Q4. The Altar of the Cross

[Pastor Ralph]

Q4. (1 Corinthians 10:18) In what way did the priests participate in the altar by eating of the Old Testament sacrifices? How does Paul connect this observation with our participation with Christ’s sacrifice?

[pickledilly]

Eating of the O.T. sacrifices was part of a provision Yahweh instituted to provide for the priests, who were not given an inheritance of land from which to provide food for themselves.  They were to live by faith that their Provider was Yahweh alone, through the inheritance of food offerings He provided through the other 11 tribes.  But as the priests ate these provisions, there was a deeper meaning than just their physical sustenance.  As Paul put it, this was a participation in the altar.  They were tangibly, physically participating in all that the altar represented.  The sacrifices given there were symbolic of the ultimate sacrifice of the coming Messiah’s life and blood, and the expectation of ultimate atonement of sin that would be secured through that sacrifice.  When they ate, they were making an intimate association with the work of Christ, taking in His substitutionary role as intermediary between man and God as their own role as intercessors.  Their duties, including eating of the sacrifices, were literally required by God to secure Israel’s atonement before Him.  So this was a very spiritual act and union with Yahweh’s work of redemption.

 

Paul drew this parallel with the O.T. priests as further explanation of what he had just written about Christian communion at the Lord’s Table.  Believers participate in the blood and body of Christ as we drink of the cup and eat of the bread.  He said nothing to suggest that this is meant in a literal way of consuming blood and flesh, but in a spiritual and symbolic way of our intimate association with the same sacrifice of atonement those priests identified with – only now we celebrate the fulfillment of the promise they awaited.  When we partake of the Lord’s Table, we are participants in the altar of the cross.  That is a place of voluntary suffering for the Kingdom, complete and utter sacrifice, and a confident hope of glory.  It’s the memorial remembrance of the cost of sin and all that His death gained for us, and a reminder of our responsibility to be living demonstrations of His sacrificial love to our sinful dying world.

[parkerslope]

In what way did the priest participate in the altar by eating the Old Testament sacrifices?

They participated by eating a portion of the sacrifice given by the people, thus making complete the atonement.

 

How does Paul connect this observation with our participation in Christ's sacrifice?

As the priest of the Old Testament ate a portion of the sacrifice, so we also eat a portion of Christ's sacrifice in the eating of the Lord's Supper.

[JanMary]

Q4. (1 Corinthians 10:18) In what way did the priests participate in the altar by eating of the Old Testament sacrifices?

How does Paul connect this observation with our participation with Christ’s sacrifice?

 

New Testament believers who receive the Communion elements look back to the Cross, whereas the Old Testament priests were looking toward the Cross. The sacrifices were substitutionary for Jesus' blood which would be shed for them, just as His shed blood was/is substitutionary for us. Both O.T. and N.T believers are reminded that we have no righteousness apart from Him, and we require His cleansing blood to bring us into fellowship with God. Also, both O.T. and N.T. believers participation in eating the sacrifices or now, Communion, are a type and shadow of the soon to be instituted Marriage Supper of the lamb in Heaven with Jesus' Bride, the Body of Christ.

 

 

[Sank T Monius]

1 Corinthians 10:18
Q). In what way did the priests participate in the altar by eating of the Old Testament sacrifices?
A). Eating the sin offering was required by the Law (Leviticus 6:26). The eating of a portion by the priests was part of the atonement process.
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Q). How does Paul connect this observation with our participation with Christ's sacrifice?
A).  Just as the priests were sharers in the sacrifice made on the altar of burnt offering, Paul is saying that you and I, as we eat of the Lord's Supper, become sharers in the offering of Christ on the cross for our sins.

[hanks]

Q4. (1 Corinthians 10:18) 

In what way did the priests participate in the altar by eating of the Old Testament sacrifices? 

How does Paul connect this observation with our participation with Christ's sacrifice?

Paul had said earlier that eating at the Lord's Table means having fellowship with our Lord, and therefore, the same was true of those Israelites who ate of the sacrifices. We note that the Israelites brought their sacrifices to the temple, and a portion was burnt on the altar; another portion was reserved for the priests; but the third part was set aside for the offerer and their friends. So, just as partaking of the Lord’s Supper we have fellowship with the Lord, the priests had fellowship with Jehovah and in the same way eating at an idol feast means having fellowship with idols. Similarly believers participate in Christ’s sacrifice at the Lord’s Table when we eat the bread and drink from the cup, symbolising His body and blood. 

 

[Lion of Grace]

The priests were set apart for holy service. They ate of the sacrifice that was God's provision for them. The sacrifice was eaten in a holy place by a people who were set apart by God.

We too are a people set apart, a royal priesthood who have been united with Christ and through Him share in the offering He made on the cross. This is sacred and holy and the greatest priviledge and should never be taken lightly or thoughtlessly. We have true, holy fellowship with Christ as well as each other united as one when we partake of communion.

[Delivered]

Q4. (1 Corinthians 10:18) In what way did the priests participate in the altar by eating of the Old Testament sacrifices? In order for the priests to participate in the altar of sacrifice, they must first come with repentant hearts and in obedience to the God of Israel, by so doing, God will except their sacrifice as a sweet aroma, and they may participate and eat of the sacrifice, however, if one comes to the altar as Nadab, the son of Aaron did, who turned aside from following God's directions and instead, chose to do it his way and offered up to God strange fire, that God's judgment came.

 

How does Paul connect this observation with our participation with Christ's sacrifice? God being the same yesterday as He is today calls us to come and participate in the altar of the Messiah's sacrifice, let us come with repentant hearts and in holiness, obedience and respect to God's holy laws, for our hearts now tell us, we cannot continue to drink the cup of the Lord, and drink the cup of devils, (that of sin and disobedience) for there is no common ground at the table of Satan.

 

 

[lighthouse2014]

Q4. (1 Corinthians 10:18) In what way did the priests participate in the altar by eating of the Old Testament sacrifices? How does Paul connect this observation with our participation with Christ’s sacrifice?

In the old testament the priest participated in the sacrifices by eating a portion of the offering that the individual or family brought for a sin offering. Thus they where actual participants of the sacrifice.

Paul is saying that you and I, as we eat of the Lords supper, we become sharers in the offering of Christ on the cross.   

[WinstonY]

Question 8.4

The priests shared in Koinonia with the Lord of hosts and as they participated they represented the children of Israel . They were stand ins for the people.

Paul sees each of us as priests ofChrist and as we share in the Eucharist we participate in the body and blood of Christ, not only ax a memory but also as an active participant in the resurrection of Christ. We are as such heirs of christ.

[WinstonY]

The priests were set apart for holy service. They ate of the sacrifice that was God's provision for them. The sacrifice was eaten in a holy place by a people who were set apart by God.

We too are a people set apart, a royal priesthood who have been united with Christ and through Him share in the offering He made on the cross. This is sacred and holy and the greatest priviledge and should never be taken lightly or thoughtlessly. We have true, holy fellowship with Christ as well as each other united as one when we partake of communion.

I LIKE THIS

[charisbarak]

The priest who sacrificed the offering also got to eat of it.

 

We, when we take communion, participate by taking the cup & bread and remember what Christ did for us.

[Old Jerry]

The way that the priests participated in the altar was by eating the sin offerings in the sanctuary area. This was part of the atonement for the sins that they had committed. We are to eat the Lord supper as an atonement for our sins because Jesus died on the cross.

[van]

The burnt offerings that was offered to God, the piest ate a piece of the meat as well as the meat being offered to God for the sins of the people. Paul connects this observation with our participation in the Lord Supper (body and blood), which Christ was the perfect sacrifice.

 

[Rod Beenleigh]

In what way did the priests participate in the altar by eating  of the Old Testament sacrifices?

 

The priests and Levites brought the sacrifice, placing one part on the altar to be consumed and devoured. What was left was eaten amongst themselves and so had communion with each other in eating, they shared of the altar. By so doing they professed and declared their worship of the God of Israel.

 

How does Paul connect this observation with our participation with Christ's sacrifice?

 

When we share together the elements at the table we too profess and declare our oneness with Christ.

[Craig]

The priests of the Old Testament participated in sacrifice in that they ate a portion of the meat that was to be sacrificed on the altar to God. God set this procedure up to help take care of the priests who were living in the service of God.

 

When Christians take part in communion they are participating in and connecting with Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.

[haar]

Q4. (1 Corinthians 10:18) In what way did the priests participate in the altar by eating of the Old Testament sacrifices? How does Paul connect this observation with our participation with Christ's sacrifice?

 

The priest participate in the sacrifice for the atonement for sin of the people by taking and eating a portion of the meat sacrificed.

 

By taking the loaf and the cup we too participate in the sacrifice of Christ on the cross for the remission of our sin.

[dixonle]

Q4. (1 Corinthians 10:18) In what way did the priests participate in the altar by eating of the Old Testament sacrifices? How does Paul connect this observation with our participation with Christ’s sacrifice?

 

A portion of the sacrifices that were brought to the temple/tabernacle were eaten by the priests and a portion was also burned at the altar.  The eating of the sacrifice symbolically therefore not only satisfied the sactifice but it also was part of the atonement process in having their sins/guilt taken away from them.

 

Paul's point is that as the priests participated in the sacrifice so do we by eating the elements from the LORD's Supper and therefore becoming sharers in the offering of Christ on the cross for our sins.

 

Not only is this profound historically but central to our faith and is so vital that it is recognized as a sacrament in the church.

 

 

[blezed]

In what way did the priests participate in the altar by eating of the Old Testament sacrifices?

1. The priests ate a portion of the offering, therefore they were sharers in the sacrifice made on the altar of burnt offering.

 

How does Paul connect this observation with our participation with Christ’s sacrifice?          

2.  Paul is saying that you and I, as we eat of the Lord's Supper, become sharers in the offering of Christ on the cross for our sins.

[JoanG]

The Old Testament sacrifices were used to feed the priests and their families. However, the food was also eaten as a way to share in the sacrifice with God. The priests and God would come together and commune together over the sacrifice in order that God would forgive and return grace to the people.

 

When we participate in the Lord's Supper, we are remembering the sacrifice that Christ made on our behalf. However, we are also coming together to renew our commitment to Christ. We are building our relationship with him stronger.

[Irmela]

Q4. (1 Corinthians 10:18)

In what way did the priests participate in the altar by eating of the Old Testament sacrifices?

How does Paul connect this observation with our participation with Christ's sacrifice?

The priests participated by taking their share of the sacrifice as stipulated in the O.T. so we have a three way participation ;   God, the priests and the one who brought the offering to be sacrificed, together with his family and whoever he had invited to participate in the meal.

In the same way when we participate in the communion / Lord's Supper we are sharing or participating in His sacrifice on the cross.

[Krissi]

The shared eating of the sacrifice by the priest, the priest's families, the person offering the sacrifice and that person's family bonded them one to the next as they had participated in the same ritual. If the priest had taken his portion and eaten it at home with his family, the unifying aspect of the sacrifice would have occurred. In common-day parlance, the Old Testament sacrifice was a "team" effort, not a solo performance.

IN the New Testament, the eucharist is also a unifying celebration because the priest/minister share it with the congregation. In my church, the ceremony of the eucharist has been so formalized it's unifying purpose has been obscured. The minister eats the bread and drinks the wine in his own little ceremony before us and then, after he is done and his hands are washed, the congregants line up for the eucharist. Thus, we eat singularly, one after the next, not corporately. 

It's still a beautiful ceremony though not a unifying ceremony. I've always thought of the eucharist as a ritual that binds me to God, an act that had nothing to do with the rest of the people in the church. I can see, now, how this ceremony should be thought of differently.