Daily Bread

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

The Grain Offering

Date: Aug. 17, 2026

Passage

Leviticus 2:1-16

Laws for Grain Offerings

2:1 “When anyone brings a grain offering as an offering to the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour. He shall pour oil on it and put frankincense on it 2 and bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests. And he shall take from it a handful of the fine flour and oil, with all of its frankincense, and the priest shall burn this as its memorial portion on the altar, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD. 3 But the rest of the grain offering shall be for Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the LORD’s food offerings.

4 “When you bring a grain offering baked in the oven as an offering, it shall be unleavened loaves of fine flour mixed with oil or unleavened wafers smeared with oil. 5 And if your offering is a grain offering baked on a griddle, it shall be of fine flour unleavened, mixed with oil. 6 You shall break it in pieces and pour oil on it; it is a grain offering. 7 And if your offering is a grain offering cooked in a pan, it shall be made of fine flour with oil. 8 And you shall bring the grain offering that is made of these things to the LORD, and when it is presented to the priest, he shall bring it to the altar. 9 And the priest shall take from the grain offering its memorial portion and burn this on the altar, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD. 10 But the rest of the grain offering shall be for Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the LORD’s food offerings.

11 “No grain offering that you bring to the LORD shall be made with leaven, for you shall burn no leaven nor any honey as a food offering to the LORD. 12 As an offering of firstfruits you may bring them to the LORD, but they shall not be offered on the altar for a pleasing aroma. 13 You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. You shall not let the salt of the covenant with your God be missing from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt.

14 “If you offer a grain offering of firstfruits to the LORD, you shall offer for the grain offering of your firstfruits fresh ears, roasted with fire, crushed new grain. 15 And you shall put oil on it and lay frankincense on it; it is a grain offering. 16 And the priest shall burn as its memorial portion some of the crushed grain and some of the oil with all of its frankincense; it is a food offering to the LORD.

Key Verse: Leviticus 2:13

You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. You shall not let the salt of the covenant with your God be missing from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt.

The grain offering was given in thanksgiving for God’s faithful provision. It was made from the finest flour and mixed with oil and frankincense. The oil made it sweet, and frankincense made it expensive. A memorial portion was burned on the altar to God, and the rest was given to the priests. The grain offering reveals the importance of thanksgiving. Do you offer to give thanks to God?

The grain offering was baked at home, showing the devotion of the worshiper. Instructions for the different types of grain offering are described in detail in this passage. Excluding yeast and honey was crucial. Yeast symbolizes an old batch and represents the corruption of sin. Honey was used in pagan offerings. Yeast and honey represent sin and pride, a little of which could corrupt the whole.

Verse 13 mentions the covenant of salt three times. Salt purified and preserved and was expensive at the time. It represents the faithful and enduring nature of God’s covenant. This covenant is mentioned in two other places in the Old Testament (Nu 18:19; 2 Ch 13:5); in the New Testament Jesus talks about being the salt of the earth (Mt 5:13). The seasoned grain offering thus represents Christ, our Bread of Life. He sustains and satisfies us.

Prayer: Father, thank you for providing me with everything I have. Help me to faithfully keep the covenant I have with you through Jesus’ blood.

One Word: An offering of thanksgiving

In the Shelter of God’s Wings

Psalm 61:1-8

Key Verse: 61:4

Let me dwell in your tent forever!
Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah

Today's Question

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