Leviticus 3:5
Then Aaron’s sons are to burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering that is lying on the burning wood; it is a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord. (NIV)
Today’s Reading: Leviticus 3:1-17 and Romans 5:1-11
The Peace Offering is the third offering described in Leviticus. Much like the Burnt Offering, this offering was either from the herd or flock and must be an animal without blemish. God wants the best we have to offer. It could also be male or female.
The Peace Offering was an optional offering just like the Grain Offering. There was no particular time when a person needed to make a Peace or Grain Offering. These were both voluntary offerings.
The person bringing the Peace Offering was to lay their hand on the head of the sacrifice. Generally this means that the person is transferring their sin onto the innocent animal. It’s an act that symbolizes the animal taking the place of the person who brought the offering. The person would then slaughter the animal themselves at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Aaron and his sons would then throw the blood on the altar.
The offering would be essentially gutted so that the fatty organs would be removed and offered to God. The fat of the animal represented the best parts of the animal thus they belonged to God. All these parts were placed on top of the Burnt Offering on the altar and burned to create a pleasing aroma to God.
Recall that the Burnt Offering was to make atonement for the sins of the Israelites. It was for the payment of sins so that we could approach God. Once that was accomplished, then the Peace Offering could be made. It is important that the Peace Offering be placed on top of the Burnt Offering. There cannot be peace with God until atonement is made first. And likewise, there cannot be peace with God unless grace comes first. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:1).
We will see in a few chapters that there is a fellowship meal associated with this offering in which all the different parties involved will eat together. This offering was not only to bring peace between the person bringing the offering and God, but it was also meant to bring peace amongst the Israelites. The sacrifice of Jesus reconciles us to God which then opens the door for peace between us and God and all those around us. “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Rom 12:18). Jesus makes this possible.
Christ in the Old Testament 
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