Lesson 7

MEAT (MEAL) OFFERING 

Reading: Lev. 2, 6:14 -23

Memory Verses: Eph 1:4-6

Theme: To consecrate ourselves to holiness keeping in mind the significance of meal offering and the example of holy life that Jesus Christ offered in the presence of God.

Introduction: It is sin that separates man from God. What is it thatGod desires from man?

 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;  for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1: 15,16)

We see the example of a holy life in the life of Jesus Christ. Meal offering represents the holy and consecrated life that Jesus presented before man and God.

MATERIALS FOR THE OFFERING 

Meal offering is a sacrifice without blood and three types of materials can be used for the offering.

1. Fine Flour

It points to the purity and meekness of Jesus Christ whose nature does not contain any anger or guilt.

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

 “He committed no sin,

    and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.(1 Peter 2:21-23)

2. Unleavened cakes and wafers baked with oil

The cakes and wafers are made with fine flour. Fine flour represents purity if nature and oil represent Holy Spirit. There should not be any leaven (guilt or wickedness) in the offering.

2. Green ear of corn dried by fire.

Jesus Christ, the good corn was baked in the fire of the wrath of God and became a sweet savor offering.

MATERIALS TO BE ADDED 

1. Oil

Olive oil was poured on the material being offered. In case of cakes and wafers, they were baked in oil and cut into small pieces. Oil was then poured on them. In other words, the offering should be covered with oil. Oil represents the Holy Spirit. Jesus was born of the Holy Spirit

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 

Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. (Mathew 1:18-20)

He was filled with the Holy Spirit before His public ministry. His ministry was in the Holy Spirit. His death and His resurrection were by the Holy Spirit. Lives of believers also must be like this. We must imbibe the purity of Jesus Christ in our lives. Just as the meat offering was soaked in oil, our lives and services should be filled with the Holy Spirit.

2. Frankincense 

Frankincense is sprinkled on the sacrificial material. When it is burned in fire sweet smell fills the air. Jesus Christ walked through villages and towns and preached the gospel and healed all manner of sickness. His fame spread fast all over Galilee. He spread the sweet savour of Joy and healing all over the land. God's children should disseminate sweet savour of God in their surroundings, too. Paul declares in 2 Corinthians 2: 14-15)

But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.(2 Corinthians 2:14,15)

3. Salt 

Salt is a symbol of the covenant. Moreover, salt is a purifier and a preserving agent. One of the main attributes of salt is that it adds flavour. Jesus Christ cleansed many sinners and made them acceptable to society. For example, Samaritan woman, Sinner woman, Zacchaeus, He gave comfort and joy to many by His sweet words and loving actions. All believers must endeavour to add flavours to others by their words and deeds. Remember the words of Jesus: You are the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13).

MATERIAL WHICH ARE FORBIDDEN FOR USE

1. Leaven 

Wickedness, hypocrisy and false doctrines are equated to leaven in the Word of God.

 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (2 Corinthians 5:8)

There was no trace of any such leaven in Christ. Children of God must observe holiness in their lives. We must be examples to others in our words deeds love faith and purity. Hypocrisy should not have any place in us. We must hold fast to the true doctrines of the Word of God.

2. Honey 

Honey represents the natural sweetness. When Jesus lived on the earth, He had no form nor comeliness and no beauty to be desired, He was despised and rejected by men and a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Let us mont desire external comeliness, but let our inner beauty be pleasing as a meal offering before God.

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. (1 Peter 3:3,4)

SPECIALITIES OF THE MEAL OFFERING

1. Meal offering was a bloodless sacrifice. Sacrifices with blood show that Jesus Christ has done for us through His death. But the bloodless meal offering shows what He has done for us before His death through His pure life. It shows the blessing that flows towards us from his spotless life. 

2. Materials offered for this sacrifice are made from fine flour. Produced by labour of man. Hence meal offering points to the necessity of making a diligent effort towards holiness in life. 

3. Only a part of meal offering is burned while the remaining is eaten by the priest. The worshipor does not eat out of his offering. God pleased by the meal offering presented by the our life of Jesus Christ and the redeemed believers who are priests also become partakers of the offering.

Meal offering teaches us many spiritual lessons touching our practical lives. We have to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God. Let us crucify our fleshly and selfish desires. Let us dedicate ourselves in the presence of God to live a life filled with the Holy Spirit, spreading the sweet savour of Christ in the world and imparting flavour to other people. Let our lives also be a sweet savour offering to God as the life of Jesus Christ.