Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Leviticus 2
Leviticus 2:1“When anyone brings a grain offering as an offering to the Lord, his offering shall be of fine flour. He shall pour oil on it and put frankincense on it
This verse establishes the core elements of the offering - fine flour, oil, and frankincense - which symbolize the worshiper's labor, God's blessing, and the pleasing aroma of prayer.Leviticus 2:11You shall not leaven anything that is offered in sacrifice to the Lord.
The command to exclude leaven, which often represents sin's pervasive influence, teaches that God desires worship that is pure, sincere, and free from corruption.Leviticus 2:13You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. You shall not let the salt of the covenant with your God be missing from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt.
Requiring salt in every offering symbolized the permanence and faithfulness of God's covenant, reminding the people that their relationship with Him was meant to be lasting.
Historical & Cultural Context
From Atonement to Adoration
Having received the Ten Commandments and instructions for building the Tabernacle, the Israelites are camped at the base of Mount Sinai. God is now laying out the system of worship that will define their relationship with Him. After detailing the burnt offering for sin in chapter 1, He moves to the grain offering, shifting the focus from atonement to thanksgiving. This context shows that a relationship with God involves both dealing with sin and expressing gratitude for His blessings.
Worship from the Work of Your Hands
The grain offering was unique because it did not involve the shedding of blood. Instead, it was an offering from the harvest, the fruit of the people's labor in the land God promised them. This act of giving back a portion of their daily bread was a tangible way to acknowledge God as their ultimate provider. It connected the sacred act of worship at the altar with the ordinary work of their hands in the fields.
A Guide to the Grain Offering
In Leviticus 2, God provides specific instructions for presenting a grain offering, a gift of gratitude. The chapter outlines several acceptable forms of this offering, from uncooked flour to baked cakes, but insists on key ingredients that carry deep symbolic meaning. These details show how much God cares about the heart and intention behind the worship He receives.
The Offering of Fine Flour (Leviticus 2:1-3)
1 “When anyone brings a grain offering as an offering to the Lord, his offering shall be of fine flour. He shall pour oil on it and put frankincense on it
2 And he shall bring it to Aaron's sons the priests, and shall take from it a handful of the fine flour and oil, with all of its frankincense, and the priest shall burn this as its memorial portion on the altar, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
3 And the rest of the grain offering shall be for Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the Lord's food offerings.
Commentary:
The basic grain offering combines fine flour, oil, and frankincense, with a portion burned for God and the rest given to the priests.
Offerings Prepared by Fire (Leviticus 2:4-10)
4 “When you bring a grain offering baked in the oven as an offering, it shall be unleavened loaves of fine flour mixed with oil or unleavened wafers smeared with oil.
5 And if your offering is a grain offering baked on a griddle, it shall be of fine flour unleavened, mixed with oil.
6 You shall break it in pieces and pour oil on it; it is a grain offering.
7 And if your offering is a grain offering baked in the oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mixed with oil, or unleavened wafers smeared with oil.
8 And you shall bring the grain offering that is made of these things to the Lord, and when it is presented to the priest, he shall bring it to the altar.
9 And the priest shall take from the grain offering its memorial portion and burn this on the altar, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
10 But the rest of the grain offering shall be for Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the Lord's food offerings.
Commentary:
Cooked grain offerings are also acceptable, but they must be made without leaven to symbolize purity in worship.
Sacred Ingredients: What to Exclude and Include (Leviticus 2:11-13)
11 You shall not leaven anything that is offered in sacrifice to the Lord.
12 As an offering of firstfruits you may bring them to the Lord, but they shall not be offered on the altar for a pleasing aroma.
13 You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. You shall not let the salt of the covenant with your God be missing from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt.
Commentary:
Leaven and honey are forbidden as symbols of corruption, while salt is required as a symbol of God's enduring covenant.
Related Verse Analysis
The Offering of the First Harvest (Leviticus 2:14-16)
14 And if you offer a grain offering of firstfruits to the Lord, you shall offer for the grain offering of your firstfruits fresh ears, roasted with fire, crushed new grain.
15 You shall put oil on it and lay frankincense on it; it is a grain offering.
16 And the priest shall burn as its memorial portion some of the crushed grain and some of the oil with all of its frankincense; it is a food offering to the Lord.
Commentary:
Offering the firstfruits of the harvest was a powerful act of acknowledging God as the ultimate source of all provision.
Giving God the Best of Our Daily Work
Worship as Thanksgiving
The grain offering was a voluntary act of gratitude, not a required payment for sin. It teaches that our relationship with God involves seeking forgiveness and joyfully thanking Him for His daily provision and care.
Purity and Sincerity
The strict prohibition of leaven, a symbol of sin and corruption, highlights God's desire for pure and sincere worship. He is not interested in outward rituals but in a heart that approaches Him with integrity and without hypocrisy.
God's Enduring Covenant
The requirement of salt, the 'salt of the covenant,' points to the permanence and faithfulness of God's promises. Just as salt preserves, God's covenant with His people is lasting, and our worship should reflect our loyalty to that relationship.
Acknowledging God as Provider
By offering the fruit of their labor - whether raw flour, baked bread, or the firstfruits of the harvest - the Israelites acknowledged that God was the source of their sustenance. This act cultivated a spirit of dependence and gratitude for everything He provided.
Applying the Grain Offering Today
The grain offering shows that your daily work matters to God. Just as the Israelites offered the 'fine flour' from their harvest (Leviticus 2:1), you can dedicate your skills, projects, and daily tasks to God as an act of worship, recognizing that your ability to work is a gift from Him.
Offering 'unleavened' worship, as instructed in Leviticus 2:11, means approaching God with sincerity and a pure heart. It challenges you to set aside hypocrisy, hidden motives, or a 'check-the-box' mentality and instead offer Him your genuine self in prayer, service, and praise.
Remembering the 'salt of the covenant' from Leviticus 2:13 can bring stability and confidence to your faith. It reminds you that God's promises are enduring and His commitment to you is steadfast. This truth can preserve your hope during difficult times and anchor your trust in His unchanging character.
Worship from the Work of Your Hands
Leviticus 2 reveals that God desires atonement for our failures and our active thanksgiving for His daily goodness. The grain offering teaches that our work, our provision, and the ordinary substance of our lives can become holy when dedicated to Him. The message is that worship is not confined to a single place or ritual, but can be expressed through a grateful heart that acknowledges God as the source of all good things.
What This Means for Us Today
The grain offering invites us to see our entire lives as an opportunity for worship. God is not asking for a performance, but for a portion of our real, everyday lives offered back to Him with gratitude. This chapter calls us to consecrate our work, our meals, and our resources, recognizing His hand in every detail.
- What is one aspect of your daily work or routine that you can consciously offer to God this week?
- How can you cultivate a heart of gratitude that overflows into tangible acts of worship?
- In what ways does remembering God's covenant faithfulness (the 'salt') bring you peace?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
This chapter details the burnt offering, which focused on atonement for sin and complete surrender to God, setting the stage for the thanksgiving offering in chapter 2.
Following the grain offering, this chapter describes the peace offering, an act of worship that celebrated fellowship and communion with God.
Connections Across Scripture
Paul calls believers to offer their bodies as 'living sacrifices,' which is the New Testament equivalent of dedicating one's whole life to God, much like the grain offering dedicated daily labor.
This passage uses the imagery of unleavened bread to exhort believers to live with sincerity and truth, directly connecting the Old Testament symbol to Christian living.
This verse encourages offering a 'sacrifice of praise,' showing how the principle of bringing offerings to God continues through our worship and words of thanksgiving.
Discussion Questions
- The grain offering was about giving God the best of one's work. What does it look like for you to offer the 'firstfruits' of your time, talents, or resources to God today?
- Leviticus 2:11 forbids leaven in offerings because it often symbolizes corruption. In what areas of your life do you find it most challenging to worship God with sincerity and purity?
- The 'salt of the covenant' (Leviticus 2:13) represented permanence and faithfulness. How does remembering God's unchanging faithfulness impact the way you face challenges or uncertainty?
Glossary
figures
theological concepts
Grain Offering
A voluntary sacrifice of flour or baked goods to express thanksgiving and honor God for His provision.
Memorial Portion
The part of the grain offering that was burned on the altar as a fragrant aroma, symbolically presented to God on behalf of the whole offering.
Covenant
A sacred, binding agreement between God and His people that defines their relationship and includes promises and obligations.
Firstfruits
The very first and best portion of the harvest, given to God as an act of faith and recognition that He is the ultimate provider.
symbols
Fine Flour
A symbol of the worshiper's best labor and the substance of daily life being dedicated to God.
Oil
A symbol of God's blessing, joy, and the presence of the Holy Spirit consecrating the offering.
Frankincense
A fragrant resin that, when burned, symbolized the pleasing aroma of the worshiper's prayers and praise ascending to God.
Leaven
A substance like yeast that causes dough to rise, often symbolizing sin, corruption, and pride because of its pervasive and puffing-up nature.
Salt
A symbol of permanence, purity, and loyalty, representing the enduring and faithful nature of God's covenant with His people.