THE UNUSUAL SACRIFICE…

Leavened Bread

LEVITICUS 7:11-13: “Now this is the law of the fellowship sacrifice  that someone may present to the Lord: [12] If he presents it for thanksgiving, in addition to the thanksgiving sacrifice,  he is to present unleavened cakes  mixed with olive oil, unleavened wafers  coated with oil, and well-kneaded cakes of fine flour mixed with oil. [13] He is to present as his offering cakes of leavened bread with his thanksgiving sacrifice of fellowship.”

OBSERVATION:  Have you ever been reading the Bible, and you have to just stop and say – “What did that just say?”  This was my reaction as I read the law concerning the fellowship or peace offering.  Throughout the Bible, we are told that leaven is the symbol of sin.  During Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Israelites were to sweep their homes clean of all leaven.  Leaven was not allowed in the grain sacrifice.  Jesus used leaven many times to warn us of the sin and false teachings of the Scribes and Pharisees.

Matthew 16:6, 12: “Then Jesus told them, “Watch out and beware of the leaven   of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”   [12] Then they understood that he had not told them to beware of the leaven in bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

So, what is up with Leviticus 7:13?

“He is to present as his offering cakes of leavened bread with his thanksgiving sacrifice of fellowship.”

The fellowship offering or the peace offering was also an offering of thanksgiving.  It was an offering that celebrated the grace and mercy of God which He had extended through the sin, guilt, and burnt offerings.  God had provided provision for man’s sin and guilt through the sacrificial substitute of an animal sacrifice.  A grain offering could also be used for those who could not afford an animal.  Yet, if they offered a grain offering for their sin or guilt it had to be without leaven!

Leviticus 5:11-13: “But if he cannot afford two turtledoves or two young pigeons,  he may bring two quarts  of fine flour  , as an offering for his sin. He must not put olive oil or frankincense on it, for it is a sin offering. [12] He is to bring it to the priest, who will take a handful from it as its memorial portion  and burn it on the altar along with the food offerings to the Lord; it is a sin offering. [13] In this way the priest will make atonement on his behalf concerning the sin he has committed in any of these cases, and he will be forgiven. The rest will belong to the priest, like the grain offering.”

Leviticus 2:11-12:  “No grain offering that you present to the Lord is to be made with yeast, for you are not to burn  any yeast  or honey  as a food offering to the Lord. [12] You may present them to the Lord as an offering of firstfruits,  but they are not to be offered on the altar as a pleasing aroma.”

Why is this so significant and why are the instructions in Leviticus 7:13 given?  Every sacrifice in the Old Testament is a picture of Jesus Christ and His sacrificial death and atonement on the cross.  The fellowship offering is no different.  The presentation of Unleavened cakes speaks of Jesus, the Bread of Life, the Unleavened, sinless, perfect sacrifice.

1 Corinthians 5:7-8: “Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new unleavened batch, as indeed you are. For Christ our Passover lamb  has been sacrificed.  [8] Therefore, let us observe the feast, not with old leaven or with the leaven of malice and evil,  but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”

It is through the unleavened sacrifice of Jesus Christ, perfect, sinless, holy – that we now have peace with God.

Colossians 1:19-20: “For God was pleased to have all his fullness  dwell in him,  [20] and through him to reconcile everything to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace  through his blood,  shed on the cross.”

So, when we approach God, what do we bring to Him?  Do we bring our good works?  Do we bring our righteousness?  Do we bring our achievements?  Do we bring our position in the church?  Do we bring our nationality?  What do we bring?

The fellowship or peace offering is a reminder that He alone is our peace.  We can bring nothing to the cross except for our sin – our leaven.  This is the wonder and glory of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We were dead in sin.  We were not seeking God.  We were positioned as enemies of God through our sin (our leaven).  Yet, God, in His rich mercy, offered His unleavened sacrifice for us regardless! 

Romans 5:6-8:  “For while we were still helpless, at the right time,  Christ died for the ungodly. [7] For rarely will someone die for a just person — though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. [8] But God proves  his own love for us  in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

2 Corinthians 5:21: “He made the one who did not know sin  to be sin  for us,  so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

The law of the fellowship offering, the instruction to bring an offering cake of leavened bread, is our reminder that we can add nothing to the perfect sinless sacrifice of Jesus Christ our Lord.  The Good News is that He calls us to Himself, just as we are.  We bring our sin to Him in humility and repentance and He extends His righteousness to us through the Unleavened Bread of Life.  Our standing with God has nothing to do with what we have done but rests solely upon the perfect and complete sacrifice of Jesus Christ our Lord.

In our worship, we must always remember this.  We do not approach God on any other basis than the blood of Jesus Christ.  The blood of Jesus Christ is the currency of heaven.  He purchased us from our sin and death through the power of His shed blood.  He simply calls me to trust fully in this sacrifice and come – “Just as I am!”  Is it any wonder why Billy Graham would always have this hymn sung as he extended the invitation to receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord?

Just as I am, without one plea

But that Thy blood was shed for me

And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee

Oh, Lamb of God, I come, I come

So, this morning I come to enter into His presence.  All I have to offer is a cake of leavened bread.  Yet, He meets me with the power of His perfect sacrifice.  Through His sacrifice, through His blood, I am now able to have intimate fellowship with the Father through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.  At the cross, I lay down my cake of leavened bread and partake of the Unleavened Bread of Life!

Hebrews 10:19-23: “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus — [20] he has inaugurated  for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh  ) — [21] and since we have a great high priest over the house of God,  [22] let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.  [23] Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful.”

Lord, this morning I come to You – through the blood of Jesus Christ – just as I am, without one plea!

In Jesus’ Name!