The importance of peace
Peace may be defined as a voluntary sacrifice in thanks, from the primary root “to be safe” “to be completed” “to be at one again”
Important Scriptures:
(Isa 53:5 NIV) But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
(Rom 5:1 NIV) Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
(Col 1:20 NIV) and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
(Phil 4:7 NIV) And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
(Isa 57:21 NIV) “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”
Peace is a basis for relationship between God and us. It is interesting to notice that the peace offering is the central one of the five. It is at the heart of reconciliation.
Jesus understood the importance of peace and its function in reconciliation.
(John 14:27 NIV) Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
(John 16:33 NIV) “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
(Mat 5:9 NIV) Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
This was emphasised in the Epistles.
(Acts 10:36 NIV) You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
(Rom 3:17 NIV) and the way of peace they do not know.”
(Gal 1:3 NIV) Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,
(Eph 2:14 NIV) For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,
(Eph 4:3 NIV) Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
(Heb 7:2 NIV) and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.”
THE PEACE OFFERING.
(Lev Chap3; Chap7:11-34.)
This offering was to restore PEACE between the children of Israel and God.
As with the Burnt offering and the Meal offering the Peace offering had three types . Bullock, Sheep and Goat.
v.6 Male or Female offering.
A contrast to the burnt offering. Why was this so??? Both Adam and Eve sinned. In the new covenant both are one in Christ … neither male nor female.
(Gal 3:28 NIV) There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Without blemish.
Every offering must be without blemish. As was the perfect offering of Jesus. They could find no fault in Him.
(1 Pet 1:19 NIV) but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
HANDS LAID ON THE HEAD
(Lev Chap 3:2,8) Hands were laid upon the head of the offering for:
a. Identification with the animal. It became guilty for the one who made the offering. It was offered in the person’s stead.
b. Impartation. The sins of the person were imparted to the animal. There could be no peace while sin was present in the person.
c. Substitution. A lamb for a man, the perfect for the imperfect.
These three aspects all point to Jesus. God accepted His offering in place of us. Jesus was not just a good example to follow He had to die.
He made peace by the blood of His cross so that we could be without blame.
Note that it was not because of the animals perfect life it was accepted, the acceptance was because of the blood.
LAY HANDS UPON AND KILL IT
(Lev 3:2 NIV) He is to lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
.(Rom 5:10 NIV) For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
They laid hands upon Jesus in the garden, examined Him but found no fault.
SPRINKLING OF THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB.
(Lev 3:2 NIV) Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood against the altar on all sides.
Consider the places where the blood of Jesus was sprinkled. Gethsemane, Judgement hall, Crown of thorns, Beard, Stripes, Blood at Calvary, Spear in side
As our great High Priest took His blood to sprinkle upon the heavenly altar for us
FAT OF THE INWARDS
(Lev.3:3,9,10,15.) This was considered the best. Only the best was offered to God. Jesus gave his best.
(Num 18:29 NIV) You must present as the Lord’s portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you.’
Inwards:
(Gen 6:5 NIV) The LORD saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.
Typical of man in the natural state. No truth in the inward parts.
(Psa 51:6 NIV) Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
(Prov 20:27 NIV) The lamp of the LORD searches the spirit of a man; it searches out his inmost being.
(Heb 4:12-13 NIV) For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. [13] Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
The priest divided and sorted the inward parts … so God with us. All are naked and open to Him. No good just cleaning the outside. The Pharisees did that.
BURN WITH FIRE.
(Lev 3:5 NIV) Then Aaron’s sons are to burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering that is on the burning wood, as an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.
(Lev 3:11 NIV) The priest shall burn them on the altar as food, an offering made to the LORD by fire.
As a sweet savour to God. Jesus was burnt up.on the cross. His soul and spirit ascended to God as a sweet savour.
BLOOD AND FAT NOT TO BE EATEN
(Lev 3:17 NIV) “‘This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.'”
(Gen 9:4 NIV) “But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it.
(Lev 17:10 NIV) “‘Any Israelite or any alien living among them who eats any blood—I will set my face against that person who eats blood and will cut him off from his people.
OT. No life because no blood … the law led to death
NT A hard saying … Eat & drink..The new testament in my blood.
LAWS OF THE PEACE OFFERING.
a. Unleavened and leavened bread
b. Two kinds of offering … Thanksgiving and a freewill or vow.
c. To be eaten by the second day
d. Ceremonial cleanness involved.
(Lev 7:11-34 NIV) “‘These are the regulations for the fellowship offering a person may present to the LORD: [12] “‘If he offers it as an expression of thankfulness, then along with this thank offering he is to offer cakes of bread made without yeast and mixed with oil, wafers made without yeast and spread with oil, and cakes of fine flour well-kneaded and mixed with oil.
[13] Along with his fellowship offering of thanksgiving he is to present an offering with cakes of bread made with yeast. [14] He is to bring one of each kind as an offering, a contribution to the LORD; it belongs to the priest who sprinkles the blood of the fellowship offerings.
[15] The meat of his fellowship offering of thanksgiving must be eaten on the day it is offered; he must leave none of it till morning.
[16] “‘If, however, his offering is the result of a vow or is a freewill offering, the sacrifice shall be eaten on the day he offers it, but anything left over may be eaten on the next day. [17] Any meat of the sacrifice left over till the third day must be burned up. [18] If any meat of the fellowship offering is eaten on the third day, it will not be accepted. It will not be credited to the one who offered it, for it is impure; the person who eats any of it will be held responsible. [19] “‘Meat that touches anything ceremonially unclean must not be eaten; it must be burned up. As for other meat, anyone ceremonially clean may eat it.
[20] But if anyone who is unclean eats any meat of the fellowship offering belonging to the LORD, that person must be cut off from his people. [21] If anyone touches something unclean—whether human uncleanness or an unclean animal or any unclean, detestable thing—and then eats any of the meat of the fellowship offering belonging to the LORD, that person must be cut off from his people.'”
[22] The LORD said to Moses, [23] “Say to the Israelites: ‘Do not eat any of the fat of cattle, sheep or goats. [24] The fat of an animal found dead or torn by wild animals may be used for any other purpose, but you must not eat it. [25] Anyone who eats the fat of an animal from which an offering by fire may be made to the LORD must be cut off from his people.
[26] And wherever you live, you must not eat the blood of any bird or animal. [27] If anyone eats blood, that person must be cut off from his people.'” [28] The LORD said to Moses, [29] “Say to the Israelites: ‘Anyone who brings a fellowship offering to the LORD is to bring part of it as his sacrifice to the LORD. [30] With his own hands he is to bring the offering made to the LORD by fire; he is to bring the fat, together with the breast, and wave the breast before the LORD as a wave offering. [31] The priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast belongs to Aaron and his sons. [32] You are to give the right thigh of your fellowship offerings to the priest as a contribution. [33] The son of Aaron who offers the blood and the fat of the fellowship offering shall have the right thigh as his share. [34] From the fellowship offerings of the Israelites, I have taken the breast that is waved and the thigh that is presented and have given them to Aaron the priest and his sons as their regular share from the Israelites.'”