Leviticus 2:14

King James Version (KJV)

And if thou offer a meat offering of thy firstfruits unto the Lord, thou shalt offer for the meat offering of thy firstfruits green ears of corn dried by the fire, even corn beaten out of full ears.

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

Green ears of corn dried by the fire - Green or half-ripe ears of wheat parched with fire is a species of food in use among the poor people of Palestine and Egypt to the present day. As God is represented as keeping a table among his people, (for the tabernacle was his house, where he had the golden table, shewbread, etc)., so he represents himself as partaking with them of all the aliments that were in use, and even sitting down with the poor to a repast on parched corn! We have already seen that these green ears were presented as a sort of eucharistical offering for the blessings of seed time, and the prospect of a plentiful harvest. See Clarke's note on Leviticus 2:1; several other examples might be added here, but they are not necessary. The command to offer salt with every oblation, and which was punctually observed by the Jews, will afford the pious reader some profitable reflections. It is well known that salt has two grand properties.

It seasons and renders palatable the principal ailments used for the support of life.

It prevents putrefaction and decay.

The covenant of God, that is, his agreement with his people, is called a covenant of salt, to denote as we have seen above, its stable undecaying nature, as well as to point out its importance and utility in the preservation of the life of the soul. The grace of God by Christ Jesus is represented under the emblem of salt, (see Mark 9:49; Ephesians 4:29; Colossians 4:6;), because of its relishing, nourishing, and preserving quality. Without it no offering, no sacrifice, no religious service, no work even of charity and mercy, can be acceptable in the sight of God. In all things we must come unto the Father Through Him. And from none of our sacrifices or services must this salt of the covenant of our God be lacking.

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Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

Green ears of corn - Rather, “fresh ears of corn;” that is, just-ripe grain, freshly gathered. Parched grain, such as is here spoken of, is a common article of food in Syria and Egypt, and was very generally eaten in ancient times.

Beaten out - Not rubbed out by the hands, as described in Luke 6:1, but bruised or crushed so as to form groats.

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Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

Salt is required in all the offerings. God hereby intimates to them that their sacrifices, in themselves, were unsavoury. All religious services must be seasoned with grace. Christianity is the salt of the earth. Directions are given about offering their first-fruits at harvest. If a man, with a thankful sense of God's goodness in giving him a plentiful crop, was disposed to present an offering to God, let him bring the first ripe and full ears. Whatever was brought to God must be the best in its kind, though it were but green ears of corn. Oil and frankincense must be put upon it. Wisdom and humility soften and sweeten the spirits and services of young people, and their green ears of corn shall be acceptable. God takes delight in the first ripe fruits of the Spirit, and the expressions of early piety and devotion. Holy love to God is the fire by which all our offerings must be made. The frankincense denotes the mediation and intercession of Christ, by which our services are accepted. Blessed be God that we have the substance, of which these observances were but shadows. There is that excellency in Christ, and in his work as Mediator, which no types and shadows can fully represent. And our dependence thereon must be so entire, that we must never lose sight of it in any thing we do, if we would be accepted of God.

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SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

14. Green ears of corn. “New grain from fresh ears” (RSV). By “corn” is meant any grain, such as wheat, barley, rye, or oats. Stalks of wheat, with the ears, gathered before they are fully ripe and roasted, are still a favorite food in the East. Such could also be used for a meat offering. Oil was poured on the ears of corn, with frankincense; the “memorial” portion was burned on the altar, and the remainder given to the priest. Perhaps the bruised grain here typifies Him who was bruised for us, and by whose stripes we are healed (Isa. 53:5).

The various meat offerings present Christ as the life-giver and upholder, the One through and in whom “we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28). As burnt offerings stood for consecration of the life, so meat offerings called for consecration of one’s means. The dedication of one’s means should be preceded by a dedication of life. A dedication of the life without a dedication of one’s means is not provided for in the gospel; neither is a dedication of means without a dedication of life. The two must go together. Combined, they constitute a complete sacrifice, pleasing to God, “a sweet savour unto the Lord” (Lev. 1:9).

The idea of stewardship needs emphasis. Some bear the name of Christ and loudly profess holiness and devotion to God, but their works do not correspond to their profession. The purse strings are held tightly, appeals go unheeded, and God’s cause languishes. Such need to understand that entire consecration of the life includes also consecration one’s means.

It would be incorrect, however, to conclude that a consecration of one’s means is all that God requires, and that liberal giving will smooth the way to heaven. We are to consecrate ourselves to Him. We are responsible to God for every talent He has entrusted to us, whether of means, time, or natural gifts. Of all these we are stewards, and God is the rightful Master. Talents such as song, music, speech, and leadership all belong to God. They must be dedicated to Him; they must be put on the altar.

The “meat” offerings are replete with spiritual lessons for the devout soul. All we are should be dedicated to God; all we have should be on the altar. “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened” (1 Cor. 5:7). “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man” (Col. 4:6). “Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another” (Mark 9:50). Finally, in the service of God we may not substitute our own inventions and methods for the plans of God, though they may be sweet as honey to out own taste.

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Leviticus 2:14