Leviticus 9:21
but he waved the breasts and the right thigh as a wave offering before the LORD, as Moses had commanded.
but he waved the breasts and the right thigh as a wave offering before the LORD,

Aaron presented the portions assigned to the priesthood before the LORD in acknowledgment that every sacrifice and every provision belonged first to God. The breast and right thigh came from the peace offerings and supported the priests who served at the altar (Leviticus 7:28–34). Having been presented to the LORD, these portions were received as holy food by the priests, expressing both fellowship with God and His provision for those devoted to His service. Aaron’s ministry pointed forward to Christ, the perfect High Priest, who offered Himself wholly to the Father and now sustains His people through His completed sacrifice.

Lev 7:31-34 The priest is to burn the fat on the altar…
Num 18:18 And their meat belongs to you, just as the breast…
Exo 29:27-28 Consecrate for Aaron and his sons the breast of the wave…

as Moses had commanded.

Aaron carried out the instructions God had given through Moses without alteration. The newly consecrated priesthood could not serve according to personal preference; holiness required obedience to God’s revealed order. Moses faithfully transmitted the Lord’s commands, while Aaron demonstrated submission to them in his first public acts as high priest. Christ fulfilled this pattern perfectly, accomplishing the Father’s will in every aspect of His priestly work.

Lev 8:36 So Aaron and his sons did everything the LORD had commanded…
Exo 40:16 Moses did everything just as the LORD had commanded him.
Lev 8:4-5 So Moses did as the LORD had commanded him,…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Aaron
The brother of Moses and the first high priest of Israel. He is performing the priestly duties as instructed by God through Moses.

2. Moses
The leader of the Israelites who received the Law from God on Mount Sinai. He instructed Aaron on how to perform the offerings.

3. Wave Offering
A specific type of offering where parts of the sacrifice are waved before the LORD as a symbolic gesture of presenting them to God.

4. The LORD
Refers to Yahweh, the God of Israel, who established the sacrificial system as a means for His people to maintain a relationship with Him.

5. Tabernacle
The portable sanctuary where the Israelites worshiped God during their journey in the wilderness.
Teaching Points
Obedience to God's Commands
Aaron's actions demonstrate the importance of following God's instructions precisely. As believers, we are called to obey God's Word in our daily lives.

Symbolism of the Wave Offering
The wave offering symbolizes presenting our best to God. We should strive to offer our time, talents, and resources to God as acts of worship.

Role of the Priesthood
Aaron's role as a mediator between God and the people foreshadows the ultimate priesthood of Jesus Christ. We can approach God with confidence through Christ, our High Priest.

Holiness and Reverence
The sacrificial system underscores the holiness of God and the need for reverence in worship. Our worship should reflect a deep respect for God's holiness.

Community and Worship
The offerings were not just individual acts but involved the community. Our worship and service should also consider the communal aspect of faith, encouraging and supporting one another.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Aaron's obedience in performing the wave offering challenge us in our own obedience to God's commands today?

2. In what ways can we offer our "best" to God in our daily lives, similar to the wave offering presented by Aaron?

3. How does understanding the role of the Old Testament priesthood enhance our appreciation of Jesus as our High Priest?

4. What are some practical ways we can demonstrate reverence and holiness in our worship and daily living?

5. How can we foster a sense of community in our worship and service, reflecting the communal aspect of the offerings in Leviticus?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 29
Details the consecration of Aaron and his sons, providing context for the priestly duties and offerings.

Hebrews 7
Discusses the priesthood of Jesus Christ, drawing parallels between the Old Testament priesthood and the new covenant.

1 Samuel 2
Highlights the importance of proper priestly conduct and the consequences of neglecting God's commands.

Romans 12
Encourages believers to offer themselves as living sacrifices, drawing a spiritual parallel to the physical offerings of the Old Testament.
A Sign Expected and ReceivedR.M. Edgar Leviticus 9:1-24
A Solemn BenedictionW. H. Jellie.Leviticus 9:1-24
Aaron in the Duties of His OfficeJ. A. Seiss, D. D.Leviticus 9:1-24
Advent GloryLeviticus 9:1-24
Blessing the PeopleF. W. Brown.Leviticus 9:1-24
Christ's Priestly BlessingRichard Newton, D. D.Leviticus 9:1-24
God's Acceptance of the SacrificesChas. Simeon, M. A.Leviticus 9:1-24
Gracious FireDean Law.Leviticus 9:1-24
Of the Divers Occasions of the Sending of Miraculous Fire Upon the SacrificesA. Willet, D. D.Leviticus 9:1-24
Sacrificial Preparation for Jehovah a AppearingW. H. Jellie.Leviticus 9:1-24
Subject: God's Glory Manifested in the Blessedness of His PeopleR.A. Redford Leviticus 9:1-24
The Fire in the GospelA. Willet, D. D.Leviticus 9:1-24
The Miraculous FireF. W. Brown.Leviticus 9:1-24
The Priest At the AltarW. Clarkson Leviticus 9:8-21
Aaron's First Priestly ServicesJ.A. Macdonald Leviticus 9:8-24
People
Aaron, Moses
Places
Teman
Topics
Aaron, Breast-pieces, Breasts, Commanded, Leg, Offering, Orders, Presented, Shoulder, Thigh, Wave, Waved, Wave-offering, Waving
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Leviticus 9:21

     5190   thigh
     7480   wave offering

Leviticus 9:19-21

     5166   liver and kidneys

Leviticus 9:20-21

     5140   breasts

Library
"Then the Fire of the Lord Fell. " 1 Kings xviii. 38
It was fire that came direct from heaven. It was not the first time it had fallen; we read of it in Leviticus ix. 24 as coming from before the Lord, and consuming the sacrifice. It was God's way of showing His power and his favour, and it was something that could neither be imitated nor produced by anyone else besides Jehovah. I.--THIS FIRE CAME AT A TIME OF APOSTACY. The nation, headed by King Ahab, had gone very far away from God. They needed some signal display of God's power to win them back
Thomas Champness—Broken Bread

Section 26-36. That the Son is the Co-Existing Word
Section §26-36. That the Son is the Co-existing Word, argued from the New Testament. Texts from the Old Testament continued; especially Ps. cx. 3. Besides, the Word in Old Testament may be Son in New, as Spirit in Old Testament is Paraclete in New. Objection from Acts x. 36; answered by parallels, such as 1 Cor. i. 5. Lev. ix. 7. &c. Necessity of the Word's taking flesh, viz. to sanctify, yet without destroying, the flesh. 26. But that the Son has no beginning of being, but before He was made
Athanasius—Select Works and Letters or Athanasius

Leviticus
The emphasis which modern criticism has very properly laid on the prophetic books and the prophetic element generally in the Old Testament, has had the effect of somewhat diverting popular attention from the priestly contributions to the literature and religion of Israel. From this neglect Leviticus has suffered most. Yet for many reasons it is worthy of close attention; it is the deliberate expression of the priestly mind of Israel at its best, and it thus forms a welcome foil to the unattractive
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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