2.2. PERSISTENT LABOUR - MEAL OFFERING (Leviticus 2:1-16, 6:14-23)

A number of options open for the meal offering. Meal offerings could be selected from "fine flour" (Leviticus 2:1-3 ), baked loaves (Leviticus 2:4-11 ), or from green heads of grain (Leviticus 2:12-16 ). Additional oil and incense caused them to be a "sweet aroma" to God (Leviticus 2:2 ). There was to be no blemish. They were not to contain anything suggesting fermentation or corruption, as leaven or honey (Leviticus 2:11 ). Salt had to be added to every offering (Leviticus 2:13 ) standing for permanence and incorruption. Notice that the meal offering accompanied burnt offerings, for example, the continual daily sacrifice (Leviticus 6:20 ), also the example of (Leviticus 23:18 ).

Leviticus 23:18 "And you shall offer with bread seven lambs of the first year, without blemish, one young bull, and two rams. They shall be as a burnt offering to the LORD, with their grain offering and their drink offerings, an offering made by fire for a sweet aroma to the Lord."

The meal offering in this way was associated with atonement and was never adequate when offered alone, as is evident in the case of Cain's bloodless sacrifice (Genesis 4:3 ).

As workmen the officiating priests were not forgotten - they received the portions that were not burned upon the altar. (Leviticus 2:3, 10, 6:16-18 ).

1 Corinthians 9:13, 14 "Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel."

	The meal offering was a memorial to the Lord (Leviticus 6:15 ). It reminded God of His people's reconciled status - the reconciled can render their labours to the Lord.
	The meal offering prefigured the perfect life of Jesus Christ. He lived out consecrated observance fulfilling all righteousness for us. (Matthew 3:15 ).
	The meal offering speaks of the Lord's pleasure in our persistent labour for Him.

1 Corinthians 15:58 "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

We are sure of the meal offering of our persistent labour being acknowledged by His "Well Done" - the resurrection of Jesus ensures ours and gives solid hope for the future, giving us powerful incentive for serving in the present.

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QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

1. Why did the meal offering accompany the burnt offerings (Leviticus 6:20; 23:18; Genesis 4:3 )?

2. What lesson did Paul draw from those who serve at the altar being permitted to partake of the offerings of the altar (1 Corinthians 9:13-14 )?

3. Do you see the prefigured meaning of the meal offering in the words of Jesus in Matthew 3:15?

4. Are you giving a meal offering of persistent labour for the Lord's pleasure (1 Corinthians 15:58 )?