Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
Leviticus
Book: Leviticus
Chapter: 7
Overview:
Concerning the trespass-
Offering.
(1-10) Concerning the
peace-
Offering.
(11-27) The wave and heave offerings.
(28-34)
The conclusion of these institutions.
(35-38)
1-10 In the
Sin-Offering and the trespass-
Offering, the
Sacrifice was divided between the
Altar and the
Priest; the
offerer had
No share, as he had in the peace-offerings. The
former expressed
Repentance and sorrow for
Sin, therefore it was
more proper to
Fast than
Feast; the peace-offerings denoted
Communion with a reconciled
God in
Christ, the joy and gratitude
of a pardoned sinner, and the privileges of a true believer.
11-27 As to the peace-offerings, in the expression of their
sense of
Mercy,
God left them more at liberty, than in the
expression of their sense of
Sin; that their sacrifices, being
free-will offerings, might be the more acceptable, while,
By
obliging them to bring the sacrifices of
Atonement,
God shows
the necessity of the great
Propitiation. The main reason why
Blood was forbidden of old, was because the
Lord had appointed
Blood for an
Atonement. This use, being figurative, had its
End
in
Christ, who
By his
Death and
Blood-shedding caused the
sacrifices to cease. Therefore this
Law is not now in force
On
believers.
28-34 The
Priest who offered, was to have the breast and the
right shoulder. When the
Sacrifice was killed, the offerer
himself must present
God's part of it; that he might signify his
cheerfully giving it up to
God. He was with his own hands to
lift it up, in token of his regard to
God as the
God of
Heaven;
and then to wave it to and fro, in token of his regard to
God as
the
Lord of the whole
Earth. Be persuaded and encouraged to feed
and
Feast upon
Christ, our Peace-
Offering. This blessed
Peace-
Offering is not for the priests only, for saints of the
highest rank and greatest eminence, but for the common people
also. Take heed of delay. Many think to repent and return to
God
when they are dying and dropping into
Hell; but they should eat
the peace-
Offering, and eat it now. Stay not till the
Day of the
Lord's patience be run out, for
Eating the third
Day will not be
accepted, nor will catching at
Christ when thou art gone to
Hell!
35-38 Solemn
Acts of religious
Worship are not things which we
may do or not do at our pleasure; it is at our peril if we omit
them. An observance of the laws of
Christ cannot be less
necessary than of the laws of
Moses.