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 symbol of peace and reconciliation between the offerer, the community, and God.

Biblical Foundation

The instructions for the Peace Offering are primarily 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 voluntary and could be presented as an expression of thanksgiving, a vow, or a freewill offering.

Leviticus 3:1-5 outlines 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 means of expressing gratitude to God, fulfilling a vow, or simply offering a freewill gift. The communal aspect of the Peace Offering is particularly noteworthy. Unlike the Burnt Offering, which was entirely consumed by fire, the Peace Offering was shared among the priests, the offerer, and their family, symbolizing fellowship and unity with God and the community.

The fat portions, considered the best parts, were burned on the altar as a pleasing aroma to the Lord, signifying the offering's dedication to God. The blood, representing life, was sprinkled on the altar, symbolizing atonement and purification.

Theological Implications

The Peace Offering underscores the importance of peace and reconciliation in the believer's relationship with God. It highlights the communal nature of worship and the joy of fellowship with the divine. The shared meal aspect prefigures the New Testament concept of communion, where believers partake in the body and blood of Christ, celebrating the ultimate peace offering made through His sacrifice.

The Peace Offering also reflects the holistic nature of worship, involving the heart, community, and God. It emphasizes that true peace and fellowship with God require a heart of gratitude, obedience, and a willingness to share blessings with others.

New Testament Fulfillment

In the New Testament, the Peace Offering finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who is the Prince of Peace. Through His sacrificial death and resurrection, He established a new covenant of peace between God and humanity. 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."

The Peace Offering, therefore, serves as a foreshadowing of the reconciliation and unity brought about through Christ, inviting believers to live in peace with God and one another, celebrating the fellowship made possible through His atoning work.