When you sacrifice a peace offering to the LORDThe peace offering, also known as the fellowship offering, was a voluntary sacrifice in ancient Israel, symbolizing peace and fellowship with God. It was distinct from sin and guilt offerings, focusing on thanksgiving, vows, or freewill offerings. The Hebrew term "shalom" implies wholeness and completeness, reflecting the offering's purpose to restore and maintain a harmonious relationship with God. This offering was part of the Levitical sacrificial system established at Mount Sinai, emphasizing the importance of approaching God with reverence and gratitude. The peace offering foreshadows the ultimate peace brought by Jesus Christ, who reconciles humanity to God (
Ephesians 2:14-16).
you shall offer it for your acceptance
The phrase underscores the necessity of offering sacrifices in a manner pleasing to God. Acceptance by God required adherence to His instructions, reflecting a heart aligned with His will. The offering had to be without blemish, symbolizing purity and sincerity (Leviticus 22:21). This concept of acceptance is echoed in the New Testament, where believers are urged to present themselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1). The peace offering's acceptance prefigures Christ's sacrifice, which was fully accepted by God, providing eternal peace and reconciliation for believers (Hebrews 10:10-14).
Persons / Places / Events
1.
The IsraelitesThe original audience of the book of Leviticus, who were given these laws as part of their covenant relationship with God.
2.
The LORD (Yahweh)The God of Israel, who established the sacrificial system as a means for His people to maintain fellowship with Him.
3.
Peace Offering (Hebrew: Shelamim)A type of sacrifice in the Levitical system that symbolized fellowship and communion with God, often shared in a communal meal.
4.
The TabernacleThe place where sacrifices were offered, serving as the dwelling place of God among His people.
5.
MosesThe mediator of the covenant and the one through whom God delivered the laws to the Israelites.
Teaching Points
Understanding SacrificesThe peace offering was a voluntary act of worship, symbolizing peace and fellowship with God. It teaches us the importance of approaching God with a heart of gratitude and reverence.
Acceptance by GodThe phrase "for your acceptance" underscores the need for sincerity and obedience in worship. Our offerings to God, whether material or spiritual, should be given with a pure heart.
Communal Aspect of WorshipPeace offerings often involved a communal meal, reminding us of the importance of fellowship with other believers in our worship practices.
Christ as Our Peace OfferingJesus Christ fulfilled the sacrificial system, becoming our ultimate peace offering. This encourages us to live in the peace and reconciliation He provides.
Living SacrificesAs believers, we are called to offer our lives as living sacrifices, dedicating ourselves to God's service and living in a way that pleases Him.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Leviticus 19:5?
2.How does Leviticus 19:5 emphasize the importance of offering sacrifices correctly?
3.What does "acceptable on your behalf" teach about God's standards for offerings?
4.How can we apply the principle of acceptable offerings in our daily worship?
5.What connections exist between Leviticus 19:5 and New Testament teachings on sacrifice?
6.How does this verse reflect God's desire for sincere and obedient worship?
7.What does Leviticus 19:5 reveal about the nature of sacrifices in ancient Israelite worship?
8.How does Leviticus 19:5 relate to the concept of atonement in the Old Testament?
9.Why is the timing of the sacrifice important in Leviticus 19:5?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Leviticus 19?
11.What are spiritual sacrifices in religious practices?
12.Amos 5:25 - How can Amos assert that Israel did not offer sacrifices in the wilderness when Exodus and Leviticus detail extensive sacrificial ordinances?
13.Amos 5:21-23 - Why does God reject these religious festivals, yet in other books He commands and even delights in similar observances?
14.How does Christ's suffering relate to our redemption?What Does Leviticus 19:5 Mean
When you sacrifice• God presumes that His covenant people will come near with tangible acts of worship. “When” points to a regular rhythm, not an optional extra (seeLeviticus 1:2;Hebrews 9:22).
• Sacrifice reminds the worshiper that “the life of the flesh is in the blood” (Leviticus 17:11), underlining sin’s costly penalty.
• Believers today still live sacrificially, presenting bodies “as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God” (Romans 12:1).
a peace offering• Unlike the burnt offering that was wholly consumed or the sin offering that addressed guilt, the peace (or fellowship) offering celebrated restored relationship (Leviticus 3:1-17; 7:11-15).
• Three occasions invited it:
– Thanksgiving for a specific blessing.
– Fulfillment of a vow.
– Freewill joy in God’s goodness.
• Shared portions created a sacred meal; worshiper, priest, and God enjoyed fellowship—a foretaste of the Lord’s Table and the marriage supper of the Lamb (1 Corinthians 10:16;Revelation 19:9).
• Christ Himself “is our peace” (Ephesians 2:14), the ultimate embodiment of this offering.
to the LORD• Offerings were brought exclusively to Yahweh, rejecting any rival altar (Leviticus 17:8-9;Deuteronomy 12:5-6).
• The direction of worship guards hearts from idolatry and reminds us that gratitude, vows, and freewill praise belong to God alone (Malachi 1:8-9).
• Jesus echoed this priority: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only” (Matthew 4:10).
you shall offer it• Worship is never passive. Each Israelite laid hands on the animal, personally identifying with it (Leviticus 7:29-30).
• Proper procedure mattered—right place, right animal, right heart—mirroringJames 2:17: “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
• Today, obedience still accompanies faith: “Whatever you do, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17).
for your acceptance• The goal is divine favor: “When you sacrifice a peace offering to the LORD, you shall offer it for your acceptance” (Leviticus 19:5).
• Cain learned that an unacceptable offering brings rejection (Genesis 4:4-5). Motive and method must align with God’s revealed will (Isaiah 1:11-17).
• Acceptance ultimately rests on a perfect sacrifice—Jesus “offered one sacrifice for sins for all time” and “by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:12, 14).
• In Him believers are “accepted in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:6), enjoying lasting peace with God (Romans 5:1).
summaryLeviticus 19:5 calls worshipers to bring regular, heartfelt peace offerings exclusively to the LORD, carried out in obedient detail so that the worshiper might be accepted. The verse anticipates the greater peace offering—Christ—through whom every believer finds eternal acceptance and unbroken fellowship with God.
(5)
And if ye offer a sacrifice.--From
Leviticus 17:3-7, it will be seen that the Israelites were in the habit of sacrificing to idols the animals intended for private consumption, and that this practice gave rise to the enactment that when any of the three kinds of quadrupeds are to be slaughtered for daily meat, they should first be devoted to God as peace-offerings. Hence the transition here from the prohibition of idolatrous worship to the peace-offerings. The simple abstention from sacrifice to idols and offering them to God is not enough. If the Israelites bring a peace-offering to the Lord it must be offered in the prescribed manner.
Ye shall offer it at your own will.--Better,ye shall offer it for your acceptance(seeLeviticus 1:3), that is, ye are to do it in such a manner as will secure for you the Divine acceptance.
Verses 5-8. - The unsystematic character of this chapter is indicated by prohibitions under the fifth, fourth, first, and second commandments (verses 3, 4) being succeeded by a ceremonial instruction respecting the peace offerings, repeated from
Leviticus 7:16-18. The words,
ye shall offer it at your own will, should rather be,
for your acceptance, as in chapter Leviticus 1:3. In the seventh chapter a distinction is drawn between the peace offerings that are thank offerings, which must be eaten on the first day, and the peace offerings which are vow or voluntary offerings, which may be eaten on the first or second day. In the present
resume this distinction is not noticed. Whoever transgresses this ceremonial command is to
bear his iniquity and to be cut off from among his people, that is, to be excommunicated without any appointed form of reconciliation by means of sacrifice.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
Whenוְכִ֧י(wə·ḵî)Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 3588:A relative conjunctionyou sacrificeתִזְבְּח֛וּ(ṯiz·bə·ḥū)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 2076:To slaughter for sacrificea peace offeringשְׁלָמִ֖ים(šə·lā·mîm)Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8002:A sacrifice for alliance or friendship, peace offeringto the LORD,לַיהוָ֑ה(Yah·weh)Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068:LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israelyou shall offer itתִּזְבָּחֻֽהוּ׃(tiz·bā·ḥu·hū)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2076:To slaughter for sacrificefor your acceptance.לִֽרְצֹנְכֶ֖ם(lir·ṣō·nə·ḵem)Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 7522:Goodwill, favor, acceptance, will
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OT Law: Leviticus 19:5 When you offer a sacrifice of peace (Le Lv Lev.) 
