Sweet Aroma and Things Priests Eat (or Not)

Our text for this week is Leviticus 6:19-30, which covers the duties of the priests to make grain offerings and how the priests should administer the sin offerings. We have already covered these offerings from the perspective of the person making the offering, and now we see the particular duties and responsibilities of the priests, especially what they are to eat and not eat from these offerings. These restrictions show us the limitations of the physical sacrifices. No priest is to consume an offering made for his own sin; a person cannot make atonement for himself. Hebrews 13:11ff references these sacrifices that could not be eaten and how, in the New Covenant, we have greater sacrifices to bring, the praise of our lips, doing good, and sharing, that are the fruit of following Christ. With these things, God is well pleased.