The Acceptable Offering

Leviticus 22 addresses the holy things, the portions of offerings that belonged to the priests. A priest who had become unclean was not to eat them until he was clean again; when the sun is down, he shall be clean. Holy food was for the priest and his household, including those born in his house, but not for a visitor or hired servant. Holy things were not to be treated casually.

The second half of the chapter concerns the offerings themselves. Whether for a vow or a freewill offering, an animal had to be without blemish to be accepted. Blind, injured, maimed, or diseased animals were unacceptable. The rule taught Israel to honor God with their best. Malachi 1 later shows that offering defective animals revealed contempt for God.

The chapter closes with God's covenant reasons: keep my commandments, do not profane my holy name, I will be made holy among the children of Israel, I am Yahweh who makes you holy, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. The demand for unblemished sacrifices points forward to Christ, who offered Himself without blemish to God (Hebrews 9:14). Through His perfect offering, believers are made acceptable to God.