What is a grain offering?

Answer

A grain offering is a type of sacrifice described in the Old Testament (Leviticus 2) that the Israelites offered to God. A grain offering would most likely have been made of wheat or barley, depending on availability. While other sacrifices had very specific instructions from God on how to offer them, the regulations for grain offerings allowed for some flexibility.

A grain offering could be presented to God either uncooked or cooked in an oven or pan (Leviticus 2:1;4—5). The requirements for the grain offering were that it had to be finely ground and include oil and salt «And when anyone offers a grain offering to the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour; he shall pour oil on it and put frankincense on it: », (Leviticus 2:1,4, 13). It was not to contain any yeast (also known as leaven) or honey «No grain offering that you bring to the LORD shall be made with leaven, for you shall burn no leaven nor any honey as an offering by fire to the LORD. », (Leviticus 2:11). When someone brought a grain offering to the priests, a small portion was offered to God, along with some frankincense, on the altar. The remainder of the grain offering was given to the priests «And what is left of the grain offering shall be for Aaron and his sons; it is most holy of the offerings to the LORD made by fire. », (Leviticus 2:10). There was no specific amount of grain required for an offering; individuals were free to give as they were able.

The grain offering is described as “a most holy part of the food offerings presented.

ted to the Lord” «And that which is left of the meat offering shall be Aaron’s and his sons’: it is a thing most holy of the offerings of the LORD made by fire. », (Leviticus 2:10b). Grain offerings would often be presented after a burnt offering, which was an animal sacrifice God required for the atonement of sin. Blood had to be shed for the remission of sins to take place, so a grain offering would not serve the same purpose as a burnt offering. Instead, the purpose of a grain offering was to worship God and acknowledge His provision. The burnt offering, which had strict regulations and could have nothing added to it, aptly represents the fact that we take no part in our atonement for sin. The grain offering, however, could be somewhat “personalized” in its presentation. It was to be given out of a person’s free will, just as our worship is our free will offering to God today.

It’s interesting to note that during the Israelites’ forty years of wilderness wandering grain would have been quite scarce. This made grain offerings more costly and precious for the people to offer to God. Giving a grain offering in those circumstances represented the Israelites’ complete dependence on God to provide for their needs each day. Jesus fulfilled the Law « Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. », (Matthew 5:17), and we no longer have to do sacrifices as they did in the Old Testament. But, if the grain offering is similar to our offering of worship, it’s interesting to consider: how much does our worship today cost us?