Why does a thankful heart cost us?

Thanksgiving, the act of praise often given through worship and prayer, but the Bible explores another form of expression of Thanksgiving, through sacrifice. As believers we are familiar with the sacrificial system, the lengthy detailed list of ceremonial law described in Leviticus which many of us have probably glossed over at some point. But we also see this language of thanksgiving as sacrifice used throughout Scripture, particularly in the New Testament.

Hebrews 13:15 says “Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.”

Continually offer up a sacrifice of praise. This is profound because we are established in the new covenant found through faith in Christ. He was the fulfillment of the sacrificial and ceremonial law. So why would we be instructed by the author of Hebrews to continually offer up a sacrifice of praise?

To find the answer, we have to dig a little deeper in the text, and yes, that means Leviticus! From the beginning of this book we see laws being established around the various types of offerings: burnt offerings, grain offerings, peace offerings, ordination offerings, sin offerings and guilt offerings. But why did God give Israel this ceremonial law? His desire to dwell amongst His people required atonement for their sin. In Genesis, we see the fall of man. Eve, in her desire to be independent from God, trusted the word of the serpent and her own understanding over the instruction God had given. We see them hide from God in shame and in Genesis 3:21 we see the Lord sacrifice an animal and make garments out of the skin and clothe them. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). God who is holy in nature and character cannot dwell with sin. For God’s presence to dwell in the tabernacle amongst His people, the wages for sin have to be paid. This is where we see the laws for the sin and guilt offerings introduced to Israel as they are making their way through the wilderness with God’s presence near. Amongst all the offerings described in Leviticus, burnt, grain, and peace offerings were voluntary.

For the purposes of this study, we’re focusing on in the peace offerings, there are several kinds described in the text including thanksgiving, vow, or freewill offering.

The Thanksgiving sacrifice, or the Todah in Hebrew, is offered for deliverance from death and distress. The Psalmist explores this in Psalm 107 where God offers provision for those stranded in the wilderness (vs. 4-8) saved those imprisoned (vs. 8-14) saved from death (vs. 15-21), saved those trapped in a storm (vs. 26-31).

Leviticus Chapter 7 describes the role of the High Priest in performing the ceremonial rites of the offerings: how they are to prepare the animal for the altar to God. He gives the following instruction for the thanksgiving offering: it is to consist of an animal, and bread (grain). After the fatty parts of the animal are burned on the altar for God, the High Priest, the worshipper, and God share in a meal of fellowship. Leviticus 7:11-15

If you’re thinking, this sounds a lot like something I’ve read in the New Testament…you’re right. The Last Supper, the Passover meal Jesus shares with His disciples before He is crucified. Passover is a Jewish religious festival where thousands of Jews gather to Jerusalem to celebrate the wonderful works of God’s deliverance. They are called to remember their ancestors’ time in Egypt during the great plagues where the last plague was the angel of death, sent to kill the firstborn son. Israel was given the instruction to slaughter a spotless lamb and paint the doorway with its blood, and the angel of death “passed over” their homes. Jesus is now hosting His final Passover dinner, where the slaughtered lamb is usually eaten. But this time, He is the sacrificial spotless lamb whose blood will cover those who believe so they too will be passed over by the angel of death.

Even further, Jesus says,

“As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take and eat it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them and said, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. But I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭26‬-‭29‬ ‭CSB‬‬

This is where the sacrament of communion, or the Eucharist which means Thanksgiving in Greek, comes from. We see a striking parallel between Jesus, the sacrificial lamb, at the last supper offering bread, wine, and thanksgiving to the Torah sacrifices. He is the bread of life, we take on the bread which is His flesh, we take up the cup of wine which is His blood. Jesus here, at His own fellowship dinner is the Host (worshipper), the High Priest, and the Sacrifice.

We see throughout scripture God’s desire for fellowship with His people. Jesus teaches this in the parable of the great banquet. There is a man who is hosting a great banquet (feast) and invites many, but all those who were invited declined to come due to excuses such as taking care of their fields, oxen, and wives. They are more concerned with their possessions and the things of this world. So the man instructs his servant to go out and invite the poor, crippled, blind, and lame and they fill the house. It can be argued that those who declined did so because of the state of their hearts. Their self-sufficiency made them haughty and ungrateful, refusing to see the honor in the invitation to fellowship. Those who accept the invitation do so because they recognize their hearts are in need of something greater, they are humble and grateful for the honor of the invitation. This parable is told at a dinner Jesus is having with Pharisees. Luke describes them as watching Him closely. They are so blinded by their own understanding of salvation through works of the law, that they fail to see they’re dining with the one who comes to offer true salvation. They decline the invitation, and remain blinded by their self-sufficiency.

Fellowship with God requires hearts that are dependent, humble, and grateful. “And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”” Revelation‬ ‭19‬:‭9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Those who were distracted with the world will be refused at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. “For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭2‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

And what is the will of God? “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Thanksgiving is costly because we are to give thanks in every circumstance, regardless of how we may be feeling and regardless of what is happening to us and around us. Why? Because a thankful heart is a heart that recognizes its own need and knows that it cannot be obtained through self-sufficiency. Our egos, our pride, our desires for the things of this world and a falsely perceived sense of sovereignty have to die, have to be crucified daily. A thankful heart is humble. A thankful heart abides. A thankful heart is obedient. And a thankful heart accepts the invitation.

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