Ye shall offer at your own will a male without blemish, of the beeves, of the sheep, or of the goats.
A voluntary offering made at one's own will, freely and willingly, was to be a male without blemish taken from the cattle, the sheep, or the goats. The rule is extended in the verses that follow to bar any defective, diseased, lame, or injured animal from being offered. Each animal was carefully examined with scrutiny by the priests, and even the least defect, taint, impurity, or disease was sufficient cause for it to be refused and rejected.
The victim had to be clean, sound, perfect, valuable, and the best of its kind, not polluted or inferior. The clean, best animals were required because they symbolized Christ. The required perfection shows that God is not to be offered what is defective, and offerings to Him should be the best rather than given grudgingly.
Christ's followers are therefore to offer God their most valuable gifts and service, withholding nothing given to them for His honor. Applied to building a place of worship, God's people should give their best means to make it suitable and comfortable. Applied to presenting the body as a living sacrifice, the offering must be the best, holy and acceptable to God, free from sin's pollution and consecrated to holiness, not a diseased, decaying, defiled, lame, or injured offering.
Preserving that living sacrifice means bringing habits into line with God's standard, following natural law and restraint of appetite, so that body, abilities, and powers are kept in healthful condition for physical, mental, and moral health and can serve His will. A body damaged and degraded by disease, wrong habits, harmful indulgence, and lustful appetite cannot glorify God, maintain consecration, or reach sanctification of body and spirit. Healthful condition of the body is necessary for perfection of Christian character.
A voluntary offering made at one's own will, freely and willingly, was to be a male without blemish taken from the cattle, the sheep, or the goats. The rule is extended in the verses that follow to bar any defective, diseased, lame, or injured animal from being offered. Each animal was carefully examined with scrutiny by the priests, and even the least defect, taint, impurity, or disease was sufficient cause for it to be refused and rejected.
The victim had to be clean, sound, perfect, valuable, and the best of its kind, not polluted or inferior. The clean, best animals were required because they symbolized Christ. The required perfection shows that God is not to be offered what is defective, and offerings to Him should be the best rather than given grudgingly.
Christ's followers are therefore to offer God their most valuable gifts and service, withholding nothing given to them for His honor. Applied to building a place of worship, God's people should give their best means to make it suitable and comfortable. Applied to presenting the body as a living sacrifice, the offering must be the best, holy and acceptable to God, free from sin's pollution and consecrated to holiness, not a diseased, decaying, defiled, lame, or injured offering.
Preserving that living sacrifice means bringing habits into line with God's standard, following natural law and restraint of appetite, so that body, abilities, and powers are kept in healthful condition for physical, mental, and moral health and can serve His will. A body damaged and degraded by disease, wrong habits, harmful indulgence, and lustful appetite cannot glorify God, maintain consecration, or reach sanctification of body and spirit. Healthful condition of the body is necessary for perfection of Christian character.