Fellowship Offering

Leviticus 22:18-21 – “Speak to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites and say to them: ‘If any of you—whether an Israelite or a foreigner residing in Israel—presents a gift for a burnt offering to the Lord, either to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering, you must present a male without defect from the cattle, sheep or goats in order that it may be accepted on your behalf. Do not bring anything with a defect, because it will not be accepted on your behalf. When anyone brings from the herd or flock a fellowship offering to the Lord to fulfill a special vow or as a freewill offering, it must be without defect or blemish to be acceptable.

Hebrews 9:14 – How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

1 Peter 1:18-19 – For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

Exodus 32:6 – So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. Afterward they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.

Leviticus 7:16 – “‘If, however, their offering is the result of a vow or is a freewill offering, the sacrifice shall be eaten on the day they offer it, but anything left over may be eaten on the next day.

Exodus 12:5 – The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats.

Amos 4:5 – Burn leavened bread as a thank offering and brag about your freewill offerings—boast about them, you Israelites, for this is what you love to do,” declares the Sovereign Lord.

Leviticus 3:1 – “‘If your offering is a fellowship offering, and you offer an animal from the herd, whether male or female, you are to present before the Lord an animal without defect.

Application:

• ·         In the entirety of Christ’s being, He was unblemished, not just superficially.
• ·         The Old Testament sacrifices were types of Christ, depicting the ultimate and only effective sacrifice. Thus Christ is the Passover lamb, who takes away the sin of the world.
• ·         Israel tended toward idolatry.
• ·         A vow was a solemn promise to offer a gift to God in response to a divine deliverance or blessing. Such vows often accompanied prayers for deliverance or blessing.
• ·         Jesus was like a lamb without blemish or defect.
• ·         Israel loved the forms and rituals of religion but did not love what God loves—goodness, mercy, kindness, justice.
• ·         Two basic ideas are included in the fellowship offering: peace and fellowship.

All Scripture verses taken from ESV