In this episode we continue studying the book of Leviticus. In this episode instructions are given for meat offerings.

Although called Meat offerings, these did not contain flesh but were bloodless offerings, made of fine flour, oil and frankincense.

Like the meat offerings these offerings were divided into pieces and burned by fire.

We note that dividing the offerings into pieces symbolized God’s plan to divide and separate the righteous from the wicked as Jesus noted in the parable of the net in Matthew chapter 13 verses 47 through 50.

Here’s the text:

Matthew 13:47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:

Matthew 13:48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.

Matthew 13:49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,

Matthew 13:50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

We note that both offerings were burnt by fire but Jesus would go through the fire for the redeemed. He would be their substitutionary sacrifice.

Peter noted that Christ’s soul descended into hell but God did not leave Him there, neither did God let His body see corruption. His body did not decay because God raised Him from the dead.

Here’s the text:

Acts 2:26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:

Acts 2:27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Hell is such a horrible place that Jesus did not and does not want us to go there. Hell was created as a place of punishment for the devil and his angels because they rebelled against God. And all those who align themselves with them by rejecting Christ and refusing to repent of their sin will join them there.

But It is not God's will for us to go there. Jesus went there for us so we can escape that horrible place.

But those who decide not to be reconciled to God by believing in Jesus will not escape the furnace of hell.

We note that God said, leaven and honey should never be added to the meat offerings. Leaven pictures pride and honey is a symbol for sweetness.

These point to agents or ingredients some will be tempted to use when it comes to preaching the word of God.

Leaven nor anything sugary or sweet should be added to entice people to accept Christ.

No leaven or sugar could be added to the offerings but they were commanded to add salt to all meat offerings. All offerings would be sprinkled with salt. Salt is a symbol of Christian obedience.

Jesus would sacrifice his life for them but, they would have to sacrifice many things to have a right relationship with Him.

By following Christ they would inherit eternal life but following him would come with hardships they may not be prepared to embrace.

So He wanted them to count the cost of following Him because He did not want people to accept him and then abandon the path of eternal life because they didn’t understand what the call to eternal life looked like.

So He mentioned the importance of counting the cost, in Luke chapter 14 verses 26 through 33.

Here’s the text:

Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

Luke 14:29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,

Luke 14:30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

Luke 14:31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?

Luke 14:32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

Luke 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

It’s important to note that he said, “he cannot be my disciple.” It's not that he didn’t want them to be his disciple, they couldn't be his disciple, because if they weren’t totally committed to him, family, friends, and personal pursuits could lead them off the narrow path of eternal life, making it impossible for them to be his disciple.

In Proverbs chapter 7 verse 4, Christ through Solomon said, Say to wisdom, thou art my Sister and call understanding thy kinswoman.

God’s words are wisdom and the wise will put God's word, before the words, wisdom, doctrines, opinions and expectations of their kinsman.

Because as Peter says, in Acts chapter 3 verse 26. Unto us first God sent his son to bless us and turn us away from our iniquities.

Yet, it is a choice each person will have to make. All the offerings included personal involvement.

The offerer brought the flour to the priest, and poured oil on it and put frankincense on top.

The offerer brought the animal to the priest, killed it, skinned it and cut it into pieces and the priest burned it by fire.

All must personally come to God through Jesus our High Priest. He made it clear that no man can come to the father, no man can be reconciled to God but by Him.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Peter repeated the Lord’s words before the priests and Sadducees in Jerusalem, when they sought to make them stop preaching that Jesus had been resurrected.

But because they saw, talked and ate with Jesus after God raised Him from the dead, they knew the truth and could boldly repeat the bold words of Christ.

Here’s the text:

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.