Tuesday, 1st September 2026
Rev Xi An Poon
主題經文「人獻供物為平安祭，若是從牛群中獻，無論是公的是母的，必用沒有殘疾的獻在耶和華面前。」——利未記3:1
引言
現今的世代，無論社會還是宗教，都在教導人如何得到平安。
有人認為，只要有足夠的金錢，便會平安；只要工作穩定、身體健康、家庭沒有問題，便會平安。也有人透過修行、宗教儀式或善行，希望換取保佑，使自己和家人平安。
人一生都在追趕平安，也想盡辦法控制環境；可是越想控制，心裏反而越不安。
然而，利未記第三章最令人震撼的地方，是神沒有教以色列人怎樣用祭物向祂購買平安，反而教導他們如何獻上平安祭，回應已經領受的恩典。
以色列人不是先獻上祭物，神才決定拯救他們。他們已經先蒙神拯救，離開埃及，歸屬神，並被帶到西奈山與神立約；然後，神才教導他們怎樣獻上平安祭。
這個次序非常重要：
不是人先獻上祭物，神才向人施恩；而是神先拯救、先接納，人才能以感恩回應祂。
在神的國裏，平安不是環境永遠沒有問題，而是人與神和好之後，在生命裏所結出的果子。神不是要我們疲倦地追趕平安，而是邀請我們進入祂所賜的平安旅程。
過渡句
利未記第三章帶領我們走過三個階段：先領受神所賜的平安，再以感恩回應祂，最後讓這份平安成為群體共同享受的祝福。
一、這旅程始於領受平安
「人獻供物為平安祭……必用沒有殘疾的獻在耶和華面前。他要按手在供物的頭上，宰於會幕門口。亞倫子孫作祭司的，要把血灑在壇的周圍。」
——利未記3:1–2
「平安祭」的希伯來文與 Shalom 屬於同一字根，包含完整、健全、和好、福樂，以及關係恢復的意思。
因此，聖經所說的平安，不只是外在沒有風浪，而是人與神之間的關係回到正確的位置。
獻祭者要把手按在祭牲頭上，親自將牠宰殺，再由祭司把血灑在壇的周圍。這個程序在獻牛、綿羊和山羊時一再重複，表明人能夠親近聖潔的神，並不是一件隨便或廉價的事。
平安祭不是贖罪祭，但其中的按手、宰殺和灑血仍然提醒以色列人：人不能靠自己的能力創造與神相交的關係，是神主動為人預備了親近祂的道路。
到了新約，這個真理在耶穌基督裏完全顯明：
「因祂使我們和睦。」
——以弗所書2:14
基督不只是把平安賜給我們，祂自己就是我們的和平。真正的平安不是我終於控制了所有環境，而是我藉着基督知道自己已被神接納、屬於神。
所以，當我們面對未知、疾病、家庭問題或工作壓力時，不需要等所有問題都解決，才容許自己平安。我們可以先回到神面前，對自己的心說：
我雖然不能控制一切，卻仍然在神的手中；我雖然不知道明天如何，卻知道自己屬於誰。
世界教我們依靠環境尋找平安，神卻邀請我們先領受祂所賜的平安。
這就是平安旅程的第一步：不再靠自己追趕平安，而是回到神面前領受平安。
二、這旅程教我們獻上感恩
「從平安祭中，將火祭獻給耶和華，也要把蓋臟的脂油和臟上所有的脂油……一概取下，祭司要在壇上焚燒。」
——利未記3:3–5
利未記第三章提到三類可以獻上的祭牲：
- 第一至五節：牛
- 第六至十一節：綿羊
- 第十二至十六節：山羊
神容許人獻上不同的祭牲，無論公的或母的都可以。經文沒有要求所有人獻上完全相同的祭物，卻一再強調：無論獻上哪一種，都必須沒有殘疾，並且要把脂油和最肥美的部分獻給神。
獻綿羊時，神特別吩咐人獻上整條肥尾巴。當時綿羊的肥尾巴是十分珍貴的部分，這表明神所要的不是人用剩下、沒有價值的東西，而是人甘心把自己所珍惜的分別為聖獻給祂。
不同的人所能獻上的可以不同。神所看重的，不是人彼此比較獻上多少，而是人是否真正明白自己為甚麼獻上。
我們很容易把奉獻和服事變成一種屬靈交易：
「如果我給神更多，神是否就要給我更多？」
「如果我比別人更加努力，神是否就應該更加祝福我？」
「如果我做了這些事情，神是否就要保守我的家庭平安？」
這仍然是世界的思想：把平安當作可以用表現購買的回報。
然而，平安祭告訴我們，感恩不是賭博，也不是投資。人不是藉着奉獻操控神，而是因為先領受了神的恩典，所以甘心把最好的帶回祂面前。
真正的感恩，是承認：
我今天所擁有的一切，不是單靠自己的能力得來，而是神的恩典一直托住我。
神不是要求我們與別人獻上一樣多，祂要我們按照自己所領受的，真誠地回應祂。有人獻上時間，有人獻上金錢，有人獻上恩賜，也有人付上禱告和陪伴；形式可以不同，但感恩的心應當同樣真實。
我們不是奉獻之後，才盼望神愛我們；而是因為知道祂已經愛我們，所以甘心把生命中最好的獻給祂。
這就是平安旅程的第二步：不再用付出與神交易，而是以感恩回應祂已經賜下的恩典。
三、這旅程使我們分享平安
「所有的脂油都是耶和華的。在你們一切的住處，脂油和血都不可吃；這要成為你們世世代代永遠的定例。」
——利未記3:16–17
第三章最後宣告：「所有的脂油都是耶和華的。」
脂油代表最肥美、最寶貴的部分；血代表生命。脂油和血都屬於神，表明人在享受神所賜的恩典時，仍然要尊神為主，承認生命和一切豐盛都從祂而來。
真正的感恩不只是一種感覺，也不只是口裏說一句「感謝神」。真正的感恩會使人重新尊重神的主權，按照神的方式生活。
利未記第七章進一步說明平安祭的共享性。祭物的一部分獻給神，一部分歸給祭司，獻祭者也與家人和群體一同享用。平安祭因此成為一個在神面前共同坐席、分享恩典和慶賀平安的筵席。
神所賜的平安，不是讓一個人獨自收藏，而是要藉着蒙恩的人流進整個群體。
所以，當我們說自己感謝神時，也要思想：
- 神給我的資源，可以怎樣供應有需要的人？
- 神給我的見證，可以怎樣鼓勵正在失望的人？
- 神給我的平安，可以怎樣進入我的婚姻和家庭？
- 神給我的恩賜，可以怎樣建造教會和神的國度？
- 我的說話和態度，是否讓身邊的人感受到神的平安？
如果我說自己已經領受平安，卻仍然用說話傷害家人；如果我感謝神祝福自己，卻不願意看見別人的需要；那麼，我所領受的平安仍然停留在自己身上。
神的平安不只是使我自己好過一點，更要使我成為和平的器皿，讓家人、教會和身邊的人也能一同經歷神的恩典。
真正領受平安的人，也會成為帶給別人平安的人。
這就是平安旅程的第三步：不再只為自己蒙福，而是讓神的平安藉着我們成為別人的祝福。
總結
現今的社會和宗教，都在教人如何得到平安；但是利未記第三章讓我們看見，在神的國裏，次序完全不同。
神不是教以色列人用祭物說服祂賜平安，而是先拯救他們、接納他們、使他們成為祂的百姓，然後才教導他們如何以平安祭回應恩典。
沒有殘疾的祭牲、按手、宰殺和灑血，提醒我們：人能夠親近神，是因為神預備了道路。
牛、綿羊和山羊，以及所獻上的脂油和肥尾巴，提醒我們：感恩不是與別人比較，也不是把剩下的交給神，而是按照自己所領受的，甘心把最好的獻上。
脂油和血屬於神，以及平安祭共享筵席的安排，則提醒我們：享受恩典時仍要尊神為主，並讓神所賜的平安成為別人的祝福。
因此，神邀請我們進入祂所賜的平安旅程：
- 從追趕平安，進入領受恩典。
- 從與神交易，進入真誠感恩。
- 從只顧自己，進入分享平安。
真正的平安，不是甚麼事情都不會發生，而是無論發生甚麼，我仍然知道自己屬於神。
真正的感恩，也不是為了換取神下一次的祝福，而是因為看見祂已經向我施恩，所以甘心用整個生命回應祂。
世界教我們怎樣得到平安；神卻邀請我們進入祂所賜的平安。
我們不需要再疲倦地說服神對我們好。在我們還未懂得尋求祂以前，祂已經主動施恩，為我們打開親近祂的道路。
如今我們所要學習的，就是領受祂的平安，以感恩回應祂，並讓這份平安藉着我們流進家庭、教會和身邊的人。
自我檢核
- 我現在是否仍然依靠金錢、環境或自己的控制能力來尋找平安？
- 我的奉獻和服事，是出於對神的感恩，還是盼望藉此換取祂更多的祝福？
- 神最近賜給我的一份恩典，可以怎樣成為家人、教會或身邊之人的祝福？
Key Verse
“When his offering is a sacrifice of a peace offering, if he offers it of the herd, whether male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD.”
—Leviticus 3:1 NKJV
Introduction
Today’s world, whether through society or religion, is constantly teaching people how to find peace.
Some believe they will have peace if they have enough money. Others believe they will have peace when their work is secure, their bodies are healthy, and their families have no problems. Some turn to religious practices, rituals, or good works, hoping to receive protection and secure peace for themselves and their families.
People spend their lives chasing peace and trying to control their circumstances. Yet the more they try to control everything, the more anxious they often become.
What is so striking about Leviticus 3 is that God did not teach the Israelites how to use a sacrifice to purchase peace from Him. Instead, He taught them how to offer a peace offering in response to the grace they had already received.
The Israelites did not offer sacrifices first and then persuade God to rescue them. God had already delivered them from Egypt, made them His people, and brought them to Mount Sinai to enter into covenant with Him. Only then did He teach them how to present a peace offering.
This order is very important:
It was not that people offered something first and then God showed grace. God first rescued and accepted them, and then they responded with thanksgiving.
In God’s kingdom, peace does not mean that our circumstances will never be difficult. Peace is the fruit that grows when our relationship with God is restored.
God does not ask us to spend our lives chasing peace. He invites us to enter the journey of the peace He has already given.
Transition
Leviticus 3 takes us through three stages of this journey: first, we receive the peace God gives; second, we respond to Him with thanksgiving; and finally, we allow this peace to become a blessing shared with others.
- This Journey Begins by Receiving Peace
“He shall lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the tabernacle of meeting; and Aaron’s sons, the priests, shall sprinkle the blood all around on the altar.”
—Leviticus 3:2 NKJV
The Hebrew word connected with “peace offering” comes from the same word family as shalom. It carries the meaning of wholeness, well-being, reconciliation, completeness, and a restored relationship.
Biblical peace, therefore, is not simply the absence of trouble. It means that our relationship with God has been restored and brought back into its proper place.
The worshipper had to lay a hand on the animal’s head and personally kill it. The priest then sprinkled its blood all around the altar. This same procedure is repeated when cattle, sheep, and goats are offered.
This shows us that coming before a holy God is neither casual nor cheap.
The peace offering was not a sin offering. However, the laying on of hands, the death of the animal, and the sprinkling of blood still reminded Israel that fellowship with God could not be created through human effort. God Himself had provided the way for people to come near to Him.
In the New Testament, this truth is fully revealed in Jesus Christ:
“For He Himself is our peace.”
—Ephesians 2:14 NKJV
Christ does not simply give us peace; He Himself is our peace. True peace does not come when we finally gain control over every circumstance. It comes when we know that, through Christ, we have been accepted by God and belong to Him.
When we face uncertainty, sickness, family difficulties, or pressure at work, we do not have to wait until every problem has been solved before allowing ourselves to have peace.
We can first return to God and remind our hearts:
I cannot control everything, but I am still in God’s hands. I do not know what tomorrow will bring, but I know to whom I belong.
The world teaches us to look for peace through our circumstances. God invites us to receive peace from Him.
This is the first step of the journey: we stop chasing peace through our own strength and return to God to receive the peace He gives.
- This Journey Teaches Us to Give Thanks
“Then he shall offer from the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire to the LORD. The fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails… he shall remove.”
—Leviticus 3:3–4 NKJV
Leviticus 3 mentions three kinds of animals that could be presented:
- Verses 1–5: cattle
- Verses 6–11: sheep
- Verses 12–16: goats
God allowed people to present different animals, whether male or female. The text did not require everyone to bring exactly the same kind of offering. However, it repeatedly emphasised that whatever they brought had to be without blemish, and that the fat and the richest portions belonged to God.
When a sheep was presented, God specifically instructed the worshipper to offer its whole fat tail. In that culture, the fat tail was considered a particularly valuable part of the animal.
This showed that God was not asking people to bring Him what was unwanted or left over. He wanted them willingly to set apart something precious for Him.
Different people could bring different offerings. What mattered to God was not whether they had given as much as someone else, but whether they understood why they were giving.
We can easily turn giving and serving into a spiritual transaction:
“If I give more to God, will He give me more in return?”
“If I work harder than others, should God bless me more?”
“If I do these things, must God protect my family and keep us safe?”
This is still the thinking of the world. It treats peace as a reward that can be purchased through our performance.
The peace offering teaches us that thanksgiving is neither gambling nor an investment. We do not give in order to control God. We give because we have first received His grace, and we willingly bring our best back to Him.
True thanksgiving acknowledges:
Everything I have today has not come through my ability alone. God’s grace has been sustaining me all along.
God does not require us to offer exactly the same amount as someone else. He asks us to respond sincerely according to what we have received.
Some offer their time. Some give financially. Some use their gifts. Others offer prayer, care, and companionship. The forms may be different, but the heart of thanksgiving should be equally genuine.
We do not give so that God will begin to love us. We give because we know He has already loved us, and therefore we willingly offer Him the best of our lives.
This is the second step of the journey: we stop trying to make transactions with God and begin responding with gratitude for the grace He has already given.
- This Journey Leads Us to Share Peace
“All the fat is the LORD’s. This shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings: you shall eat neither fat nor blood.”
—Leviticus 3:16–17 NKJV
Leviticus 3 ends with the declaration, “All the fat is the LORD’s.”
The fat represented the richest and most valuable portion, while the blood represented life. Both belonged to God.
This taught the Israelites that even as they enjoyed God’s grace, they must continue to honour Him as Lord and recognise that life and every good thing ultimately come from Him.
True thanksgiving is more than a feeling. It is more than saying, “Thank You, God.” Genuine thanksgiving leads us to honour God’s authority and live according to His ways.
Leviticus 7 later explains the shared nature of the peace offering in greater detail. One portion was presented to God, one portion was given to the priests, and the worshipper shared the meal with family and others in the community.
The peace offering therefore became a meal of fellowship in God’s presence—a time to share grace and celebrate His peace together.
God’s peace was never intended to be kept by one person alone. It was meant to flow through those who had received grace and into the whole community.
When we say that we are thankful to God, we should also ask:
- How can the resources God has given me help someone in need?
- How can my testimony encourage someone who is discouraged?
- How can God’s peace enter my marriage and family through me?
- How can my gifts build His church and kingdom?
- Do my words and attitudes help others experience God’s peace?
If I say that I have received God’s peace but continue to wound my family with my words, the peace I received has not yet shaped my relationships.
If I thank God for blessing me but refuse to notice the needs of others, His grace has stopped with me.
God’s peace is not merely intended to make me feel better. He wants to make me an instrument of peace so that my family, church, and the people around me can also experience His grace.
Those who truly receive peace will also bring peace to others.
This is the third step of the journey: we stop seeking blessing only for ourselves and allow God’s peace to become a blessing to others through us.
Conclusion
Today’s society and many religious systems teach people how to obtain peace. Leviticus 3, however, shows us that the order in God’s kingdom is completely different.
God did not teach the Israelites how to use sacrifices to persuade Him to give them peace. He first rescued them, accepted them, and made them His people. Then He taught them how to respond to His grace through the peace offering.
The animal without blemish, the laying on of hands, the death, and the sprinkling of blood remind us that we can draw near to God because He has provided the way.
The cattle, sheep, and goats, together with the fat and the fat tail offered to God, remind us that thanksgiving is not about comparing ourselves with others or giving God what is left over. It is about sincerely offering our best according to what we have received.
The fat and blood belonging to God, together with the shared meal of the peace offering, remind us to honour God as Lord while allowing His peace to become a blessing to others.
God therefore invites us to enter the journey of His peace:
- From chasing peace to receiving grace.
- From bargaining with God to genuine thanksgiving.
- From thinking only about ourselves to sharing peace with others.
True peace does not mean that nothing difficult will ever happen. It means that whatever happens, I still know that I belong to God.
True thanksgiving is not an attempt to secure God’s next blessing. It is the response of a heart that has already seen His grace and now willingly offers its whole life to Him.
The world teaches us how to obtain peace; God invites us to enter the peace He gives.
We do not need to exhaust ourselves trying to persuade God to be good to us. Before we even knew how to seek Him, He had already shown us grace and opened the way for us to draw near.
What we must now learn is to receive His peace, respond to Him with thanksgiving, and allow this peace to flow through us into our families, our church, and the lives of those around us.
Self-Examination
- Am I still depending on money, circumstances, or my ability to control things in order to find peace?
- Are my giving and service expressions of gratitude, or am I hoping to use them to gain more blessings from God?
- How can a recent blessing God has given me become a blessing to my family, church, or someone around me?
Zion Bread of Life Christian Church 
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