Each kind of OT sacrifice had its own specific purpose and each sacrifice was handled differently. The two kinds of sacrifices offered at Mount Sinai were burnt offerings and peace offerings. The burnt offerings were completely burned up, and no one ate any of the flesh (Leviticus 1:8-9). In the case of the peace offerings, a portion was given to the priests (Leviticus 7:31-34), and the rest was eaten by the worshiper (Leviticus 7:11-21). What they ate was the flesh of the peace offerings (Exodus 24:5; Leviticus 7:11-21). The eating of the peace offering served to seal (to close securely, to certify as correct) the covenant (Exodus 24:11). Jeremiah confirms that the covenant at Sinai was made after the ancient manner in Jeremiah 34:18. What does this have to do with the Lord’s Supper? Notice the similarity between the words of Moses and the words of Christ. Moses: “This is the blood of the covenant” (Exodus 24:8; Hebrews 9:20). Jesus: “This is My blood of the new covenant” (Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25; NKJV). Notice the parallel between the making of the covenants. Moses: “This is the blood of the covenant” (Exodus 24:8)
Jesus: “This is My blood of the new covenant” (Matthew 26:28). The blood of Jesus that dedicated His covenant was His literal blood that was shed in His death. The “blood” of Jesus in Matthew 26:28 was a symbol of His blood, the fruit of the vine. In the OT, the sacrifice was an animal, and the portion eaten was from the animal. In the case of Jesus, the sacrifice could not be eaten by the participants because Jesus was the sacrifice. An even greater reason why our covenant sacrifice could not be eaten in ratification of the covenant was that our sacrifice was raised from the dead. Jesus, knowing these things beforehand, ordained a symbolic peace offering of His body and blood, the eating of which seals the covenant between God and His people. Thus the eating of the Lord’s Supper constitutes a weekly affirmation of our covenant with God. In Christ, all the sacrifices of the Law of Moses are combined and fulfilled. He is the sacrifice whereby we are completely dedicated to God (burnt offering). He is the sacrifice by which we are forgiven of sin (sin offering). He is the sacrifice by which we are cleansed from specific sins (trespass offering). He is our peace offering. Thus the Lord’s Supper is a symbol of Christ, our complete sacrifice, including our peace offering!
Jason Cicero
