotless as well. (Vs.21) Any animals that were marred or deficient would not be acceptable. (Vs.22) The people could not offer to God any animal that was mutilated even if gotten from a foreign land (Vs.24-25).
Our related scriptures, Numbers 15:1-6, God instructs on the first gift offering or sacrifices at the appointed feast. In Leviticus 6:8-13 Moses gives Aaron instructions on the burnt offerings, for it is to be left on the altar all night with the fire burning (Vs.9). The priest must put on his priestly garments to remove the ashes and place them beside the altar. (Vs.10) He must then remove those garments and put on other garments and take the ashes outside of the camp to a clean place (Vs.11).The fire on the altar must burn continually and not go out (Vs.13).
Leviticus 7:11-36 details the manner for peace offerings of thanksgiving. God reminds the people that He will not accept unclean offerings. In Micah 6:6-8 God uses the prophet to simplify things (Vs.8) He has told you, “ O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness,[b] and to walk humbly with your God? “ Malachi 1:6-14 cautions us not to offer God a sacrifice not worthy of who He is, because He equates it to profaning Him. God reminds us that our offerings to Him, and our sacrifices must be reflective of who He is and we dare not offer Him something that cost us nothing.
SYNOPSIS BY JANICE HALL
In today’s lesson, found in Leviticus 22: 17-25, 31-33, is simply a continuation of Leviticus chapter 21. The commands speak of the defiled priest shall not officiate or partake of the sacrificial offerings. There is a declaration of who may and who may not partake of the priest’s portions of the sacrifices. Also orders are given that every sacrificial victim be unblemished. In the verses 11-16, the Lord speaks to Moses, indicating a new set of instructions and laws.
The directions are for both Aaron and his sons as well as for all of Israel. The offerings of the people are to come with a right heart towards the Lord. The acceptance by the priests is to be acknowledged as right and proper towards the Lord. The principle here that the offerings must be made without blemish or defect.
In Leviticus 22:31-33, God gave Israel especially the priests four reasons to keep and honor His commandments. The reasons being, because of who God is, what He is, what He is doing, and what He has done. By God’s grace, Israel was redeemed from slavery and brought out of Egypt. God’s holiness was shown along with His grace. We are to continue to give the Lord the best, show our gratitude with a sacrifice of praise, because we acknowledge Him as our God.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION BY PAM JONES
When we think of offerings, we think of something that is given freely from the heart. Two synonyms of the word offering are: gift and present. Jesus did that for you and me. He is the epitome of offerings, because He presented himself as a gift in the form of the spotless, unblemished, Lamb of God. He was that perfect sacrifice, pure in every sense of the word.
In today’s lesson we learn that the offerings cannot be bruised, crushed, broken, or cut. He is a holy God, and demands that we come to Him with the right type of attitude and offering. We want our offering to be accepted. In Malachi 1:8, the scripture says “if it was unacceptable to the governor how much more would it offend God?”
We want to look at ourselves and think about what we are giving to God and why. Romans 12:1 say “Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.” We can also give Him the sacrifice of verbal praise (Hebrews 13:15), and the sacrifice of good deeds and sharing (Hebrews 13-16). We should be guided to give the Lord the best we have. The quality of our gifts reveals the extent of our devotion.
