Leviticus 3:17 - Homilies By W. Clarkson

The guardian of sacred feeling.

No little stress is laid on the prohibition of two things—the fat and the blood of slain animals: it was to be "a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings." The fat thus interdicted was that which was offered in sacrifice ( Leviticus 3:3 , Leviticus 3:4 , Leviticus 3:9 , Leviticus 3:10 ), not that which was interlined with the lean ( Nehemiah 8:10 ). We may look at—

I. THE MEANING OF THIS PROHIBITION IN THEIR CASE . Evidently both the fat and the blood were disallowed as food because they were offered in sacrifice to Jehovah. On this account they were to be preserved sacred. They were not to be treated as ordinary things, vulgarized, lowered in public estimation; a feeling of their sacredness was to be cherished and carefully preserved by daily habit. To be continually using these parts as meat and drink at table would have the effect which was to be deprecated. It was, therefore, an act of religious duty to abstain from them. By such abstinence their feelings of reverence and piety would be guarded and preserved. Was it not for a similar reason, viz. that no violation should be done to the sacred sentiment of maternity, that the law was thrice repeated, "Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk" ( Exodus 23:19 , etc.)? The influence of daily habit on the finer sentiments of the soul is very gradual and imperceptible, but in the end it is very great: it is often decisive for good or evil.

II. ITS BEARING ON OUR OWN RELIGIOUS LIFE . We are to guard most sedulously our sacred feelings; to "keep our heart above all keeping" ( Proverbs 4:23 ). Among other perils to be avoided is that of allowing sacred things to be vulgarized by too frequent use, to lose their force and virtue by reason of over-familiarity. With this end in view, there will be, on the part of the prudent, a certain measure of:

1 . Wise limitation. This will apply to

2 . Positive spiritual endeavour. It will by no means suffice to conform to good rules of speech and behaviour: such abstinences will not preserve a reverent and loving spirit; we must think seriously and pray earnestly.