The Peace Offering, also known as the Fellowship Offering, is a significant sacrificial practice detailed in the Old Testament, primarily within the Levitical law. It is one of the five major offerings described in the Book of Leviticus, alongside the Burnt Offering, Grain Offering, Sin Offering, and Guilt Offering. The Peace Offering is unique in its emphasis on communal fellowship and thanksgiving, serving as a means to express gratitude, fulfill a vow, or simply celebrate the peace and fellowship between the offerer, God, and the community.

Biblical Foundation

The primary instructions for the Peace Offering are found in Leviticus 3 and Leviticus 7. The offering could be made from cattle, sheep, or goats, and it was characterized by the shared consumption of the sacrificial meal. The offering was divided into three parts: one part was burned on the altar as a food offering to the LORD, another part was given to the priests, and the remaining portion was consumed by the offerer and their family.

Leviticus 3:1-5 provides the basic procedure: "If one's offering is a peace offering and he offers an animal from the herd, whether male or female, he must present it without blemish before the LORD. He is to lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron's sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood on all sides of the altar. From the peace offering he is to bring an offering made by fire to the LORD: the fat that covers the entrails, all the fat that is on them, the kidneys with the fat on them, and the lobe of the liver, which he is to remove with the kidneys. Then Aaron's sons are to burn it on the altar atop the burnt offering that is on the burning wood, as an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD."

Purpose and Significance

The Peace Offering served multiple purposes. It was a voluntary act of worship, expressing thanksgiving and gratitude to God. It also functioned as a means of fulfilling vows or as a freewill offering. The communal aspect of the Peace Offering highlighted the importance of fellowship and unity among the people of Israel, as well as their relationship with God.

The offering symbolized reconciliation and peace with God, acknowledging His provision and blessings. It was a celebration of the covenant relationship between God and His people, emphasizing the joy and peace that come from living in harmony with His will.

Theological Implications

The Peace Offering foreshadows the ultimate peace and reconciliation brought through Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, Christ is seen as the fulfillment of the sacrificial system, including the Peace Offering. Ephesians 2:14 states, "For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility." Through His sacrifice, believers are brought into a state of peace with God, enjoying fellowship and communion with Him.

The communal meal aspect of the Peace Offering can also be seen as a precursor to the Lord's Supper, where believers gather to remember and celebrate the sacrifice of Christ, fostering unity and fellowship within the body of Christ.

Practical Observance

In ancient Israel, the Peace Offering was a tangible expression of gratitude and fellowship. It was a time of celebration, where families and communities gathered to share in the blessings of God. The offering underscored the importance of living in peace with one another and with God, serving as a reminder of His faithfulness and provision.

Today, while the sacrificial system is no longer practiced, the principles of thanksgiving, fellowship, and peace remain central to Christian worship and community life. Believers are encouraged to live in peace with one another, offering their lives as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1).