Chapter Summary

Peace offering laws.

Discussion Questions for Leviticus, Chapter 3

1. Leviticus 3 gives the law concerning peace offerings. Peace offerings are a free will offering affirming the relationship between God and the worshipper. What would be an equivalent to a peace offering in our culture today?
2. Leviticus 3:1 says the peace offering animal sacrifice must be unblemished but may be male or female unlike the atonement sacrifice in Leviticus 1 that must be male. Why is the female animal allowed to be offered for the peace offering but not for the atonement offering?
3. Both the atonement offering and the peace offering requires the person making the offering to kill the animal in the presence of Aaron or his sons. Why can't the person making the offering kill the animal away from the temple and bring it to the temple?
4. Leviticus 3:16-17 states that the blood and fat of the offering are the Lord's. These are parts of the animal many people do not eat. Why would the Lord desire them?
5. Kidneys were known to be the seat of emotions and decision making in ancient Israel. What is the significance of burning the kidneys in a peace offering in Leviticus 3?
6. Looking at Leviticus 1 and Leviticus 3 and sacrificing animals on the altar, there are certain parts of each animal that is to be burnt as a food offering to God. Why does God need a food offering?
7. Leviticus 3:17 says that we are not to eat fat nor the blood of an animal. When a person eats the fat of the animal or drink the blood from a hunt, do they violate the law and if so, is there a punishment?
8. There are actually three types of peace offerings, one being a thanksgiving offering that also includes unleavened cakes. How is the peace offering similar to our Thanksgiving meal in November? Do you think the Puritans were aware of the thanksgiving peace offering? How should this affect our holiday celebration today?
9. How does the offering of an unblemished animal as a sacrifice represent our attempts to maintain a relationship with God in our lives?
10. A larger animal such as cattle, sheep, or a goat would be considered expensive and provide several meals for a family in ancient Israel. Leviticus 3 gives statues how to prepare only these 3 animals for a peace offering. If a person or family could not afford to a large animal, how could they express their thankfulness to God? How has religion today limit the accessibility to God in today's society?

Key Words/Phrase

Peace offering, v. 1.

Characters

God, Moses, Aaron's sons.

Strong Verse(s)

2