21 And when anyone makes a meal offering to the Lord, let his offering be of the best meal, with oil on it and perfume: 2 And let him take it to Aaron's sons, the priests; and having taken in his hand some of the meal and of the oil, with all the perfume, let him give it to the priest to be burned on the altar, as a sign, an offering made by fire, for a sweet smell to the Lord. 3 And the rest of the meal offering will be for Aaron and his sons; it is most holy among the Lord's fire offerings. 4 And when you give a meal offering cooked in the oven, let it be of unleavened cakes of the best meal mixed with oil, or thin unleavened cakes covered with oil. 5 And if you give a meal offering cooked on a flat plate, let it be of the best meal, unleavened and mixed with oil. 6 Let it be broken into bits, and put oil on it; it is a meal offering. 7 And if your offering is of meal cooked in fat over the fire, let it be made of the best meal mixed with oil. 8 And you are to give the meal offering made of these things to the Lord, and let the priest take it to the altar. 9 And he is to take from the meal offering a part, for a sign, burning it on the altar; an offering made by fire for a sweet smell to the Lord. 10 And the rest of the meal offering will be for Aaron and his sons; it is most holy among the Lord's fire offerings.
11 No meal offering which you give to the Lord is to be made with leaven; no leaven or honey is to be burned as an offering made by fire to the Lord.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Leviticus 2:1-11
Commentary on Leviticus 2:1-11
(Read Leviticus 2:1-11)
Meat-offerings may typify Christ, as presented to God for us, and as being the Bread of life to our souls; but they rather seem to denote our obligation to God for the blessings of providence, and those good works which are acceptable to God. The term "meat" was, and still is, properly given to any kind of provision, and the greater part of this offering was to be eaten for food, not burned. These meat-offerings are mentioned after the burnt-offerings: without an interest in the sacrifice of Christ, and devotedness of heart to God, such services cannot be accepted. Leaven is the emblem of pride, malice, and hypocrisy, and honey of sensual pleasure. The former are directly opposed to the graces of humility, love, and sincerity, which God approves; the latter takes men from the exercises of devotion, and the practice of good works. Christ, in his character and sacrifice, was wholly free from the things denoted by leaven; and his suffering life and agonizing death were the very opposites to worldly pleasure. His people are called to follow, and to be like him.