Scripture Reading: 1 Cor. 10:16-18; John 4:23-24; Lev. 3:1-17; 7:11-34
Ⅰ
The presentation of Christ as the peace offering to God the Father is fulfilled in reality at the Lord's table meeting—Matt. 26:30; Heb. 2:12; Lev. 3:1-2:
A
The altar with the offerings in ancient times was a type of the Lord's table in New Testament times; the fellowshippers of the altar, those who ate the sacrifices, signify the fellowshippers of the Lord's table, those who eat Christ—1 Cor. 10:16-18; John 6:57.
B
The Lord's table, as the feast of the peace offering, is a feast of joy—Deut. 27:7; 1 Pet. 1:8.
C
We need to blow the trumpet over the sacrifice of our peace offering, declaring and proclaiming to the universe what a Christ we have—Num. 10:10.
D
The reality of laying our hands upon the offering, identifying ourselves with what we offer, is to exercise our spirit to be one with the indwelling, pneumatic Christ—Lev. 3:1-2; John 4:23-24; 1 Tim. 4:7.
Ⅱ
Christ as the peace offering offered by us to the Father is for the enjoyment of God and all the parties participating in the dispensing of God at the Lord's table meeting:
A
God's portion was the blood, the fat, and the inward parts of the peace offering:
１
God's portion is the blood, which satisfies His righteous requirements, maintains His holy position, and keeps His glory, His expressed dignity—Lev. 3:2, 8, 13, 17; 7:26-27, 33:
ａ
We need the cleansing of the blood for the enjoyment of Christ—Rev. 22:14.
ｂ
We must not only apply the blood but also point the enemy to the blood to answer all his accusations against us and display Christ's victory over him—Rev. 12:11; Rom. 16:20.
２
God's portion is the fat and the inward parts, referring to the sweetness and tenderness of the inward being of Christ, which can be fully appreciated only by God—Lev. 3:3-5, 9-11; Matt. 11:27:
ａ
The fat signifies the inward riches of Christ as the abundance of life for God's satisfaction according to His glory—Eph. 3:8; John 10:10b.
ｂ
The two kidneys are the most tender of the inward parts, which indicates that we need some small, tender, and precious things within us toward God the Father:
⑴
Within the Lord Jesus there were the inward and hidden riches of life, the abundance in quantity but not the greatness in size—John 7:3-6, 8; cf. 1 Cor. 3:12.
⑵
In His ministry the Lord did not care for the popularity of a great work, a great career, or a great activity—John 6:15; Matt. 13:3; John 12:23-24.
⑶
We need to be one with the Lord to pay more attention to life with its outflow than to work—cf. Matt. 14:22-23; 6:6; 13:5-6.
⑷
If in our daily walk we are really one with the Lord in His thought, His desire, His intention, and His emotions toward the Father, we will have the reality of the fat and the inwards of the peace offering when we come to the Lord's table meeting—John 5:19, 30; 4:34; 14:10; 7:18; Luke 2:49; John 2:17; Phil. 1:8; cf. Prov. 6:9-11; 26:14.
B
The offering priest's portion was the heave offering:
１
The offering priest's portion was one cake out of each of the following as a heave offering unto Jehovah—Christ in His humanity as nourishment in ascension to the serving one—Lev. 7:14:
ａ
Unleavened, perforated, thin cakes mingled with oil—Christ living a crucified life mingled with the Spirit and easy to be contacted and received—v. 12a.
ｂ
Unleavened, hollow wafers anointed with oil—Christ living a humble life under the anointing of the Spirit—v. 12b; Phil. 2:7-8; cf. Matt. 5:3.
ｃ
Cakes of fine flour saturated and mingled with oil—Christ living a fine human life saturated and mingled with the Spirit—Lev. 7:12c.
ｄ
Leavened bread, signifying the sinfulness of the offerer and the offering priest as a reminder to them—v. 13; cf. Exo. 4:6; Rom. 7:18a.
２
The offering priest's portion was also the right thigh as a heave offering unto Jehovah—the power of Christ in ascension for the strengthening of the serving one—Lev. 7:32-34.
C
The priesthood's portion was the breast as a wave offering before Jehovah—the love of Christ in resurrection for nourishment to all the serving priests—vv. 30-31, 34.
D
The offerer's portion was the flesh of the cattle for thanksgiving and for a vow with the four kinds of cakes—vv. 15-18, 12-13:
１
The peace offering for thanksgiving (of emotion) was good for eating for one day—v. 15.
２
The peace offering for a vow or a voluntary offering (of the will) was good for eating for two days—vv. 16-18; cf. Matt. 11:6.
E
The congregation's portion was the flesh of the cattle, signifying the supply of Christ for nourishment, under the condition of cleanness—Lev. 7:19-21; 1 Cor. 5:8-11, 13b; 10:21; 11:27-30.