Leviticus 6:14Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The children of Aaron shall bring it before the Lord unto the altar: and let the priest take with his handful of the grain-offering, and of the flour of wheat, and of the oil, and of all the leaven that is upon the sacrifice, and burn it upon the altar: it is a pleasant savour, a memorial before the Lord: and the rest thereof let Aaron and his children eat the rest thereof: it shall be eaten unleavened in the holy place, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation, let them eat it: it shall not be baked leavened. These things I give unto them as a portion of My sacrifices. It is a great holy thing, like the sin offering and the sacrifice of obedience. All the male descendants of Aaron may eat it. It is an everlasting portion in your generations of the Lord's sacrifices. Everything that touches it shall be sanctified” (Lev. 6:14-18). The burnt offering represents the complete and perfect dedication of the chosen saints, while the sacrifice illustrates a life that is partially consecrated to God. The mixture of wheat flour, a handful of oil, and leavened bread offered by the priest symbolizes that a life devoted to God, even if only in part, should be entirely fragrant and filled with hope. Do you not perceive the sweet aroma of every good deed we perform? Palladius. Indeed, I do. Cyril. So then, are not these actions rooted in our hope for divine promise? Palladius. Certainly: for they are accompanied by the assurance of God’s covenant. Cyril. Thus, the leavened and oil-infused wheat flour signifies a life that shines with fragrance and glory. Palladius. You speak wisely; but how can a life be considered only partly sacred? Cyril. It would not achieve the heights of holiness, nor would it follow the exalted path taken by John or the holy Apostles; nor could it retain dignity when overshadowed by an inferior existence. Would not the lives of those engaged in worldly affairs, who choose to live righteously, be ‘divided’ between their obligations to God and to the world, as stated by the blessed Paul (1 Cor. 7:33)? Palladius. Divided: it could be no other way. Cyril. Therefore, a lifestyle that is not fully devoted to God, but which straddles both realms, reflects the partial consecration of fragrant wheat flour, memorialized by the law as an offering presented through the priest. And indeed, we can achieve a remembrance of ourselves before God through our fragrant offerings, since Christ serves as an intercessor, presenting to God sacrifices that are completely holy like the burnt offering, and others that are not fully holy due to the distinction between the world and God, resembling a sacrifice partly dedicated to Him. The sacrifice is unleavened, emphasizing that all our actions ought to be pure, for the glory of God. Likewise, the Saviour cautioned against making prayers in public places, displaying a sorrowful demeanor while fasting, or drawing attention to oneself when giving to the less fortunate (Matthew 6:1-16); for such behaviors are akin to leaven that contaminates the sacred offering. Conversely, deeds performed for God's glory must avoid any hint of personal gain, ensuring that they remain truly unleavened and holy. The remaining part of the sacrifice is intended as sustenance for the priests, to be consumed in the holy place. The fact that the priests partake of these offerings in a sanctified space aligns with our most sacred teachings; and the specificity that every male is to be consumed illustrates the profound truth that indulgence within the elect of God is a grave blemish: such conduct leads to defilement, the loss of spiritual blessings, and disconnect from the divine gifts conferred upon the saints. Judas, too, was indulged and gravitated toward ungodliness, stemming from a mindset that lacked nobility and bravery, which resulted in him being estranged from God's abundant blessings and entirely detached from the privileges afforded to the elect. Palladius. Truly so.