Lev 2 | MHM | STEP | Leviticus 2:1: The Law of the Meat-Offering This passage gives the rules for the meat-offering, also called the grain-offering. Some meat-offerings were given with burnt-offerings or peace-offerings, as seen in Exodus 29:38, 39 and Numbers 15:4, 7, 9, 10 . But here, the law is about meat-offerings that are given by themselves, whenever someone wants to show devotion to God. The first offering in the Bible was a grain-offering, when Cain brought the fruit of the ground to God (Genesis 4:3 ). v. 1 : The meat-offering is special because it allows even the poor to give something to God. People who only have simple food like bread or cakes can offer it to God, just as the widow of Sarepta gave a little cake to Elijah first (1 Kings 17:12-13 ). By giving to God first, they can receive His blessing. This offering is also a way to thank God for providing food and to show dependence on Him. When people share their food with others, they honor God with a spiritual offering. In times of famine, the prophet Joel mourned that the meat-offering and drink-offering were stopped (Joel 1:9 ), and he said that the return of these offerings was a sign of God’s blessing (Joel 2:14 ). The offering must always be made with fine flour and oil, which were important foods in Canaan (Deuteronomy 8:8 ). Oil was used like butter is today. If the flour is not cooked, oil is poured on top ( v. 1 ). If it is cooked, the oil is mixed in ( v. 4 ). v. 1-2 : If the flour is offered uncooked, frankincense must be added and burned with it to make the altar smell sweet ( v. 1, 2 ). This sweet smell is like the good reputation of gospel ministers, who are described as a “sweet savour unto God” (2 Corinthians 2:15 ).

‏ Leviticus 2

Leviticus 2:1: The Law of the Meat-Offering

This passage gives the rules for the meat-offering, also called the grain-offering. Some meat-offerings were given with burnt-offerings or peace-offerings, as seen in Exodus 29:38, 39 ^a and Numbers 15:4, 7, 9, 10 ^b. But here, the law is about meat-offerings that are given by themselves, whenever someone wants to show devotion to God. The first offering in the Bible was a grain-offering, when Cain brought the fruit of the ground to God (Genesis 4:3 ^c).

v. 1: The meat-offering is special because it allows even the poor to give something to God. People who only have simple food like bread or cakes can offer it to God, just as the widow of Sarepta gave a little cake to Elijah first (1 Kings 17:12-13 ^d). By giving to God first, they can receive His blessing. This offering is also a way to thank God for providing food and to show dependence on Him. When people share their food with others, they honor God with a spiritual offering. In times of famine, the prophet Joel mourned that the meat-offering and drink-offering were stopped (Joel 1:9 ^e), and he said that the return of these offerings was a sign of God’s blessing (Joel 2:14 ^f).

The offering must always be made with fine flour and oil, which were important foods in Canaan (Deuteronomy 8:8 ^g). Oil was used like butter is today. If the flour is not cooked, oil is poured on top (v. 1 ^h). If it is cooked, the oil is mixed in (v. 4 ⁱ).

v. 1-2: If the flour is offered uncooked, frankincense must be added and burned with it to make the altar smell sweet (v. 1, 2 ^j). This sweet smell is like the good reputation of gospel ministers, who are described as a “sweet savour unto God” (2 Corinthians 2:15 ^k).

v. 2, 9: Part of the meat-offering is burned on the altar as a memorial, to remember God’s kindness in giving food. It is called “an offering made by fire” (v. 2, 9 ^l). Burning some of the offering reminds people that all their food could be destroyed, but God’s mercy has spared them. It also teaches that food is not everything—people do not live by bread alone (1 Corinthians 6:13 ^m). The burnt part is a sweet smell to the Lord. Our spiritual offerings, like giving to others, are also pleasing to God (Philippians 4:18; Hebrews 13:16 ⁿ).

v. 3, 10: The rest of the meat-offering belongs to the priests (v. 3, 10 ^o). It is “most holy,” so only the priests and their families can eat it, not the ones who brought it. This is different from the peace-offering, which could be eaten by the offerers. God made this rule so that the priests, who serve at the altar, could live well from what is given to Him.

v. 4: The cooked meat-offerings could be prepared in different ways. They could be baked, fried, or cooked on a plate with flour and oil. There were special tools for this at the tabernacle. God’s law gave detailed instructions, even for the simplest offerings, showing that He values sincere worship from everyone, rich or poor.

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v. 8: The person bringing the offering must give it to the priest, who then offers it to the Lord. The priests act as God’s receivers and are chosen to offer these gifts (v. 8 ^p).

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Leviticus 2:11: Leaven, Honey, Salt, and the First-Fruits in Offerings

This passage explains some special rules for the meat-offerings (grain-offerings) in Israel. It tells which ingredients are not allowed, which are required, and how to give the first part of the harvest to God. These details teach about purity in worship and remind the people to offer their best to God. The rules also show the importance of sincerity, balance, and thankfulness in all offerings.

v. 11: Leaven and honey are not allowed in any offering made by fire to the Lord. The ban on leaven reminds the people of the unleavened bread they ate when they left Egypt in a hurry (Exodus 12:39 ^q). In the New Testament, leaven is compared to pride, hypocrisy, malice, and wickedness because it grows and spreads and can spoil what is good (1 Corinthians 5:6-8 ^r). Honey is not allowed either, even though the land of Canaan is rich in honey, because eating too much honey is not good (Proverbs 25:16, 27 ^s). Another reason for these bans is that pagan nations used leaven and honey in their sacrifices, and God’s people were not to copy heathen customs (Deuteronomy 12:30, 31 ^t). Some people also think leaven stands for sadness and honey for too much pleasure. In worship, people should avoid both extremes and have a balanced spirit.

v. 12: The first-fruits at harvest time were offered to God as gifts for the priests, not to be burned on the altar (v. 12; Deuteronomy 26:2 ^u). These could include leaven and honey, which were not allowed in other offerings. The first-fruits loaves were to be baked with leaven (Leviticus 23:17 ^v), and honey was also brought as a first-fruit (2 Chronicles 31:5 ^w).

v. 13: Every offering must include salt (v. 13 ^x). The altar is the Lord’s table, and just as salt is important for food, it is a symbol of friendship and lasting agreement—called the “salt of the covenant.” Salt was provided for everyone’s offerings, not just by the givers, and there was a special room in the temple for storing salt (Ezra 7:20-22 ^y). The use of salt reminds us that our sacrifices need to be made with sincerity and dedication. Jesus said, “Every sacrifice must be salted with salt” (Mark 9:49, 50 ^z), and Paul said our speech should always be “with grace, seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6 ^aa). Christians are called to be the salt of the earth.

v. 14-16: If someone wanted to bring a freewill offering from their first ripe grain, they should bring the best and fullest ears, not the small or withered ones (v. 14-16 ^ab). These green ears had to be dried by fire and then beaten out. God does not expect as much from the “green ears” as He does from the fully ripe harvest. Young people who serve God with all their heart are accepted, even if their service is not as mature as older people’s. Oil and frankincense are added to these offerings, which shows that wisdom, humility, and devotion make any offering pleasing to God. The green ears are burned like other meat-offerings, and all the frankincense is offered up as a sweet-smelling fire to God (v. 16 ^ac). The fire shows the zeal and love that should be in every act of worship, and the frankincense points to Christ’s intercession, making our offerings acceptable to God.