1. Leviticus 6:23 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Why was the priest not allowed to eat the grain offering?

Leviticus 6:23 (ESV)

23 Every grain offering of a priest shall be wholly burned. It shall not be eaten.”

The priest could not eat from this daily offering because it was made on his behalf. Instead it had to be offered to God completely. A priest could only partake of an offering while functioning in his role as mediator on behalf of his people. A similar situation exits with regard to the purification offering (see Leviticus 6:24–30).