Leviticus 3 outlines the peace offering (Hebrew: shelamim, also called the fellowship offering), a voluntary act of worship centered on gratitude, communion, and shared joy with God rather than on atonement for sin.
Unlike the burnt offering, which was entirely consumed by fire, the peace offering was a shared meal. It was not compulsory and could be offered as an expression of thanksgiving, in fulfillment of a vow, or as a freewill gift. Part of the animal was burned for God, part went to the priests, and the rest was eaten by the worshiper and their family in a celebratory feast in God’s presence.
Key Points by Verses
- Peace Offering from the Herd (3:1–5): The worshiper brings an unblemished animal from the herd, either male or female. They lay a hand on its head to identify with it and slaughter it at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. The priests, the descendants of Aaron, throw the blood against the sides of the altar. The fat covering the entrails, the kidneys, and the lobe of the liver is burned on the altar as a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
- Insight:
- The meaning of “peace” (3:1): The Hebrew shalom encompasses reconciliation, wholeness, well-being, friendship, and harmony. The offering signifies that peace and fellowship between the worshiper and God have been restored.
- Laying on of hands and slaughter (3:2, 8): Placing a hand on the animal’s head symbolizes identification and union with it. The blood thrown against the altar acknowledges that life belongs to God.
- The portion burned on the altar (3:3–5): The choicest parts, the fat covering the organs, the kidneys, and the liver lobe, are set apart for God as “a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.”
- Insight:
- Peace Offering from the Flock: Lamb (3:6–11): The same rules apply to a lamb, male or female. In addition, the fat tail, cut off close to the backbone, is burned on the altar for the Lord.
- Peace Offering from the Flock: Goat (3:12–16): A goat follows the same steps: laying on of hands, slaughter, sprinkling of blood, and burning of the specified fat and kidneys as a food offering to God. Verse 16 summarizes the principle: “All fat is the Lord’s.”
- The Perpetual Statute (3:17): This is a lasting rule for all generations and in all dwellings: no one may eat fat or blood.
- Insight: Why fat and blood are forbidden: Fat represents the best portion, which belongs to God. Blood represents life, which also belongs to God. Since God holds claim to both life and the finest portion, humans must not overstep their bounds.
Spiritual Implication
- Fellowship and shared joy: The burnt offering emphasizes consecration and atonement, and the grain offering emphasizes service and the fruit of one’s labor. The peace offering represents shalom, complete peace and a harmonious relationship with God, and it centers on enjoying God’s grace and drawing near to Him. Eating a meal together symbolized covenant friendship and communion with the Creator.
- Giving God the best, sharing joy with others: The fat was the richest, most valued part of the animal. Burning it for God alone taught Israel to offer their best energy, love, and resources to Him first. The rest of the meat was shared with family and friends. In both spiritual and practical life, we give our best to God first and, within His love, share with fellow believers, building the warmth of fellowship.
- The sanctity of life: Forbidding the eating of blood and fat reminded Israel that life belongs to God. Blood represented the life-force, set apart for atonement and reverence.
- Christ is our peace: In the New Testament, Christ Himself is our peace (Colossians 1:20). By shedding His blood and giving His life on the cross, He dealt with sin through substitutionary atonement and broke down the wall of separation between humanity and God. Through Him we enter true fellowship with God and find rest and fullness in Him.
利未記第 3 章闡述平安祭（希伯來文 shelamim，又稱酬恩祭或團契祭）。這是一種自願的敬拜行動，重點在於感恩、團契，以及與神同享喜樂，而非為罪贖罪。
與燔祭（祭牲全身被火焚燒）不同，平安祭本質上是一場共享的筵席。它不是強制性的，可以為感恩、還願或甘心獻上。祭牲的一部分焚燒獻給神，一部分歸給祭司，其餘則由獻祭者及其家人在神面前享用，成為一場慶祝性的團契筵席。
本章經文要點
- 獻牛為平安祭（3:1–5）：獻祭者從牛群中帶來一頭無瑕疵的牲畜，公母均可。獻祭者將手按在牲畜頭上，表示與牠認同，然後在會幕門口宰殺。亞倫的後裔祭司將血灑在祭壇的四周。覆蓋內臟的脂肪、兩個腰子和肝上的網子，要放在祭壇上焚燒，作為獻給耶和華的馨香火祭。
- 解經：
- 平安的涵義（3:1）： 原文「平安」（shalom）有和好、完整、安康、友誼與和諧之意，表示獻祭者與神之間已恢復和平與相交。
- 按手與宰殺（3:2, 8）： 按手在祭牲頭上，象徵認同與聯合；血灑在壇的四周，表明生命屬於神。
- 燒在壇上的部分（3:3–5）： 內臟的脂油、腰子與肝上的網子是最精華、最寶貴的部分，歸給神，作為「獻給耶和華的馨香火祭」。
- 解經：
- 獻綿羊為平安祭（3:6–11）：若獻的是綿羊羔，公母均可，規定與獻牛相似。此外，緊貼脊骨割下的肥尾也要一併在壇上焚燒，歸給耶和華。
- 獻山羊為平安祭（3:12–16）：獻山羊的步驟相同：按手、宰殺、灑血，並將指定的脂肪與腰子焚燒，作為獻給神的火祭。第 16 節總結了這個原則：「脂油都是耶和華的」。
- 永遠的定例（3:17）：這是世世代代、在一切住處都要遵守的永久規定：不可吃脂油，也不可吃血。
- 解經：為何禁吃脂油與血： 脂油代表最好的部分，屬於神；血代表生命，也屬於神。神既擁有生命與最好的部分，人就不可僭越。
屬靈意義
- 團契與共享喜樂： 燔祭側重獻身與贖罪，素祭側重事奉與生活的果子，而平安祭代表 shalom，即圓滿的平安與和神之間和諧的關係，重點在於享受神的恩典、親近祂。同桌共食象徵立約的情誼，以及與創造主的團契相交。
- 把最好的獻給神，與人分享喜樂： 脂肪是動物身上最豐美、最珍貴的部分。將它專門焚燒獻給神，是教導以色列人先把最充沛的精力、最深的愛和最寶貴的資源獻給神。其餘的肉則與家人朋友分享。這啟示我們，在屬靈與生活中，都應先把最好的獻給神，並在神的愛中與肢體彼此分享，建立溫暖的團契。
- 生命的聖潔： 禁止吃血和脂油，提醒以色列人生命屬於神。血代表生命力，是分別為聖、用於贖罪並表達敬畏的。
- 基督是我們的平安： 在新約中，基督自己就是我們的和平（歌羅西書 1:20）。祂在十字架上流血捨命，不但以代贖解決了罪的問題，也拆毀了人與神之間隔斷的牆，使我們能與神真正相交，在基督裡得安息與飽足。
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