“And they put the fat upon the breasts, and he burnt the fat upon the altar.”
Leviticus 9:20 is part of the account of Aaron and his sons consecrating themselves as priests and offering sacrifices to the Lord. This specific verse describes a portion of the ritual performed by Aaron, the high priest, after the initial sacrifices were made.
In the preceding verses, we learn that Aaron had made sin offerings, burnt offerings, and peace offerings on behalf of the people of Israel. These offerings were meant to atone for their sins and establish a covenant relationship between God and His people.
After making the offerings, Aaron took the fat from the sacrifices and placed it on the breasts of the animals. The fat was considered a significant and valuable part of the sacrifice. It symbolised the choicest and best portion of the offering, dedicated to God. By placing the fat on the breasts, Aaron presented it as an offering before God.
Subsequently, Aaron burned the fat upon the altar. The altar was a central element in the tabernacle, the dwelling place of God among the Israelites during their wilderness journey. The burning of the fat on the altar signified the complete dedication and surrender of the offering to God.
The smoke and fragrance that rose from the burnt offering were considered pleasing to the Lord. This act of burning the fat on the altar was an essential part of the sacrificial system established by God in the Old Testament. It symbolised the giving of the best to God, acknowledging His authority and holiness.
The sacrificial system served as a foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who offered Himself as the perfect and final sacrifice for the sins of humanity.
As Christians, we no longer observe the ceremonial laws and regulations of the Old Testament, including the sacrificial system outlined in Leviticus. Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the need for animal sacrifices was fulfilled once and for all.
However, studying these passages helps us understand the historical context and the significance of Jesus’ sacrifice, which was prefigured by the sacrificial system.
In summary, Leviticus 9:20 illustrates the act of placing the fat on the breasts of the sacrifices and burning them on the altar. It symbolised the dedication of the choicest portions of the offering to God and demonstrated the Israelites’ commitment to honour and worship Him according to His instructions.
