Servias Ministries Blog

Our Offerings

September 19, 2026 – 3:37 am

What is the purpose behind the offering to THE LORD?

In Scripture, offerings to THE LORD expressed worship, thanksgiving, repentance, dedication, and fellowship.

The five principal offerings are introduced in Leviticus 1–7.

Offering	Main purpose	What was offered	Key passage
Burnt offering	Complete surrender, worship, and atonement	A bull, sheep, goat, or bird—entirely burned	Leviticus 1
Grain offering	Thanksgiving and dedication of one’s work and provision	Fine flour, oil, and frankincense; no yeast or honey	Leviticus 2
Peace offering	Fellowship with THE LORD, thanksgiving, or fulfillment of a vow	An unblemished animal; part was eaten as a shared meal	Leviticus 3; 7:11–21
Sin offering	Atonement and cleansing for unintentional sin and ceremonial impurity	An animal appropriate to the worshiper’s position and means	Leviticus 4:1–5:13
Guilt offering	Forgiveness where sin involved damage, desecration, or fraud	Usually a ram, along with restitution plus 20 percent	Leviticus 5:14–6:7

Other Old Testament offerings

• Drink offering: Wine poured out before THE LORD, often accompanying another sacrifice (Numbers 15:1–10).
• Firstfruits offering: The first and best of the harvest, acknowledging that everything came from God (Leviticus 23:9–14).
• Tithes: One-tenth of agricultural increase devoted to THE LORD and the support of the Levites (Leviticus 27:30; Numbers 18:21).
• Freewill offering: A voluntary gift arising from gratitude or devotion (Leviticus 22:18–23).
• Vow offering: Given in fulfillment of a promise made to THE LORD (Leviticus 7:16).
• Wave and heave offerings: Portions ceremonially presented before THE LORD and usually assigned to the priests (Exodus 29:24–28).
• Daily, Sabbath, and festival offerings: Regular sacrifices offered on behalf of Israel according to God’s appointed calendar (Numbers 28–29).
• Incense offering: Fragrant incense burned before THE LORD, symbolizing prayer and worship (Exodus 30:7–8; Psalm 141:2).
• Contributions for God’s work: Voluntary gifts for the Tabernacle, Temple, and ministry (Exodus 25:1–9; 1 Chronicles 29:6–9).

Without the perfect sacrifice to THE FATHER, offerings were necessary to keep the people in constant remembrance of the various aspects of their relationship with HIM.

Their fulfillment in Jesus Christ

The animal sacrifices pointed forward to Jesus. His sacrifice was perfect and final.

It is written by The Holy Spirit in Hebrews chapter 10:

12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the Right Hand of God,

13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool.

14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,

16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” 17 then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

Jesus fulfills the meaning of the offerings:

• Like the burnt offering, He surrendered Himself completely to the Father.
• Like the grain offering, His Life was pure and devoted.
• Like the peace offering, He reconciles us to God.
• Like the sin offering, He bore our sin.
• Like the guilt offering, He paid the debt we owed.

Offerings believers give today

Believers do not offer animals for atonement. Because Jesus completed that work, believers now offer:

• Our bodies and lives: “A living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1).
• Praise and thanksgiving: “The sacrifice of praise” (Hebrews 13:15).
• Doing good and sharing: Sacrifices pleasing to God (Hebrews 13:16).
• Financial gifts: Given willingly, generously, and cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:6–7).
• Prayer: Pictured as incense before God (Revelation 5:8).
• Service and evangelism: Ministry performed as an offering to God (Romans 15:16).
• A broken and repentant heart: “A broken and a contrite heart” God will not despise (Psalm 51:17).

The central principle is that THE LORD desires the heart behind the offering.

Jesus spoke in Mark chapter 12:

41 Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much.

42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans.

43 So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”

An outward gift without obedience, faith, mercy, and sincere devotion is unacceptable to Him.  As we are led by The Holy Spirit, we will fulfill the purpose of offerings to HIM in all areas of our life.