Leviticus 4:31

And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat is taken away from off the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour unto the Lord; and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him.

Leviticus 4:31 (KJV)

Context

Leviticus 4:31 closes the sin offering for an individual who sinned unintentionally. The offerer removes all the fat, following the same procedure used for the peace offering, and the priest burns it on the altar. The fat was the choicest part of the animal, reserved for God alone. This offering provided a God-ordained way for a person to seek forgiveness and reconciliation after an unintentional sin.

Meaning

The burning of the fat produces a “sweet savour unto the LORD,” showing that the offering is wholly dedicated and pleasing to Him. Then the priest makes atonement for the person, and the result is certain: “it shall be forgiven him.” The priest acts as mediator, performing the ritual on behalf of the sinner. Together, these actions express the sinner’s surrender and the priest’s mediating role, restoring the broken relationship caused by sin. The atonement was effective because God appointed it, and it pointed to a greater sacrifice to come.

Biblical connections

The same standard for handling the fat appears in the peace offering, as seen in Leviticus 4:26, which also mentions burning the fat and making atonement. This parallel shows that the fat belonged to the Lord in every offering. The sin offering pointed forward to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who provided complete atonement for sin once for all (Hebrews 10:1-18).

Application

These rituals teach us about God’s holiness and the seriousness of sin. They also show His desire for reconciliation. As Christians, we recognize that forgiveness now comes through faith in Christ’s finished work. Yet the Levitical rites still remind us to offer ourselves wholly to God, giving Him our best, not our leftovers.

Reflection

Consider what “fat” you may be holding back from God. The sin offering required complete dedication of the choicest part. In response to Christ’s sacrifice, we are called to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, acceptable and pleasing to Him. Let this verse encourage you to trust in the atonement Christ made and to live in grateful, wholehearted worship.