As we discussed in last month’s column, Leviticus 2 requires grain offerings. These are second in line after the whole burnt offerings. What is their typological significance? To what do they point?

Leviticus 2:9 gives us a start: “The priest then shall take up from the grain offering its memorial portion, and shall offer it up in smoke on the altar as an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to the Lord.”

The word memorial means “remembrance.” The name Zechariah has the same root. The name means “God’s memorial” or “memorial to God.” Part of the grain offering is the memorial portion given as God’s memorial.

Remember here the words of Jesus: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field” (Matt. 13:24). “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few” (9:37). Christ likens the advance of His kingdom to work in a harvest field.

Isaiah connects the harvest field and the grain offering. Isaiah predicts that those working in the harvest field “shall bring all your brethren from all the nations as a grain offering to the Lord” (66:20). Isaiah goes on to say that Gentiles will be brought into the church “just as the sons of Israel bring their grain offering in a clean vessel to the house of the Lord.” In other words, converts brought into the church are like grain offerings brought from the harvest field. These converts confess their faith and become memorials to the work of God.

The Apostle Paul speaks of his own work in these terms. He desired “to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 15:16). Following Isaiah, Paul saw himself as a priest who offered Gentile converts to God like a grain offering.

Leviticus 2:13 adds, “Every grain offering of yours, moreover, you shall season with salt, so that the salt of the covenant of your God shall not be lacking from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt.” Salt preserves and flavors, and the covenant is the relationship God effects with His people through Christ. The salt of the covenant is the flavorful preserving power of the covenant of grace. Converts offered to God like grain offerings are seasoned with the grace of God’s covenant. They also experience God’s preserving covenantal power.

Finally, Leviticus 2:15 says, “You shall then put oil on it and lay incense on it; it is a grain offering.” Oil is a symbol of the Spirit. Psalm 141:2 relates prayer and incense: “May my prayer be counted as incense before You.” Converts offered to God like grain offerings are mixed with the oil of the Spirit and poured over with prayer.

These grain offerings must accompany the whole burnt offering. Based upon the sacrifice of Christ, the converts you present to God to be living memorials are your grain offerings. The most important may be your own children. People like you and your children are the grain offerings, seasoned with the salt of the covenant, anointed with the oil of the Spirit, and mixed with prayer. Leviticus 2 speaks about you. You are offered up to God as a memorial to His good work and power through Christ.