Leviticus 3: The Peace Offering
“The peace offering was not a sacrifice denoting self-devotion like the burnt-offering, nor a tender of homage like the meat offering, but a feast upon a sacrifice, which God and man symbolically joined in partaking of. The offering consisted of an animal and unleavened cakes and (generally) leavened bread, of which a share was given to God's altar and priests on the one hand, and to the offerer and his friends on the other. It represented the blessedness and joyousness of communion between God and man…. It was a federal feast, reminding the Israelites of the institution of the covenant. In early times the method of making a covenant was dividing animals in halves and passing between them (see Gen 15:9, Gen 15:10; Jer 34:18, Jer 34:19), or otherwise offering them in sacrifice (Gen 8:20; Gen 15:9; Ps 1:5), and then feasting together. When Abraham's servant; asked for Rebekah for his master, he refused to eat and drink until he had made his agreement (Gen 24:33); but after it was completed, ‘they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him’ (Gen 24:54). Jacob held a solemn feast after he and Laban had made a covenant together (Gen 31:54). The feast upon the peace offerings, whether offered by the whole congregation or by individuals, served as a memorial of the covenant made between God and their fathers (see Exodus 24:5, where the name peace offering is first used), and it made rejoice in being God's peculiar people in union and communion with him.” (Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary)
The peace offering “was not one of the offerings that the priests presented daily in the tabernacle... Because it was voluntary, its offering became a festive occasion.” (Dr. Thomas B Constable) “‘And Aaron’s sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt sacrifice.’ The theological impact of this was noted by Kellogg thus: ‘The purpose of this offering was to express the conception of friendship, peace, and fellowship with God as secured by the shedding of blood.’… the commandment that the peace-offering should be laid upon the burning burnt-offering (Lev 3:5) effectively tied the two together. As Dummelow said, ‘There would always be some portion of the daily burnt sacrifice smoldering upon the altar. The peace-offering is to be laid upon it.’” (Coffman Commentary) Our peace is built on the foundation of the the apostles and prophets— the blood of the covenant. The whole work of Christ in relation to the believer's peace is here in type. He made peace, Colossians 1:20 proclaimed peace, Ephesians 2:17 and is our peace, Ephesians 2:14. In Christ God and the sinner meet in peace; God is propitiated, the sinner reconciled-- both alike satisfied with what Christ has done. But all this at the cost of blood and fire..." (C. I. Scofield,)— death and destruction of the Substitute!
Jesus was sinless and not allowed to see corruption. His body did not decay in the grave. Death was only for a moment— three days and three nights. “But” indeed, He did suffer for our sakes— “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)
The Great Substitution of the burnt offering, along with the peace offering “is the centre from which all Christian doctrine, and all Christian experience, radiates, and into which it ultimately resolves itself. Without this, Christianity dwindles down into a cold and powerless morality, with no warming mysteries, no animating sublimities, no melting affections, no transforming potencies. Without this, the soul languishes like a plant excluded from the sunshine, or flourishes only in its own disgrace. [Now, regarding the peace offering] If we would have a feast of fat things, the provision must come from the altar of immolation.” (J. A. Seiss, DD)
The burnt offering had to be male, but the peace offering could be male or female, perhaps signifying the oneness in fellowship. We are all one on Christ Jesus. And both the burnt offering and the peace offering had to be “without blemish.” “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’” (Exo 19:6; 1 Pet 1:13-16)
As before, in God’s mercy, this offering could be from the flock (Lev 3: 6), a lamb (Lev 3:7-11) or a goat ( Lev 3:12-16), probably making again an allowance for the financial means of the offerer. However: “It is noticeable that no provision for a poor man's being able to substitute a bird for the larger offerings as a peace-offering appears in the regulations in this chapter. This should not be viewed as any loss to the poor worshipper, because a bird would not have provided sufficient food for him and his friends, which fellowship meal was a prime feature of the offering. Also, ‘The poor man who could not afford a sheep or a goat might have been, and should have been, invited to partake of the peace-offerings presented by his well-to-do friends and neighbors.’ [Oswald Thompson Allis]… (Coffman Commentary)
“God [here] gives man the largest latitude of choice in the ways of expressing his gratitude. He also sanctifies as a means of communion with Him whatever He has appointed as the means of approaching Him in any way. The Christian may commune with God in work, in prayer, in sacraments, in study of His word.” (Lange's Commentary)
“The peace-offerings... were divided between the altar, the priest, and the owner.” (Matthew Henry) “The fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails, the two kidneys and the fat that is on them by the flanks, and the fatty lobe attached to the liver above the kidneys, he shall remove; and Aaron’s sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt sacrifice,’ etc. Observe that all these portions of the animal are the richest; and also deep-seated, near the heart.” (Horatius Bonar) “Note the details of what is to be burned on the altar. Instead of all the sacrifice being cut up and placed on the altar it is the fat that covers the vital parts, together with those vital parts.” (Peter Pett)— our very lives being dependent on His provision.
“‘This shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings: you shall eat neither fat .' (1.) It is not meant of that which is interlarded with the meat (that they might eat, Nehemiah 8:10), but the fat of the inwards, the suet, which was always God's part out of the sacrificed beasts.” (Matthew Henry) It represents the inner energy by which we work. Things spiritual are given or revealed to us by His Spirit.— “’nor blood.’ Today believers are warned definitely not to eat blood (Acts 15:20). This restriction was introduced when God first allowed men to eat animals (Genesis 9:3-1.9.4), long before the law was given to Israel.” (L. M. Grant) “Because God is the Giver of life, He is also the only one entitled to it. Since life is in the blood, the blood is for Him alone.” (G. de Koning) God gives life and health and He takes it away. Blessed be His name forever. He “has a right to require that such of them should be dedicated to his service as he may think proper to demand.” (Adam Clarke)