Leviticus 3:17, commentary and pictures

Leviticus 3:17 closes the directions for the sacrificial offerings in Leviticus 3:1-17, a ceremonial system devised to point to the coming Saviour who would bear the world's sins and die for its redemption. These were not empty forms, for they represented His ministry and death and were fulfilled when type met antitype in His death. Its immediate setting is the peace offering presented before the Lord with prayer for acceptance and blessing. The portion set aside for the people was eaten as a sacred feast, and when rightly conducted the service fostered true devotion, piety, kindness and sympathy rather than mere ceremony or self-gratification.

As a perpetual statute for generations and throughout all dwellings, it strictly forbids Israel to eat fat or blood. The prohibition applies not only to sacrificial animals but to all cattle used for food among the permitted animals. The ban on blood taught that bloodshed followed sin and kept blood distinct as sacred, because it represented the blood of Christ through which alone sin can be atoned for and cleansed. The fat was reserved for sacrificial offerings and was not fit for food.

Permission to use animal food when Israel settled in Canaan was a concession, because Israel never heartily accepted the non-flesh diet taught in Eden and in the gift of manna. That permission was given under careful restrictions that tended to lessen the evil results of flesh eating. Under those restrictions only animals in good condition could be used, and no creature that was torn, that died of itself, or from which the blood had not been carefully drained was allowed for food.

The verse is a special direction from God to protect the body, since eating animal fat and blood produces diseased blood in the human body and causes illness. Disregarding it brings difficulties, disease and physical consequences rather than miraculous prevention. Departing from the divinely appointed diet brought disease, death and great loss and kept Israel from reaching God's ideal of character and fulfilling His purpose.