Exodus 29:27Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In terms of nourishment, the chest and shoulder must be distinguished from him, ensuring that he receives from the sacrifice what he has learned to offer to the Creator from his own being. He should not merely contemplate righteousness within himself but also inspire those around him to pursue noble actions, embodying the powerful support of virtuous deeds. He ought to seek no gain in this worldly life and remain unafraid of adversities. He should regard earthly pleasures with disdain, facing his internal fears, and diminish all other worries by focusing on the solace of spiritual sweetness.

The portions designated for the priests who made offerings included the following: First, for the burnt offering, only the skin was granted to the priest, since the entire offering was consumed by fire (Lev. V⁴⁰; II, 8). Second, with regard to the peace offering, the breast and the right shoulder were allocated to the priest (Lev. V⁴⁰; II, 31-32). Third, concerning the sin offering, all the flesh was given to the priests, yet they were to consume it solely within the tabernacle (Lev. 6:26); the book of Leviticus designates this place as ‘the great sanctuary’ (V⁴⁰; II, 6). During the consecration of Aaron and his sons, the sin offering for the priests was to be sacrificed outside of the camp; those who had sinned were not permitted to partake of it.