Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Leviticus
Book: Leviticus
Chapter: 2
Overview:
The meat-
Offering of
Flour.
(1-11) The
Offering of
First-fruits.
(12-16)
1-11 Meat-offerings may typify
Christ, as presented to
God for
us, and as being the
Bread of
Life to our souls; but they rather
seem to denote our obligation to
God for the blessings of
Providence, and those good
Works which are acceptable to
God.
The term "meat" was, and still is, properly given to any kind of
provision, and the greater part of this
Offering was to be eaten
for
Food, not burned. These meat-offerings are mentioned after
the burnt-offerings: without an interest in the
Sacrifice of
Christ, and devotedness of
Heart to
God, such services cannot be
accepted.
Leaven is the emblem of pride, malice, and hypocrisy,
and
Honey of sensual pleasure. The former are directly opposed
to the graces of
Humility,
Love, and sincerity, which
God
approves; the latter takes men from the exercises of devotion,
and the practice of good
Works.
Christ, in his character and
Sacrifice, was wholly free from the things denoted
By Leaven;
and his suffering
Life and agonizing
Death were the very
opposites to worldly pleasure. His people are called to follow,
and to be like him.
12-16 Salt is required in all the offerings.
God hereby
intimates to them that their sacrifices, in themselves, were
unsavoury. All religious services must be seasoned with
Grace.
Christianity is the
Salt of the
Earth. Directions are given
about
Offering their
First-fruits at
Harvest. If a
Man, with a
thankful sense of
God's
Goodness in giving him a plentiful crop,
was disposed to present an
Offering to
God, let him bring the
first ripe and full ears. Whatever was brought to
God must be
the best in its kind, though it were but green ears of
Corn.
Oil
and
Frankincense must be
Put upon it.
Wisdom and
Humility soften
and sweeten the spirits and services of young people, and their
green ears of
Corn shall be acceptable.
God takes delight in the
first ripe fruits of the
Spirit, and the expressions of early
Piety and devotion. Holy
Love to
God is the
Fire By which all
our offerings must be made. The
Frankincense denotes the
mediation and
Intercession of Christ,
By which our services are
accepted. Blessed be
God that we have the substance, of which
these observances were but shadows. There is that excellency in
Christ, and in his work as
Mediator, which
No types and shadows
can fully represent. And our dependence thereon must be
So
entire, that we must never lose sight of it in any thing we do,
if we would be accepted of
God.