Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Leviticus Ch.3 / 27 Ch.s
LE:3
* The peace-offering of the herd. (1-5) The peace-offering of
the flock. (6-17)
#1-5 The peace-offerings had regard to God as the giver of all
good things. These were divided between the altar, the priest,
and the owner. They were called peace-offering, because in them
God and his people did, as it were, feast together, in token of
friendship. The peace-offerings were offered by way of
supplication. If a man were in pursuit of any mercy, he would
add a peace-offering to his prayer for it. Christ is our Peace,
our Peace-offering; for through him alone it is that we can
obtain an answer of peace to our prayers. Or, the peace-offering
was offered by way of thanksgiving for some mercy received. We
must offer to God the sacrifice of praise continually, by Christ
our Peace; and then this shall please the Lord better than an ox
or bullock.
#6-17 Here is a law that they should eat neither fat nor blood.
As for the fat, it means the fat of the inwards, the suet. The
blood was forbidden for the same reason; because it was God's
part of every sacrifice. God would not permit the blood that
made atonement to be used as a common thing, #Heb 10:29|; nor
will he allow us, though we have the comfort of the atonement
made, to claim for ourselves any share in the honour of making
it. This taught the Jews to observe distinction between common
and sacred things; it kept them separate from idolaters. It
would impress them more deeply with the belief of some important
mystery in the shedding of the blood and the burning the fat of
their solemn sacrifices. Christ, as the Prince of peace, "made
peace with the blood of his cross." Through him the believer is
reconciled to God; and having the peace of God in his heart, he
is disposed to follow peace with all men. May the Lord multiply
grace, mercy, and peace, to all who desire to bear the Christian
character.