Thank Offering
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The Thank Offering, also known as the Thanksgiving Offering, is a specific type of sacrifice described in the Old Testament, primarily within the Levitical sacrificial system. It is a subset of the Peace Offerings, which were voluntary sacrifices made by the Israelites to express gratitude and fellowship with God. The Thank Offering is distinct in its purpose of expressing thanks to God for His blessings and deliverance.

Biblical References:

The primary scriptural basis for the Thank Offering is found in Leviticus 7:11-15. The Berean Standard Bible states:

"This is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings that one may present to the LORD: If he offers it as an expression of thankfulness, then along with the thank offering he is to offer unleavened cakes mixed with oil, unleavened wafers coated with oil, and well-kneaded cakes of fine flour mixed with oil. Along with his peace offering of thanksgiving, he is to present an offering with cakes of leavened bread. From the cakes he must present one portion as a contribution to the LORD; it belongs to the priest who sprinkles the blood of the peace offerings. The meat of the sacrifice of his peace offering of thanksgiving must be eaten on the day he offers it; none of it may be left until morning."

Purpose and Significance:

The Thank Offering was a way for the Israelites to acknowledge God's provision and deliverance in their lives. It was an expression of gratitude for specific blessings, such as a bountiful harvest, deliverance from enemies, or recovery from illness. The offering was a tangible way to show appreciation and to maintain a right relationship with God.

Components of the Thank Offering:

1. Animal Sacrifice: The offering typically involved the sacrifice of an animal, such as a lamb or goat, which was shared between the altar, the priests, and the offerer. This sharing symbolized fellowship and communion with God.

2. Bread Offerings: The Thank Offering included both unleavened and leavened bread. Unleavened cakes mixed with oil and unleavened wafers coated with oil were presented, along with well-kneaded cakes of fine flour mixed with oil. Additionally, leavened bread was included, which was unique to the Thank Offering among the Peace Offerings.

3. Priestly Portion: A portion of the bread was given to the priest who performed the ritual, symbolizing the priest's role as a mediator between God and the people.

4. Immediate Consumption: The meat of the Thank Offering was to be consumed on the same day it was offered, emphasizing the immediacy of gratitude and the communal aspect of the meal.

Theological Implications:

The Thank Offering underscores the importance of gratitude in the believer's life. It reflects a heart that recognizes God's sovereignty and goodness. The offering also highlights the communal aspect of worship, as it involved sharing a meal with family, friends, and the priesthood, fostering a sense of community and shared blessing.

New Testament Fulfillment:

While the Thank Offering is rooted in the Old Testament sacrificial system, its principles carry forward into the New Testament. Believers are encouraged to offer spiritual sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving. Hebrews 13:15 states, "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name." This verse reflects the transition from physical sacrifices to spiritual expressions of gratitude, made possible through the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

In summary, the Thank Offering was a vital part of Israelite worship, serving as a means to express gratitude to God for His manifold blessings. It was a voluntary act that fostered community and acknowledged God's provision, setting a precedent for the spiritual sacrifices of thanksgiving in the New Testament.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Thank Offering

THANK OFFERING

See SACRIFICE.

Greek
133. ainesis -- praise
... praise. From aineo; a praising (the act), ie (specially) a thank(-offering) -- praise.
see GREEK aineo. (aineseos) -- 1 Occurrence. 132, 133. ainesis. 134 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/133.htm - 6k
Strong's Hebrew
8426. todah -- thanksgiving
... NASB Word Usage choir (1), choirs (2), confession (1), hymns of thanksgiving (1),
praise (1), sacrifices of thanksgiving (1), thank offering (2), thank ...
/hebrew/8426.htm - 6k

8018. Shelemyah -- "friend of Yah," the name of several Israelites
... Or Shelemyahuw {shel-em-yaw'-hoo}; from shelem and Yahh; thank-offering of Jah;
Shelemjah, the name of nine Israelites -- Shelemiah. see HEBREW shelem. ...
/hebrew/8018.htm - 6k

Library

The Manner of Our Offering Sacrifices.
... In the one case, what is slain is burnt, as a whole burnt-offering, whence that
name is given to it; but the other is a thank-offering, and is designed for ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 9 the manner of.htm

How when King Penda was Slain, the Province of the Mercians ...
... province of the Mercians received the faith of Christ, and Oswy gave possessions
and territories to God, for building monasteries, as a thank offering for the ...
/.../bede/bedes ecclesiastical history of england/chap xxiv how when king.htm

Public Spirit
... You owe a thank-offering for the cessation of the cholera; a thank-offering
for the sparing of your own lives;"pay it now. You ...
/.../kingsley/sermons for the times/sermon xxii public spirit.htm

Sacrifice Renewed
... devotion, kindled by the fire of love, speak in daily life by practical service,
and the whole activities of the redeemed man be a long thank-offering for the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/sacrifice renewed.htm

Twenty Second Sunday after Trinity Paul's Thanks and Prayers for ...
... We can render him no better"in fact, none other"service, or outward work,
than the thank-offering, as the Scriptures term it. ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/twenty second sunday after trinity.htm

The Teacher Come from God and the Teacher from Jerusalem - Jesus ...
... went to the Temple, they would see prominently exposed, on a bench in one of the
porches, two desecrated cakes of some thank offering, indicating that it was ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vi the teacher come.htm

What Life May be Made
... 'Thou shalt pay thy vows.' All life may become a thank-offering to God for
the benefits that have flowed unceasing from His hands. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/what life may be made.htm

Spiritual Sacrifices
... That is a symbol representing what the Christian life ought to be"a continual
thank-offering of the incense of prayer and praise. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/spiritual sacrifices.htm

The Voice of the Blood of Christ
... solemn faith in him." Not so Cain; he cared nothing for Christ; he was not willing
to confess his sin; he had no objection to present a thank-offering, but a ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the voice of the blood.htm

The Destruction that came Upon the Philistines, and Upon
... These men said it was not right either to send the ark away, or to retain it, but
to dedicate five golden images, one for every city, as a thank-offering to God ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 1 the destruction that.htm

Resources
What does the Bible say about ingratitude/unthankfulness? | GotQuestions.org

I am a Buddhist. Why should I consider becoming a Christian? | GotQuestions.org

I am a Hindu, why should I consider becoming a Christian? | GotQuestions.org

Thank: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Thank

Thank Offering

Thank Offering or Peace Offering

Related Terms

Thank-offering (5 Occurrences)

Thank-offerings (3 Occurrences)

Thank-worthy (1 Occurrence)

Thanksgiving (49 Occurrences)

Thanks (151 Occurrences)

Understanding (248 Occurrences)

Willing-hearted (3 Occurrences)

Intelligent (47 Occurrences)

Infants (71 Occurrences)

Trow (1 Occurrence)

Reveal (29 Occurrences)

Revealed (129 Occurrences)

Mention (41 Occurrences)

Prudent (40 Occurrences)

Bless (174 Occurrences)

Babes (18 Occurrences)

Ceasing (15 Occurrences)

Spreading (74 Occurrences)

O (1414 Occurrences)

Remember (230 Occurrences)

Remembrance (74 Occurrences)

Hid (145 Occurrences)

Hide (135 Occurrences)

Dedicated (37 Occurrences)

Thanking (4 Occurrences)

Canaan (102 Occurrences)

Wise (422 Occurrences)

Hezeki'ah (120 Occurrences)

Monthly (11 Occurrences)

Canaanites (63 Occurrences)

Burnt-offerings (86 Occurrences)

Always (186 Occurrences)

Serve (407 Occurrences)

Consecrated (101 Occurrences)

Answereth (144 Occurrences)

Yes (511 Occurrences)

Nebushazban (2 Occurrences)

Unjust (44 Occurrences)

Upwards (18 Occurrences)

Unceasingly (7 Occurrences)

Unceasing (11 Occurrences)

Unknown (15 Occurrences)

Unrighteous (32 Occurrences)

Obeying (24 Occurrences)

Leviticus (1 Occurrence)

Leaps (5 Occurrences)

Lip (20 Occurrences)

Listened (120 Occurrences)

Leaven (24 Occurrences)

Groweth (29 Occurrences)

Gaius (5 Occurrences)

Ga'ius (5 Occurrences)

Gift (148 Occurrences)

Worketh (49 Occurrences)

Increases (24 Occurrences)

Invoke (13 Occurrences)

Fermented (23 Occurrences)

Fortunes (30 Occurrences)

Follows (65 Occurrences)

Tax-gatherer (7 Occurrences)

Thara (1 Occurrence)

Thankworthy (1 Occurrence)

Thanked (6 Occurrences)

Thankful (15 Occurrences)

Thankless (1 Occurrence)

Thief (41 Occurrences)

Than (5474 Occurrences)

Repaired (46 Occurrences)

Resemble (15 Occurrences)

Rejoices (30 Occurrences)

Rejoiced (83 Occurrences)

Removed (294 Occurrences)

Reinstated (1 Occurrence)

Robbers (21 Occurrences)

Rapacious (3 Occurrences)

Effectually (2 Occurrences)

Enabled (8 Occurrences)

Extortioners (3 Occurrences)

Thank
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