In our study of Leviticus chapter two, we look at how the grain offering is a picture of the perfect life of Jesus. In chapter one, we looked at the burnt offering and the fact that it was a picture of the atoning death of Jesus Christ for our sins. Now, we look at the grain (meal) offering and how it represents His perfect life in the flesh on this earth.
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"'Anyone who brings a grain offering to ADONAI is to make his offering of fine flour; he is to pour olive oil on it and put frankincense on it.
We are introduced to the grain offering and are reminded that it was offered with one of the other offerings including the burnt offering. We see that it is to be the finest flour and we have to remember that they did not have factories or equipment to grind the grain into flour. For most people, the grain would have been beaten by hand and it would have taken a considerable amount of time and effort. This is a reminder that, when we come to Messiah for salvation, we are placing our will and our lives in His hands. We see that the offering was to have olive oil and incense on it. Olive oil is a picture of the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The incense was frankincense and this only let the smell out when it was crushed or bruised. This is a picture of the fact that the life of Messiah was led by the will of the Father and that He would suffer for our sins. These offerings were presented every day and are a reminder that our walk, as Christians, involves a daily offering of our lives to God.
He is to bring it to the sons of Aharon, the cohanim. The cohen is to take a handful of fine flour from it, together with its olive oil and all its frankincense, and make this reminder portion go up in smoke on the altar as an offering made by fire, a fragrant aroma for ADONAI. But the rest of the grain offering will belong to Aharon and his sons; it is an especially holy part of the offerings for ADONAI made by fire.
A portion was burnt on the altar and the rest was for the priests to eat. This reminds us that God wants to be given control of our lives but He also allows us to use much of the time to enjoy the things He has made.
"'When you bring a grain offering which has been baked in the oven, it is to consist of either unleavened cakes made of fine flour mixed with olive oil or matzah spread with olive oil.
Throughout the Bible, yeast is a picture of sin and heat or fire is a picture of trials and refinement. In the meal offering we see that Messiah lived a sinless life on this earth but it was not without trials and temptations. The olive oil that is used in the preparation reminds us of the fact that it was a Spirit filled life led by the will of the Father.
If your offering is a grain offering cooked on a griddle, it is to consist of unleavened fine flour mixed with olive oil; you are to break it in pieces and pour olive oil on it - it is a grain offering. If your offering is a grain offering cooked in a pot, it is to consist of fine flour with olive oil.
Although baking takes longer, the griddle and the pan are still able to cook something. We are reminded that it is not the length of a life on this earth that matters but the quality of it. The quality is determined by following the Spirit.
"'You are to bring the grain offering prepared in any of these ways to ADONAI ; it is to be presented to the cohen, and he is to bring it to the altar. The cohen is to remove the reminder portion of the grain offering and make it go up in smoke on the altar as an offering made by fire, a fragrant aroma for ADONAI. But the rest of the grain offering will belong to Aharon and his sons; it is an especially holy part of the offerings for ADONAI made by fire.
Most of the offering was given to the priests to sustain them and they were to eat it in the sanctuary. This is a reminder to us that the life of Yeshua has purchased everything that we need to sustain us. Many people spend a bunch of their time trying to chase after the things of this world and worrying about sustaining their family. Here, we see that God will supply when we trust in Him and the offering of Yeshua Messiah.
"'No grain offering that you bring to ADONAI is to be made with leaven, because you are not to cause any leaven or honey to go up in smoke as an offering made by fire to ADONAI. As an offering of firstfruits you may bring these to ADONAI, but they are not to be brought up onto the altar to make a fragrant aroma.
This offering could not contain yeast or honey and that is because it is a picture of the earthly life of Yeshua Messiah. Yeast (leaven) is forbidden because it is associated with sin and Yeshua had to be the perfect sacrifice. To be the perfect sacrifice, He had to be without defect (sin). Honey is associated with natural sweetness and was forbidden because it was used to cover over the natural taste of things. This was a picture of the fact that the truth was not to be "sugar-coated". That truth was the fact that man could not be made righteous through their own efforts but only through the sacrifice of Yeshua Messiah. Today, there are those that want to sugar-coat this truth in order to get along. We cannot do this and still trust in the fact that Jesus paid for our sins. It is also a reminder to us that our walk with Messiah on this earth will not be one of compromise with this world. That does not glorify God and is not a pleasing aroma to Him.
You are to season every grain offering of yours with salt - do not omit from your grain offering the salt of the covenant with your God, but offer salt with all your offerings.
Salt is a preservative and was a symbol of the lasting promises of God. This was to be added to all of the grain offerings and is a picture of the fact that Yeshua is eternal.
"'If you bring a grain offering of firstfruits to ADONAI, you are to bring as the grain offering from your firstfruits kernels of grain from fresh ears, dry-roasted with fire. Put olive oil on it, and lay frankincense on it; it is a grain offering. The cohen is to cause the reminder portion of it, its grits and olive oil, with all its frankincense, to go up in smoke; it is an offering made by fire for ADONAI.
Grain that was the first and best part of the harvest was to be treated in a special way. This was because of the fact that Yeshua was to be the firstfruits of the resurrection and these are a picture of Him.
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