Leviticus 7:1 - Meaning and Application

Here we see several rules about the offerings. Since the trespass offering was much like the sin offering, it followed the same rules (Leviticus 7:6). When the blood and fat were given to God to make atonement, that is, to cover sin and restore the worshiper to God’s favor, the priests were to eat the meat in a holy place, just as with the sin offering. Jewish tradition says that the blood of the trespass offering was sprinkled around the altar below a scarlet line, while the burnt offering blood was sprinkled above it.

The meat of the trespass offering belonged to the priest who presented it (Leviticus 7:7). The one who did the work was to receive the pay. This gave the priests a reason to serve carefully and faithfully at the altar, since greater diligence meant greater share. In the same way, the more faithfully we serve in religion, the more benefit we receive from it.

Any of the priests, and the males in their families, could also be invited to share in it: “Every male among the priests may eat it” in the holy place (Leviticus 7:6). It was likely common for priests to share these portions with one another, which kept friendship and fellowship strong among them. They had received freely, and they were to give freely.

The person who brought the trespass offering was not to eat any of it, unlike the peace offering. It was divided only between the altar and the priest. Peace offerings were given in thankfulness for mercy, so a feast fit them well. But trespass offerings were brought in sorrow for sin, so fasting was more fitting, as a sign of holy sorrow and a resolve to turn from sin.

The priest who offered the burnt offering was to keep its skin (Leviticus 7:8). He could no doubt sell it or use it in some way for his support. Jewish teachers say this rule applied only to burnt offerings brought by private worshipers, since the skins of the daily burnt offerings for the whole nation went to the repair of the sanctuary.

Some think this rule helps explain why God clothed Adam and Eve with garments made of skins (Genesis 3:21). It is possible that the animals whose skins were used had first been offered as whole burnt offerings, and that Adam acted as the priest. If so, God’s giving Adam the skins as his portion would explain why skins later belonged to the priest. Compare this also with (Genesis 27:16).

As for the grain offering, if it was cooked, it needed to be eaten at once, so the priest who offered it was to have it (Leviticus 7:9). If it was dry, there was no need to use it so quickly, so it was to be shared equally among all the priests on duty at that time (Leviticus 7:10).