Scripture Daily

Context No. 3237 of 4322 · Leviticus

Context · Reflection

Leviticus 6:19-23: in context

19The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 20“This is the offering of Aaron and of his sons, which they shall offer to the LORD in the day when he is anointed: one tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a meal offering perpetually, half of it in the morning, and half of it in the evening. 21It shall be made with oil in a griddle. When it is soaked, you shall bring it in. You shall offer the meal offering in baked pieces for a pleasant aroma to the LORD. 22The anointed priest that will be in his place from among his sons shall offer it. By a statute forever, it shall be wholly burned to the LORD. 23Every meal offering of a priest shall be wholly burned. It shall not be eaten.”

This gives the rule for the daily grain offering of the anointed priest: a tenth of an ephah of fine flour, half offered in the morning and half in the evening, baked with oil, and wholly burned to the LORD. Unlike other offerings, of which the priests received a portion to eat, the priest's own offering must be entirely burned; none of it is to be eaten.

This is a distinctive rule. For the people's offerings the priests received a share to eat, but the priest's own offering to God was given entirely, holding nothing back for himself. The one who leads others in worship must himself offer wholly to God, keeping nothing in reserve. There is a principle here for all who serve God: those who minister to others must not use their ministry to feed themselves; their own devotion must be whole and sincere. The priest could eat from the people's gifts, but his own offering to God had to be complete and unreserved.

In my own devotion to God, do I hold nothing back, offering myself wholly to him rather than keeping a portion for myself?

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