Leviticus 2:1-16
A Fragrant Offering
Read the passage
1“When anyone brings a grain offering to the LORD, his offering must consist of fine flour. He is to pour olive oil on it, put frankincense on it,
2and bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests. The priest shall take a handful of the flour and oil, together with all the frankincense, and burn this as a memorial portion on the altar, a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.
3The remainder of the grain offering shall belong to Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the food offerings to the LORD.
4Now if you bring an offering of grain baked in an oven, it must consist of fine flour, either unleavened cakes mixed with oil or unleavened wafers coated with oil.
5If your offering is a grain offering prepared on a griddle, it must be unleavened bread made of fine flour mixed with oil.
6Crumble it and pour oil on it; it is a grain offering.
7If your offering is a grain offering cooked in a pan, it must consist of fine flour with oil.
8When you bring to the LORD the grain offering made in any of these ways, it is to be presented to the priest, and he shall take it to the altar.
9The priest is to remove the memorial portion from the grain offering and burn it on the altar as a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.
10But the remainder of the grain offering shall belong to Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the food offerings to the LORD.
11No grain offering that you present to the LORD may be made with leaven, for you are not to burn any leaven or honey as a food offering to the LORD.
12You may bring them to the LORD as an offering of firstfruits, but they must not go up on the altar as a pleasing aroma.
13And you shall season each of your grain offerings with salt. You must not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offering; you are to add salt to each of your offerings.
14If you bring a grain offering of firstfruits to the LORD, you shall offer crushed heads of new grain roasted on the fire.
15And you are to put oil and frankincense on it; it is a grain offering.
16The priest shall then burn the memorial portion of the crushed grain and the oil, together with all its frankincense, as a food offering to the LORD.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
A grain offering may be fine flour with oil and frankincense. God also gives instructions for offerings baked in an oven or prepared on a griddle or in a pan, using fine flour and oil. The forms vary, but all come from the produce on which ordinary life depends.
The worshiper brings the offering to the priests, who burn a memorial portion on the altar. For the flour offering described first, that portion includes all the frankincense. The rest of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons. It is most holy among the offerings made by fire to the LORD.
Leaven and honey may be brought as firstfruits, but they must not be burned on the altar as a pleasing aroma. Salt must be included; God calls it the salt of His covenant. The offering belongs within the relationship He has established with Israel. Firstfruits of new grain may also be roasted and crushed, with oil and frankincense.
The offering is not all consumed. Part is given to God at the altar, and part supports the priests who serve there. The household bringing it offers the work of fields and hands, while the worshiping community receives provision from what has been brought.
Questions
1 What ordinary foods are used in the grain offering?
AnswerFine flour or new grain and olive oil are used, with frankincense in the offerings where it is specified. God receives gifts drawn from the people's daily provision.
2 Who receives the portion that is not burned?
AnswerAaron and his sons. The offering honors the LORD and also supplies food for those who serve at the sanctuary.
3 What distinction does God make about leaven and honey?
AnswerThey may be brought as firstfruits but must not be burned on the altar as a pleasing aroma. A gift's proper use depends on God's instructions, not only on its availability.
4 What can this offering teach us about thanking God for everyday provision?
AnswerFlour and oil matter because people depend on them. We can thank God for ordinary food and the work behind it, then share some of what sustains us with someone who needs it.
What This Means for Us
This offering makes work and worship meet. Flour, oil, grain, and salt come from ordinary life, yet they are brought before God with care rather than treated as spiritually unimportant.
Give God more than the parts of life that feel impressive. The work that feeds a household, the resources shared with others, and the habits carried out faithfully can all become expressions of gratitude.
Prayer
God, receive the ordinary work of our hands and teach us to offer it with thankful hearts. Make our homes generous toward those who serve and faithful in the small things that sustain life. Amen.