The Sweet Savor Offerings
The Primary Levitical Offerings also included three sweet savor offerings, of which one was bloodless (an offering of grain). The other two were the Peace Offering and the whole Burnt Offering. The Peace Offering was subdivided into praise offerings, vow offerings and free-will offerings. The purpose of the sweet savor offerings was to bring that to the Lord which testified of the thankfulness of the offerer for God’s provision, and to express praise and worship. They were particularly effective in fulfilling the divine requirement, “none shall appear before Me empty-handed” (Exod. 23:15, NAS).It has already been remarked on that one aspect of the ministry of the priests in service for the Lord was to act as hosts at His House and minister to those who came as His guests to share a meal. This is best seen in the Peace Offering. After the offerer had been made acceptable through the expiatory offerings he was invited to bring a peace offering. This offering was to be divided between the three parties – the offerer, the priest and the Lord – each was to have a share – most clearly speaking of fellowship, in particular table fellowship. Described as a peace offering it reminds us of Paul’s assertion - “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”. (Rom. 5:1, NKJV)
One of the sweet savor offerings was bloodless, that which is the grain offering, perhaps better described as the ‘Gift Offering’ since the word applied to it is ‘minchah’ which is derived from a root signifying ‘to give’. It could signify a present by which an inferior would seek to obtain the favor of a superior. It is used in this way by Jacob when seeking to obtain the favor of Joseph (who unknown to him was the ruler he was trying to impress). “And their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Take some of the best fruits of the land in your vessels and carry down a present for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds.” (Gen. 43:11) This offering was a way in which an Israelite could acknowledge that he owed everything to the Lord his God, as well as demonstrating his gratitude for the benefits and blessings provided by the God of Israel. The sacrifice consisted of fine flour to which had been added oil and salt and incense. Some was burned on the altar but most was to be presented to the priest as a thing ‘most holy’ to the Lord.
Since the fruit of the ground was given to man, that is, it is man’s portion, then this offering reflects something of a man’s duty to man, and man’s duty to God. In both these areas humanity has failed – but Christ, the Son of Man not only did His duty by man (He went about doing good), but also His duty on behalf of man to God. His sacrifice on Golgotha was the presentation of a life of infinite worth back to the Father in total and complete obedience. This was in contrast to, and compensation for, the multitude of lives that had been lived in disobedience and independence from God. Jesus is the only one to fully fulfill the obligation placed on those whose lives are a gift from God. Paul expressed it: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” (Rom. 12:1) Calvary was the culmination of a perfect life of obedience and the most accurate expression of a complete and perfect ‘living sacrifice’.
This aspect is more completely seen in the ‘whole burnt offering’ or the ‘ascending offering’. This sacrifice was wholly for God – no portion for the priest, no portion for the priest’s family, no portion for the offerer – it was all for God. And this offering, as with all offerings, had to be without blemish. Nothing but the best was to be offered to the Lord. That Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of Abraham, the Son of David, the Son of Man and the Son of God perfectly fulfilled this aspect is evident. Conception produced by the Holy Spirit in a virgin’s womb ensured that no taint of Adam’s imputed or imparted sin marred the Holy Child. His physical perfection was confirmed when Joseph paid the redemption money for no child that was defective in any of his parts could be redeemed in the Temple. While those who were disabled or defective in some way could still perform the duties of the first-born and receive the first-born portion of the inheritance, it barred him from the redemption ceremony since he would not have been fit for the priesthood (had he been born with the appropriate credentials). The priest, in offering the prayer of dedication at the ceremony, confirmed that Jesus, as an infant, was without blemish. His life was also lived under scrutiny and received the highest praise from friend and foe, obtaining the highest accolade from heaven, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased”.
These sacrifices designated under the main descriptor as ‘offerings’ were gifts to be brought by the Israelites to the Lord who had redeemed them, protected them and blessed them. In this manner, communion with God was sustained, the sin and trespass offerings bringing about reconciliation, and the sweet savor offerings providing a vehicle for worship, communion and praise. The offerings were at the heart of the national life of the nation and without them they would have been adrift among the nations with no discernable means of reconciliation with the One who was pleased to be known as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
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