In the Bible, an offering is a voluntary gift or sacrifice made to God as an act of worship, gratitude, or atonement, often involving the presentation of animals, grains, or other valuable items. Offerings symbolize devotion, covenant relationship, and acknowledgement of God’s provision, as seen in various passages across both the Old and New Testaments.
Scripture
1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
2 “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When any one of you brings an offering to the Lord, you shall bring your offering of livestock from the herd or from the flock.”
3 If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without blemish. He shall bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the Lord.
4 He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.
5 Then he shall kill the bull before the Lord, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall bring the blood and throw the blood against the sides of the altar that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting.
6 And he shall flay the burnt offering and cut it into pieces,
7 The sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire.
8 And the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall arrange the pieces, the head, and the fat, on the wood that is on the fire on the altar;
9 but its entrails and its legs he shall wash with water. And the priest shall burn all of it on the altar, as a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
10 “But if his offering is a burnt offering from the flock, from sheep or goats, he shall offer a male without blemish.
11 And he shall kill it on the north side of the altar before the Lord, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall throw its blood against the sides of the altar.
12 And he shall cut it into pieces, with its head and its fat, and the priest shall arrange them on the wood that is on the fire on the altar,
13 But he shall wash the entrails and the legs with water. And the priest shall offer all of it and burn it on the altar; it is a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
14 “If his offering to the Lord is a burnt offering of birds, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves or pigeons.”
15 And the priest shall bring it to the altar and wring off its head and burn it on the altar. Its blood shall be drained out on the side of the altar.
16 And he shall remove its crop with its contents and cast it beside the altar on the east side, in the place for ashes.
17 It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, in all your dwelling places, that you eat neither fat nor blood.
Biblical Definition of Offering
The concept of offering in the Bible transcends mere material gifts; it embodies the believer’s relationship with God, characterized by recognition, gratitude, and the desire for reconciliation. In the Old Testament, offerings are frequently seen as expressions of one’s dedication and reverence towards God. For instance, in Leviticus 1:3, it states, “If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to offer a male without defect.” This verse underscores the importance of presenting one’s best to God as a demonstration of honor and respect, acknowledging God’s ultimate perfection and sovereignty. Offerings encompassed a variety of forms, including grain offerings (Leviticus 2:1) and peace offerings (Leviticus 3:1), each holding unique significance in the covenant relationship between God and His people.
In the New Testament, the understanding of offerings expands as it shifts from ritualistic practices to the profound implications of self-surrender and sacrifice. In Matthew 5:23-24, Jesus emphasizes the importance of reconciling with others before presenting an offering to God, indicating that relationships and integrity play a crucial role in worship. Furthermore, Romans 12:1 calls believers to present their bodies as living sacrifices, which signifies a move away from physical offerings to a life dedicated to service and holiness as acts of worship. This evolution points to a deeper understanding of the offering not just as a material sacrifice but as a holistic commitment to God’s ways, reflecting love, obedience, and a transformative relationship with Him. Thus, offerings serve as a means of connecting the believer to the divine, translating faith into actionable devotion in both covenantal and relational contexts.
Additionally, the theme of offerings in the Bible is intricately tied to the notion of stewardship and the acknowledgment of God’s providence. In the narrative of Cain and Abel, found in Genesis, the varying acceptance of their respective offerings illustrates that the heart behind the gift is as crucial as the offering itself. Abel’s offering, recognized as pleasing to God, suggests a sincere intent and a spirit of gratitude, whereas Cain’s offering, though material, reflects a disconnect in their relationship. This story underscores that offering is not merely about the physical act but also about the motivations and covenant dynamics that govern one’s relationship with God.
Moreover, the impact of offerings is not confined to individual worshippers; it extends to the community and the collective worship experience. In the context of the Temple, where offerings were used to sustain the priests and ritual practices, they served as a vital component of communal identity and spiritual health. For example, in the narrative of the widow’s two mites, highlighted in the Gospels, Jesus emphasizes the sacrificial nature of truly generous offering, illustrating that it is the heart of the giver, even in humility and scarcity, that truly matters in the sight of God. Thus, the multidimensional view of offerings in the Bible encapsulates the personal, communal, and relational aspects of faith, demonstrating that true offerings arise from a profound acknowledgment of dependence on God and a heartfelt response to His grace.
Spiritual Sacrifice and Devotion
In the Bible, offerings are often seen as acts of spiritual sacrifice and devotion to God. They represent a believer’s willingness to give up something of value—be it material goods, time, or personal desires—as a demonstration of faith and commitment. This concept emphasizes the importance of the heart’s intention behind the offering, highlighting that true worship involves more than just physical gifts; it requires a sincere desire to honor and serve God.
Community and Fellowship
Offerings also play a significant role in fostering community and fellowship among believers. They are often used to support communal worship, assist those in need, and promote the collective mission of the faith community. By contributing to the well-being of others and the church, individuals participate in a shared responsibility that strengthens bonds and encourages unity within the body of believers.
Acknowledgment of God’s Provision
Another broader meaning of offerings in the Bible is the acknowledgment of God’s provision and sovereignty. When individuals present offerings, they recognize that all they have comes from God and express gratitude for His blessings. This act of giving serves as a reminder of the dependence on divine grace and the importance of stewardship, encouraging believers to manage their resources wisely and generously in response to God’s generosity.
How to Offer Your Life as a Sacrifice to God
Offering your life as a sacrifice to God is a profound and transformative journey that begins with a heart willing to surrender. Romans 12:1 encourages us to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is our true and proper worship. This means embracing a lifestyle of love, service, and humility, where our daily actions reflect Christ’s teachings. Start by identifying areas in your life where you can let go of selfish desires and instead focus on serving others—whether through acts of kindness, volunteering, or simply being present for those in need. Prayer is essential; it’s in those quiet moments with God that you can seek His guidance and strength to make choices that honor Him. Remember, this isn’t about perfection but about progress; it’s about cultivating a heart that seeks to align with God’s will, trusting that every small act of love and sacrifice contributes to a greater purpose in His kingdom.
Bible References to Offerings in Scripture:
Leviticus 2:1-16: 1 “When anyone brings a grain offering as an offering to the Lord, his offering shall be of fine flour. He shall pour oil on it and put frankincense on it
2 And he shall bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests, and shall take from it a handful of the fine flour and oil, with all of its frankincense, and the priest shall burn this as its memorial portion on the altar, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
3 And the rest of the grain offering shall be for Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the Lord’s food offerings.
4 “When you bring a grain offering baked in the oven as an offering, it shall be unleavened loaves of fine flour mixed with oil or unleavened wafers smeared with oil.
5 And if your offering is a grain offering baked on a griddle, it shall be of fine flour unleavened, mixed with oil.
6 You shall break it in pieces and pour oil on it; it is a grain offering.
7 And if your offering is a grain offering baked in the oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mixed with oil, or unleavened wafers smeared with oil.
8 And you shall bring the grain offering that is made of these things to the Lord, and when it is presented to the priest, he shall bring it to the altar.
9 And the priest shall take from the grain offering its memorial portion and burn this on the altar, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
10 But the rest of the grain offering shall be for Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the Lord’s food offerings.
11 You shall not leaven anything that is offered in sacrifice to the Lord.
12 As an offering of firstfruits you may bring them to the Lord, but they shall not be offered on the altar for a pleasing aroma.
13 You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. You shall not let the salt of the covenant with your God be missing from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt.
14 And if you offer a grain offering of firstfruits to the Lord, you shall offer for the grain offering of your firstfruits fresh ears, roasted with fire, crushed new grain.
15 You shall put oil on it and lay frankincense on it; it is a grain offering.
16 And the priest shall burn as its memorial portion some of the crushed grain and some of the oil with all of its frankincense; it is a food offering to the Lord.
Leviticus 3:1-17: 1 “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.
2 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.
3 And from the sacrifice of the peace offering, as a food offering to the Lord, he shall offer the fat covering the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails,
4 Then he shall offer from it all its fat: the fat tail, the fat that covers the entrails,
5 Then Aaron’s sons shall burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering, which is on the wood on the fire; it is a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
6 “If his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering to the Lord is an animal from the flock, male or female, he shall offer it without blemish.”
7 If he offers a lamb for his offering, then he shall offer it before the Lord,
8 Then he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering and kill it in front of the tent of meeting, and Aaron’s sons shall throw its blood against the sides of the altar.
9 Then from the sacrifice of the peace offering he shall offer as a food offering to the Lord its fat; he shall remove the whole fat tail, cut off close to the backbone, and the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails
10 And the priest shall burn it on the altar as a food offering made by fire to the Lord.
11 Then the priest shall burn it on the altar as a food offering to the Lord.
12 If his offering is a goat, then he shall offer it before the Lord.
13 And he shall lay his hand on its head and kill it in front of the tent of meeting, and the sons of Aaron shall throw its blood against the sides of the altar.
14 And he shall offer from it, as his offering for a food offering to the Lord, the fat covering the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails,
15 And the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys.
16 All fat is the Lord’s.
17 It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, in all your dwelling places, that you eat neither fat nor blood.”
Leviticus 4:1-35: 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
2 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, If anyone sins unintentionally in any of the Lord’s commandments about things not to be done, and does any one of them,
3 if it is the anointed priest who sins, thus bringing guilt on the people, then he shall offer for the sin that he has committed a bull from the herd without blemish to the Lord for a sin offering.
4 He shall bring the bull to the entrance of the tent of meeting before the Lord and lay his hand on the head of the bull and kill the bull before the Lord.
5 Then the anointed priest shall take some of the blood of the bull and bring it into the tent of meeting,
6 and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle part of the blood seven times before the Lord in front of the veil of the sanctuary.
7 And the priest shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense before the Lord that is in the tent of meeting, and all the rest of the blood of the bull he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting.
8 And he shall take from it all the fat of the bull of the sin offering; the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails,
9 And the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys.
10 But the bull he shall carry outside the camp and burn it up as he burned the first bull; it is the sin offering for the assembly.
11 But the skin of the bull and all its flesh, with its head, its legs, its entrails, and its dung—
12 that is, all the rest of the bull—he shall carry outside the camp to a clean place, to the ash heap, and shall burn it up on a fire of wood. On the ash heap it shall be burned up.
13 “If the whole congregation of Israel sins unintentionally and the thing is hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and they do any one of the things that by the Lord’s commandments ought not to be done, and they realize their guilt,
14 When the sin which they have committed becomes known, the assembly shall offer a bull from the herd for a sin offering and bring it in front of the tent of meeting.
15 the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands on the head of the bull before the Lord, and the bull shall be killed before the Lord.
16 Then the anointed priest shall bring some of the blood of the bull into the tent of meeting,
17 The priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle it seven times before the Lord in front of the veil.
18 And he shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar that is in the tent of meeting before the Lord, and the rest of the blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting.
19 And all its fat he shall take from it and burn on the altar.
20 Thus shall he do with the bull. As he did with the bull of the sin offering, so shall he do with this. And the priest shall make atonement for them, and they shall be forgiven.
21 He shall bring the bull to the entrance of the tent of meeting before the Lord and lay his hand on the head of the bull and kill the bull before the Lord.
22 he shall bring to the Lord as his compensation for the sin that he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat, for a sin offering.
23 if it is the anointed priest who sins, thus bringing guilt on the people, then he shall offer for the sin that he has committed a bull from the herd without blemish to the Lord for a sin offering.
24 And he shall lay his hand on the head of the goat and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the Lord; it is a sin offering.
25 Then the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out the rest of its blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering.
26 All its fat he shall burn on the altar, like the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings. And the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin, and he shall be forgiven.
27 If anyone of the common people sins unintentionally in doing any one of the things that by the Lord’s commandments ought not to be done, and realizes his guilt,
28 Or the blood of the sin offering shall be thrown against the side of the altar.
29 He shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and kill the sin offering in the place of burnt offering.
30 And the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out all the rest of its blood at the base of the altar.
31 And all its fat he shall remove, as the fat is removed from the peace offerings, and the priest shall burn it on the altar for a pleasing aroma to the Lord. And the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be forgiven.
32 And if he brings a lamb as his offering for a sin offering, he shall bring a female without blemish.
33 And all its fat he shall remove as the fat is removed from the lamb, and the priest shall burn it on the altar, on top of the Lord’s food offerings. And the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin which he has committed, and he shall be forgiven.
34 And the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out all the rest of its blood at the base of the altar.
35 And all its fat he shall remove as the fat of the lamb is removed from the sacrifice of peace offerings, and the priest shall burn it on the altar, on top of the Lord’s food offerings. And the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin which he has committed, and he shall be forgiven.
Leviticus 5:1-19: 1 “If anyone sins in that he hears a public adjuration to testify, and though he is a witness, whether he has seen or come to know the matter, yet does not speak, he shall bear his iniquity;”
2 Or if anyone touches an unclean thing, whether a carcass of an unclean wild animal or a carcass of unclean livestock or a carcass of unclean swarming things, and it is hidden from him and he has become unclean, he realizes his guilt.
3 or if he touches human uncleanness, of whatever sort the uncleanness may be with which one becomes unclean, and it is hidden from him, when he comes to know it, and realizes his guilt;
4 Or if anyone utters with his lips a rash oath to do evil or to do good, any sort of rash oath that people swear, and it is hidden from him, when he comes to know it, and he realizes his guilt in any of these;
5 then he shall confess the sin that he has committed. And he shall make full restitution for his wrong, adding a fifth to it and giving it to him to whom he did the wrong.
6 He shall bring to the priest a ram without blemish out of the flock, or its equivalent for a guilt offering, and the priest shall make atonement for him for the mistake that he made unintentionally, and he shall be forgiven.
7 “But if he cannot afford a lamb, then he shall bring to the Lord as his compensation for the sin that he has committed two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering.
8 And he shall bring them to the priest, who shall offer first the one for the sin offering. He shall wring its head from its neck but shall not sever it completely,
9 And he shall sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar, while the rest of the blood shall be drained out at the base of the altar; it is a sin offering.
10 Then he shall offer the second for a burnt offering according to the rule. And the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin that he has committed, and he shall be forgiven.
11 “But if he cannot afford two turtledoves or two pigeons, then he shall bring as his offering for the sin that he has committed a tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering. He shall put no oil on it and shall put no frankincense on it, for it is a sin offering.
12 Then he shall bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take a handful of it as its memorial portion and burn this on the altar, on the Lord’s food offerings; it is a sin offering.
13 Thus the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin which he has committed in any one of these things, and he shall be forgiven.
14 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
15 “If anyone commits a breach of faith and sins unintentionally in any of the holy things of the Lord, he shall bring to the Lord as his compensation, a ram without blemish out of the flock, valued in silver shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, for a guilt offering.”
16 He shall also make restitution for what he has done amiss in the holy thing and shall add a fifth to it and give it to the priest. And the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering, and he shall be forgiven.
17 “If anyone sins, doing any of the things that by the Lord’s commandments ought not to be done, though he did not know it, then realizes his guilt, he shall bear his iniquity.”
18 He shall bring to the priest a ram without blemish out of the flock, or its equivalent for a guilt offering, and the priest shall make atonement for him for the mistake that he made unintentionally, and he shall be forgiven.
19 It is a guilt offering; he has indeed incurred guilt before the Lord.”
Leviticus 6:1-30: 1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “If anyone sins and commits a breach of faith against the Lord by deceiving his neighbor in a matter of deposit or security, or through robbery, or if he has oppressed his neighbor
2 If anyone sins and commits a breach of faith against the Lord by deceiving his neighbor in a matter of deposit or security, or through robbery, or if he has oppressed his neighbor
3 or has found something lost and lied about it, swearing falsely—in any of all the things that people do and sin thereby—
4 then it shall be, because he has sinned and is guilty, that he shall restore what he took by robbery or what he got by oppression or the deposit that was committed to him or the lost thing that he found,
5 or anything about which he has sworn falsely, he shall restore it in full and shall add a fifth to it, and give it to him to whom it belongs on the day he realizes his guilt.
6 And he shall bring his guilt offering to the Lord, a ram without blemish out of the flock, valued at two shekels of silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, for a guilt offering.
7 And the priest shall put on his linen garment and put his linen undergarment on his body, and he shall take up the ashes to which the fire has reduced the burnt offering on the altar and put them beside the altar.
8 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
9 “Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering. The burnt offering shall be on the hearth on the altar all night until the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning on it.
10 And the priest shall put on his linen garment and put his linen undergarment on his body, and he shall take up the ashes to which the fire has reduced the burnt offering on the altar and put them beside the altar.
11 Then he shall take off his garments and put on other garments and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place.
12 The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not go out. The priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and he shall arrange the burnt offering on it and shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings.
13 Fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it shall not go out.
14 “And this is the law of the grain offering. The sons of Aaron shall offer it before the Lord in front of the altar.”
15 And one shall take from it a handful of the fine flour of the grain offering and its oil and all the frankincense that is on the grain offering and burn this as its memorial portion on the altar, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
16 And the rest of it Aaron and his sons shall eat. It shall be eaten unleavened in a holy place. In the court of the tent of meeting they shall eat it.
17 It shall not be baked with leaven. I have given it as their portion of my food offerings. It is a thing most holy, like the sin offering and the guilt offering.
18 Every male among the children of Aaron may eat of it, as decreed forever throughout your generations, from the Lord’s food offerings. Whatever touches them shall become holy.
19 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “This is the offering of Aaron and his sons, which they shall offer to the Lord on the day when he is anointed: a tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a regular grain offering, half of it in the morning and half in the evening.
20 “This is the offering that Aaron and his sons shall offer to the Lord on the day when he is anointed: a tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a regular grain offering, half of it in the morning and half in the evening.”
21 It shall be made with oil on a griddle.
22 And the priest from among Aaron’s sons, who is anointed to succeed him, shall offer it to the Lord as decreed forever. It shall be wholly burned.
23 For every grain offering of the priest shall be wholly burned. It shall not be eaten.”
24 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
25 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the sin offering. In the place where the burnt offering is killed shall the sin offering be killed before the Lord; it is most holy.
26 The priest who offers it for sin shall eat it. In a holy place it shall be eaten, in the court of the tent of meeting.
27 Whatever touches its flesh shall be holy, and when any of its blood is splashed on a garment, you shall wash that on which it was splashed in a holy place.
28 But the earthenware vessel in which it is boiled shall be broken. And if it is boiled in a bronze vessel, that shall be scoured and rinsed in water.
29 All the males among the priests shall eat of it. It is most holy.
30 But no sin offering shall be eaten from which any blood is brought into the tent of meeting to make atonement in the Holy Place; it shall be burned up with fire.
Leviticus 7:1-38: 1 “This is the law of the guilt offering. It is most holy.”
2 In the place where they kill the burnt offering they shall kill the guilt offering, and its blood shall be thrown against the sides of the altar.
3 And all its fat he shall offer from it: the fat tail, the fat that covers the entrails,
4 Then he shall offer from it all its fat; the fat tail, the fat that covers the entrails,
5 Then the priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering with a pleasing aroma. All fat is the Lord’s.
6 Every male among the priests may eat of it. It shall be eaten in a holy place. It is most holy.
7 The guilt offering is just like the sin offering; there is one law for them. The priest who makes atonement with it shall have it.
8 And the priest who offers any man’s burnt offering shall have for himself the skin of the burnt offering that he has offered.
9 And every grain offering baked in the oven and all that is prepared in a pan or on a griddle shall belong to the priest who offers it.
10 But the breast that is waved and the thigh that is contributed you shall eat in a clean place, you and your sons and your daughters with you, for they are given as your due and your sons’ due from the sacrifices of the peace offerings of the people of Israel.
11 “And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings that one may offer to the Lord.
12 If he offers it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the thanksgiving sacrifice unleavened loaves mixed with oil, unleavened wafers smeared with oil, and loaves of fine flour well mixed with oil.
13 With the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving, he shall bring his offering with loaves of leavened bread.
14 And of it he shall offer one from each offering, as a food offering to the Lord.
15 And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten on the day of his offering.
16 But if the sacrifice of his offering is a vow offering or a freewill offering, it shall be eaten on the day that he offers his sacrifice, and on the next day what remains of it shall be eaten.
17 But what remains of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burned up with fire.
18 If any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offering is eaten on the third day, he who offers it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be credited to him. It is tainted, and he who eats of it shall bear his iniquity.
19 “And the flesh that touches any unclean thing shall not be eaten. It shall be burned up with fire. All who are clean may eat flesh,”
20 If anyone who is unclean eats of the flesh of the sacrifice of the Lord that is offered as a food offering to the Lord, that person shall be cut off from his people.
21 And if anyone touches an unclean thing, whether human uncleanness or an unclean beast or any unclean detestable creature, and then eats some flesh from the sacrifice of the Lord’s peace offerings, that person shall be cut off from his people.
22 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
23 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, You shall eat no fat, of ox or sheep or goat.
24 And the fat of an animal that dies of itself and the fat of one that is torn by beasts may be put to any other use, but on no account shall you eat it.
25 For anyone who eats the fat of an animal of which a food offering may be made to the Lord shall be cut off from his people.
26 Moreover, you shall eat no blood whatever, whether of fowl or of animal, in any of your dwelling places.
27 Whoever eats blood, that person shall be cut off from his people.
28 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
29 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, ‘Whoever offers the sacrifice of his peace offerings to the Lord shall bring his offering to the Lord from the sacrifice of his peace offerings.
30 His own hands shall bring the Lord’s food offerings. He shall bring the fat with the breast, that the breast may be waved as a wave offering before the Lord.
31 And the priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast shall be for Aaron and his sons.
32 And the right thigh you shall give to the priest as a contribution from the sacrifice of your peace offerings.
33 Whoever among the sons of Aaron offers the blood of the peace offerings and the fat shall have the right thigh for a portion.
34 For the breast that is waved and the thigh that is contributed I have taken from the people of Israel, out of the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons, as a perpetual due from the people of Israel.
35 This is the portion of Aaron and of his sons from the Lord’s food offerings, in the day when they were presented to serve as priests of the Lord.
36 On the eighth day he shall bring them to the priest to offer them to the Lord before the Lord; then the priest shall offer them, the grain offering and the drink offering.
37 This is the law of the burnt offering, of the grain offering, of the sin offering, of the guilt offering, of the ordination offering, and of the peace offering,
38 which the Lord commanded Moses on Mount Sinai, on the day that he commanded the people of Israel to bring their offerings to the Lord, in the wilderness of Sinai.
Numbers 18:8-32: 8 Then the Lord spoke to Aaron, “Behold, I have given you charge of the contributions made to me, all the consecrated things of the people of Israel. I have given them to you as a portion and to your sons as a perpetual due.
9 This shall be yours of the most holy things, reserved from the fire: every offering of theirs, every grain offering of theirs and every sin offering of theirs and every guilt offering of theirs, which they render to me, shall be most holy to you and to your sons.
10 You shall eat it in a holy place, because it is your due and your sons’ due, from the Lord’s food offerings, for so I am commanded.
11 This also is yours: the contribution of their gift, all the wave offerings of the people of Israel. I have given them to you, and to your sons and daughters with you, as a perpetual due. Everyone who is clean in your house may eat it.
12 All the best of the oil and all the best of the wine and of the grain, the firstfruits of what they give to the Lord, I give to you.
13 The first ripe fruits of all that is in their land, which they bring to the Lord, shall be yours. Everyone who is clean in your house may eat it.
14 Everything devoted in Israel shall be yours.
15 Everything that opens the womb of all flesh, whether man or beast, which they offer to the Lord, shall be yours. Nevertheless, the firstborn of man you shall redeem, and the firstborn of unclean animals you shall redeem.
16 They shall have the firstfruits of all the fruit of every tree, and you shall receive the firstfruits of all that is in the land to the Lord.
17 But the firstborn of a cow, or the firstborn of a sheep, or the firstborn of a goat, you shall not redeem; they are holy. You shall sprinkle their blood on the altar and shall burn their fat as a food offering, with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
18 But the flesh of the bull and its skin and its dung you shall burn with fire outside the camp; it is a sin offering.
19 All the holy contributions that the people of Israel present to the Lord I give to you, and to your sons and daughters with you, as a perpetual due. It is a covenant of salt forever before the Lord for you and for your offspring with you.
20 And the Lord said to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the people of Israel.
21 “To the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service that they do, their service in the tent of meeting,
22 So the people of Israel shall no longer come near the tent of meeting, lest they bear sin and die.
23 But the Levites shall do the service of the tent of meeting, and they shall bear their iniquity. It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations, and among the people of Israel they shall have no inheritance.
24 For the tithe of the people of Israel, which they present as a contribution to the Lord, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance. Therefore I have said of them that they shall have no inheritance among the people of Israel.”
25 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
26 “Moreover, you shall speak and say to the Levites, ‘When you take from the people of Israel the tithe that I have given you from them for your inheritance, then you shall present a contribution from it to the Lord, a tithe of the tithe.
27 And this your contribution shall be counted to you as though it were the grain of the threshing floor, and as the fullness of the winepress.
28 So you shall also present a contribution to the Lord from all your tithes, which you receive from the people of Israel. And from it you shall give the Lord’s contribution to Aaron the priest.
29 Out of all the gifts to you, you shall present every contribution due to the Lord; from each its best part is to be dedicated.’
30 Therefore you shall say to them, ‘When you have offered from it the best of it, then the rest shall be counted as the Levites’ property, as if it were the produce of the threshing floor and as the produce of the winepress.
31 And you may eat it in any place, you and your households, for it is your reward in return for your service in the tent of meeting.
32 And you shall bear no sin by reason of it, when you have contributed the best of it. But you shall not profane the holy things of the people of Israel, lest you die.’”
Deuteronomy 12:5-14: 5 But you shall seek the place that the Lord your God will choose out of all your tribes to put his name and make his habitation there. There you shall go,
6 And there you shall bring your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the contribution that you present, your vow offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock.
7 And there you shall eat before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your households, in all that you undertake, in which the Lord your God has blessed you.
8 “You shall not do according to all that we are doing here today, everyone doing whatever is right in his own eyes,”
9 for you have not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance that the Lord your God is giving you.
10 But when you go over the Jordan and live in the land that the Lord your God is giving you to inherit, and when he gives you rest from all your enemies around, so that you live in safety,
11 then to the place that the Lord your God will choose, to make his name dwell there, there you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the contribution that you present, and all your finest vow offerings that you vow to the Lord.
12 And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your sons and your daughters, your male servants and your female servants, and the Levite that is within your towns, since he has no portion or inheritance with you.
13 Take care that you do not offer your burnt offerings at any place that you see,
14 But in the place that the Lord will choose in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I am commanding you.
2 Chronicles 29:20-36: 20 Then Hezekiah the king rose early and gathered the officials of the city and went up to the house of the Lord.
21 And they brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats for a sin offering for the kingdom and for the sanctuary and for Judah. And he commanded the priests, the sons of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of the Lord.
22 So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests received the blood and threw it against the altar.
23 Then the goats for the sin offering were brought to the king and the assembly, and they laid their hands on them,
24 And the priests slaughtered them and made a sin offering with their blood on the altar, to make atonement for all Israel. For the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.
25 And he stationed the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, harps, and lyres, according to the commandment of David and of Gad the king’s seer and of Nathan the prophet, for the commandment was from the Lord through his prophets.
26 The Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.
27 And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering on the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song to the Lord began also, and the trumpets, accompanied by the instruments of David king of Israel.
28 The whole assembly worshiped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded. All this continued until the burnt offering was finished.
29 When the offering was finished, the king and all who were present with him bowed themselves and worshiped.
30 And Hezekiah the king and the officials commanded the Levites to sing praises to the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed down and worshiped.
31 Then Hezekiah said, “You have now consecrated yourselves to the Lord. Come near; bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of the Lord.” And the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all who were of a willing heart brought burnt offerings.
32 The number of the burnt offerings that the assembly brought was seventy bulls, a hundred rams, and two hundred lambs; all these were for a burnt offering to the Lord.
33 The consecrated offerings were six hundred bulls and three thousand sheep.
34 But the priests were too few and could not flay all the burnt offerings, so until other priests had consecrated themselves, their brothers the Levites helped them, until the work was finished.
35 There were many burnt offerings. The fat of the peace offerings was also there, and the drink offerings for the burnt offerings. Thus the service of the house of the Lord was restored.
36 And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because God had provided for the people, for the thing came about suddenly.
Nehemiah 10:32-39: 32 We also take on ourselves the obligation to give yearly a third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God:
33 for the showbread, the regular grain offering, the regular burnt offering, the Sabbaths, the new moons, the appointed feasts, the holy things, and the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.
34 We obligate ourselves to bring the firstfruits of our ground and the firstfruits of all fruit of every tree, year by year, to the house of the Lord;
35 We obligate ourselves to bring the firstfruits of our ground and the firstfruits of all fruit of every tree, year by year, to the house of the Lord;
36 also to bring the first of our dough, and our contributions, the fruit of every tree, the wine and the oil, to the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and to bring to the Levites the tithes from our ground, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all our towns.
37 and to bring the first of our dough, and our contributions, the fruit of every tree, the wine and the oil, to the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and to bring to the Levites the tithes from our ground, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all our towns where we labor.
38 And the priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive the tithes. And the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers of the storehouse.
39 For the people of Israel and the sons of Levi shall bring the contribution of grain, wine, and oil to the storerooms where the vessels of the sanctuary are, as well as the priests who minister, and the gatekeepers and the singers. We will not neglect the house of our God.”
Psalm 51:16-19: 16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem;
19 Then you will delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Isaiah 1:11-17: 11 “What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats.”
12 “When you come to appear before me,
who has required of you
this trampling of my courts?
13 Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me.
14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them.
15 When you spread out your hands,
I will hide my eyes from you;
even though you make many prayers,
I will not listen;
your hands are full of blood.
16 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil,
17 learn to do good;
seek justice,
correct oppression;
bring justice to the fatherless,
plead the widow’s cause.
Malachi 3:8-12: 8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions.
9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you.
10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts.
12 Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.
Matthew 5:23-24: 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Mark 12:41-44: 41 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums.
42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny.
43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box.
44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
Luke 21:1-4: 1 Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box.
2 He also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.
3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them.
4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
Hebrews 10:1-18: 10 For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.
2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins?
3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.
4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me;
6 In burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.
7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’
When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law),
9 then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second.
10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,
13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.
14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,
16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them
after those days, declares the Lord:
I will put my laws on their hearts,
and write them on their minds,”
17 then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”
18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
Rev. François Dupont is a dedicated church minister with a wealth of experience in serving spiritual communities. With a calm and serene demeanor, he has been devoted to sharing the message of love, compassion, and tolerance for over two decades. Through his thoughtful sermons, compassionate counseling, and unwavering support, Rev. Dupont has touched the lives of countless individuals, allowing them to find solace and strength during difficult times. His serene presence and deep understanding of the human condition make him a trusted guide for those seeking spiritual nourishment and guidance.