Leviticus 22:17-33
Acceptable Offerings
Read the passage
17Then the LORD said to Moses,
18“Speak to Aaron and his sons and all the Israelites and tell them, ‘Any man of the house of Israel or any foreign resident who presents a gift for a burnt offering to the LORD, whether to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering,
19must offer an unblemished male from the cattle, sheep, or goats in order for it to be accepted on your behalf.
20You must not present anything with a defect, because it will not be accepted on your behalf.
21When a man presents a peace offering to the LORD from the herd or flock to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering, it must be without blemish or defect to be acceptable.
22You are not to present to the LORD any animal that is blind, injured, or maimed, or anything with a running sore, a festering rash, or a scab; you must not put any of these on the altar as a food offering to the LORD.
23You may present as a freewill offering an ox or sheep that has a deformed or stunted limb, but it is not acceptable in fulfillment of a vow.
24You are not to present to the LORD an animal whose testicles are bruised, crushed, torn, or cut; you are not to sacrifice them in your land.
25Neither you nor a foreigner shall present food to your God from any such animal. They will not be accepted on your behalf, because they are deformed and flawed.’”
26Then the LORD said to Moses,
27“When an ox, a sheep, or a goat is born, it must remain with its mother for seven days. From the eighth day on, it will be acceptable as a food offering presented to the LORD.
28But you must not slaughter an ox or a sheep on the same day as its young.
29When you sacrifice a thank offering to the LORD, offer it so that it may be acceptable on your behalf.
30It must be eaten that same day. Do not leave any of it until morning. I am the LORD.
31You are to keep My commandments and practice them. I am the LORD.
32You must not profane My holy name. I must be acknowledged as holy among the Israelites. I am the LORD who sanctifies you,
33who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD.”
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
The LORD tells Moses to speak to Aaron, his sons, and all Israel about offerings. A burnt offering, whether brought to fulfill a vow or as a freewill gift, must be an unblemished male from the cattle, sheep, or goats.
Peace offerings must also meet God's requirements. Blind, injured, maimed, or diseased animals are not acceptable. A specific exception allows an ox or sheep with a deformed or stunted limb as a freewill offering, but not to fulfill a vow. Animals with damaged testicles are prohibited; the exception does not permit every kind of defect.
A bull, sheep, or goat may be offered only after it has remained with its mother for seven days. A cow or ewe and its young must not be slaughtered on the same day. An animal may be offered as a thanksgiving sacrifice, but it must be eaten that day.
The chapter closes with the reason for these commands. Israel is to keep the LORD's commandments and not profane His holy name. He brought them out of Egypt to be their God, and His holiness is meant to be recognized in the gifts they bring.
Questions
1 What was required for a burnt offering?
AnswerWhether it fulfilled a vow or was a freewill gift, it had to be an unblemished male from the cattle, sheep, or goats.
2 Did the exception for a freewill offering permit any defective animal?
AnswerNo. It allowed an ox or sheep with a deformed or stunted limb. The other prohibitions remained, and even that animal could not fulfill a vow.
3 How long did a young animal remain with its mother?
AnswerA young animal remained with its mother for seven days before it could be offered.
4 When was a thanksgiving offering eaten?
AnswerA thanksgiving offering was eaten on the day it was offered.
What This Means for Us
The law rejects the idea that worship receives whatever is inconvenient or worthless. An offering is a response to God, not a way to dispose of what we do not want.
Give God honest attention rather than leftovers disguised as devotion. Gratitude is not measured by expense alone, but it should be sincere enough to cost us care.
Prayer
God, keep our worship sincere. Teach us to offer you our attention, work, and resources without disguising indifference as generosity, and help us honor your name in all we bring. Amen.