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Meat Offering
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Introduction: Almost every scholar wants to change the meat offering to something else—although they cannot decide what else. The name is said to be confusing to Bible readers. The meat offering has no animal flesh. In fact, it is the only major offering in which no animals are killed. Why is it called the meat offering? Actually, there are very good reasons for calling it the meat offering. The Biblical use of meat refers to solid food as opposed to drink (see Ps.69:21; Dan.1:10; Mt.25:35; Jn.6:55; Rom.14:17). This is also the older use of the word in English. The first occurrences of meat in the Bible are found in Genesis 1:29-30 where God gives every “herb bearing seed” and the “fruit of a tree…for meat.” Obviously, the fine flour of the meat offering would fit into the meaning of the word.
But there is more. The meat offering has a very special typology that is revealed plainly by the cross references to the word meat as used by Christ. The meat offering is the offering of a “living sacrifice”—the kind Christians are supposed to give (Romans 12:1). It is also the kind of sacrifice Christ gave during His earthly ministry. Two verses especially teach this. In John 4:34, Jesus said, “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” In John 6:27, He declares, “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life.” These references to meat fit perfectly with the meaning of the meat offering.
Yet, this wonderful connection in scripture is destroyed in the modern versions of the Bible. And it is not simply a matter of them choosing another word. None that I have examined use the same word—any word—in all three passages. Observe the following chart:
This lesson will deal with the different elements of the meat offering. It will then show how these characteristics apply to the life of Christ and the life of the believer.
I. THE FINE FLOUR (2:1)
A. Description – fine flour. It was beaten to a fine grain so that it had no lumps or imperfections.
B. Application
1. Contrition – to be contrite means literally to be beaten into small pieces; it pictures a smallness in the sight of God; repentance, submission (Ps.34:18; Isa.66:1-2) 2. Jesus, as the bread of life (Jn.6:47-51), displayed His contrition (Mk.14:34-36) and humility (Phil.2:5-8). The fine flour also points out His perfection (Heb.7:26).
II. THE OIL (2:1)
A. Description – to be poured on the bread made of the fine flour
B. Symbology
1. The bread is a picture of the body (Mt.26:26) 2. The oil is a picture of the Holy Ghost (1Sam.16:13; Isa.61:1)
C. Application
1. To the life of Christ (Jn.3:34; Lk.4:16-21; Heb.1:9) 2. To the life of the believer (Gal.5:16-26; Eph.3:16; 5:18)
III. THE FRANKINCENSE (2:1-2)
A. Description
1. A spice used for increasing and extending the aroma of other spices 2. To be placed on the meat offering
B. Application
1. A type of prayer in the Bible (Ps.141:1-2; Rev.8:3-4) 2. Prayer in the life of Christ (Mt.14:23; Mk.1:35; Lk.6:12) 3. Prayer in the life of the believer (Col.4:2; 1Thes.5:17; 1Tim.2:1)
IV. THE FIRE (2:2)
A. The Fire of the Altar and the Sacrifice
1. A type of trials 2. Kinds of trials a. Three kinds of baking mentioned (1) Baked in an oven (v.4) (2) Baked in a pan (v.5-6) (3) Baked in a frying pan (v.7-9) b. Three kinds of temptations (1) Listed (1Jn.2:15-16) (2) Temptation of Christ (Mt.4:1-11)
B. Application
1. The trials of Christ (Heb.2:9-10) 2. The trials of the believer (Rom.5:3-5; 1Pet.1:6-7)
V. A THING MOST HOLY (2:3,10)
A. As Something Devoted to God (Lev.27:28)
B. A Type of Christ (Lk.1:35; Heb.7:26)
C. A Picture of the Believer (1Thes.4:7; 1Pet.1:15-16)
VI. NO LEAVEN (2:11)
A. Leaven is a picture of sin (1Cor.5:6-8; Gal.5:7-9)
B. The life of Christ was sinless (2Cor.5:21; Heb.4:15; 1Pet.2:22; 1Jn.3:5)
VII. NO HONEY (2:11)
A. Honey – a type of the good (sweet) thing of life (see Pr.25:16, 27)
B. Application
1. In the life of Christ (Isa.53:1-4; Mt.20:28) 2. In the sobriety of the believers (Tit.2:2,4,6; Eph.5:4); but not an absence of joy (Phil.4:4)
VIII. SEASONED WITH SALT (2:12-13)
A. A Covenant of Salt (Num.18:19; 2Chr.13:4-6)
B. Application
1. To flavor; to make pleasing to the taste; this is a sacrifice which pleases the Lord a. The life of Christ (Mt.3:16-17) b. The life of the believer (Heb.13:15-16) 2. To preserve (see Col.1:22-23)
IX. AN OFFERING OF FIRSTFRUITS (2:14-16)
A. The Feast of Firstfruits (Lev.23:10,13)
B. A Type of the Resurrection (1Cor.15:20,23)
X. SACRIFICED WITH DRINK OFFERINGS (Ex.29:41; Lev.23:9-14)
A. The Bread and Wine of Melchisidek (Gen.14:18)
B. The Flesh and Blood of Jesus Christ (Jn.6:51-56,63)
C. The Bread and Cup of the Lord’s Supper (Mt.26:26-29)
Conclusion: At the Feast of Pentecost (Lev.23:15-17), there was to be offered a new meat offering. The new meat offering was like other meat offerings in most regards. There was, however, to be one major difference. The new meat offering was to be offered "with leaven" (v.17). Leaven, the type of sin, was to be included. Why?
The feast of Pentecost was a type of the New Testament and the dispensation of grace. In this dispensation, more than in any other, God allows those who are sinners to partake of His righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ. And, though we may still have some leaven in us, we are allowed to offer our bodies a living sacrifice for God (Rom.12:1). What a glorious truth in this passage!
MEMORY VERSES:
1. John 4:34 2. Romans 12:1 3. John 6:27
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