---

In the Levitical sacrifices there was communion between Jehovah on the one hand and the priests and worshippers on the other. The communion was effected by means of the slain bullock, e.g., in the peace-offering. This bullock in the burning of the fat furnished —

1. Food of firing for Jehovah, who by fire consumed His portion of the sacrifice.

2. Food of flesh hallowed by the altar to the priests and worshippers, who in this feast common to all were fellow guests with one another and with God. This common feast was a sacrificial meal after the sacrificial offering. In like manner the blood, after its effusion from the body of the bullock in the slaughtering (cf. Luke 22:20), was affused or poured against the altar

(1)  for atonement, and,

(2)  hallowed by the altar, was given back in the form of sprinkling upon the people for cleansing.Thus the same animal was from the altar given back both in its blood and its flesh to the priest and the people. The blood was regarded as one blood although it was set in bowls by the priest in two halves — one half for affusion to bring God nigh His people, the other half for aspersion to make the people meet for drawing nigh to God. Thus the altar, on which the victim was given to Jehovah and from which it was given back to the offerers, was a meeting-place of communion between them. Now, according to St. Paul, the Eucharistic feast is an antitype of the sacrificial meal of the peace-offering here, as it is of the passover in chap. 1 Corinthians 5. And from the significant word "altar of sacrifice" it seems as if the apostle's thought was that the flesh of Christ, as given back from the altar of the Cross, is the medium of communion in the eating thereof, and the real and therefore spiritual food of His body, by feasting on which we have fellowship with Himself and with one another, and through Himself with God. His human nature, then, of flesh and blood is the "thing signified," and the "remission of sins and all other benefits of His passion" is that which is given us through the "thing." This being the case, the Lord's Supper is not a sacrifice, save in the offering of self-dedication and of God's creatures of bread and wine, but a sacramental feast upon the great sacrifice which was once for all offered to God on the altar of the Cross.

(Canon Evans.)

---

---

KJV: Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

WEB: Consider Israel according to the flesh. Don't those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar?