Brief Comments About The Whole Burnt Offering and the Grain Offering (Leviticus 7:8-10).
Spurred on by reference to the guilt offering meat as being the priest's portion, this summary concludes by describing what belongs to the priests of the other offerings.
‘And the priest who offers any man's whole burnt offering, even the priest shall have to himself the skin of the whole burnt offering which he has offered.'
In the case of the whole burnt offering the priest who offers the offering receives the animal's skin or hide. These skins were very valuable and were later a source of great revenue for the priests.
It would seem that the priests received the skins of most whole burnt offerings, purification for sin offering, and guilt offerings, but not the skin of peace sacrifices which went to the offerer.
‘And every grain offering that is baked in the oven, and all that is dressed in the frying-pan, and on the baking-pan, shall be the priest's who offers it. And every grain offering, mingled with oil, or dry, shall all the sons of Aaron have, one as well as another.'
All that remains of the grain offerings after the burning of the memorial part were also intended for the priests. The cooked ones went to the priest who offered them, the uncooked ones to all the priests. The latter could be kept longer.
All these provisions meant that the priests did not have to concern themselves about obtaining a living. Their living was provided for them, and their families would be provided for from the tithe of the firstfruits. As Paul said, ‘those who wait on the altar have their portion with the altar' (1 Corinthians 9:13). They could thus devote themselves entirely to their duties.
And as Paul was pointing out, these provisions are a reminder to us that we too should make sure that those whom we acknowledge to have been called by God to full time ministry are provide for materially by those who benefit from their ministry. This includes missionaries, for they serve there on our behalf.