Male or Female
“And if his oblation be a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offer it of the herd; whether it be a male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD.”Leviticus 3:1 (KJV)
The rules for offerings in Leviticus were specific. A burnt offering from the herd had to be a male. But the peace offering was different: “if he offer it of the herd; whether it be a male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD.” And again for the flock: “male or female, he shall offer it without blemish.”
The peace offering was open in a way the others weren’t. Whoever you were, whatever you brought, peace with God was available.
Paul says that in Christ, our true peace offering, the door is open to everyone. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
The shepherds at the manger were ordinary working men. Wise men came from the east. From the first days of his life, Jesus drew all kinds of people near. You belong there too.
Count it yourself
“male or female” appears 2 times in Leviticus 3 (3:1 and 3:6), both for the peace offering.
Have you ever felt you were the wrong kind of person to come near to God?
Lord Jesus, you made peace for all who come to you. Thank you that I belong at your manger and at your cross. Amen.