Leviticus 10:15

The heaue shoulder, and the waue breast shal they bring, with the offrings made by fire of the fat, to waue it for a waue offering before the Lord: and it shall bee thine, and thy sonnes with thee, by a statute for euer, as the Lord hath commanded. Leviticus 10:15 (KJV)

Leviticus is a book in the Old Testament that provides instructions and regulations for the Israelites regarding worship, sacrifices, and moral conduct. Leviticus 10 describes an incident involving Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, who offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, resulting in their deaths. Verse 15 is part of the instructions given to Aaron and his surviving sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, regarding the portion of the offerings they were allowed to eat.

Heave Shoulder and Wave Breast: In this verse, the “heave shoulder” and “wave breast” refer to specific portions of the sacrifices made by the Israelites. These parts were set apart for the priests as their share of the offering.

Wave Offering: The heave shoulder and wave breast were to be “waved” before the Lord as a wave offering. This ritual involved lifting the portions forward and backward, symbolically presenting them to God and consecrating them for priestly use. The wave offering consecrated and dedicated the portion to the Lord.

Permanent Statute: God commanded that the heave shoulder and wave breast belonged to Aaron, the high priest, and his sons, and that this was a perpetual statute to be observed throughout generations. Because the priestly family received no tribal inheritance of land (see Numbers 18:20‑24), this perpetual provision ensured their sustenance.

Honoring God: The wave offering and priests’ portion remind us of honoring and dedicating the best of what we have to God, recognizing His authority and giving Him the firstfruits of our lives, talents, and resources.

Provision for the Servants of God: The Lord established a system to provide for priests who served in the tabernacle or temple, highlighting the principle of supporting those dedicated to full‑time ministry and ensuring their material needs are met.

Obedience to God’s Commands: The everlasting nature of this statute underscores the importance of obeying God’s directives, and just as the Israelites were expected to faithfully observe the regulations for the priests’ share, Christians are called to follow God’s guidance for our lives.

Jesus as Our High Priest: In the New Testament, Jesus is described as the ultimate High Priest who offered Himself as a sacrifice for sin, and while the Levitical priesthood and its specific regulations are no longer practiced, the principles behind the priests’ portion and wave offerings point to Christ’s sacrificial work and invite us to dedicate ourselves wholly to Him.

Remember, as we study the Old Testament, we should continually consider the teachings of the New Testament and how they illuminate the fulfillment and significance of these ancient practices.