Among the many offerings discussed in this week’s parashah, we are taught about the Korban Mincha, the flour offering, and we are told that any Korban Minchah brought by a Kohen is completely burned.
The Minchah is an economical offering, and a voluntary Korban Minchah is usually brought by a person unable to afford an animal- or bird-offering. When a non-Kohen brings a Minchah, only a fistful of it is burned on the Mizbei’ach, the balance is eaten by the Kohanim.
The Chinuch (Mitzvah 137) explains that since the purpose of a sacrifice is to inspire a person to draw closer to Hashem, if a Kohen were to be allowed to eat, it would simply be as though he were preparing his own dinner. He would bring the korban, a fistful would be burned, and he and his friends would eat the rest of it. Because of this, it would not have the desired effect on him.
This understanding of the mitzvah that offers a fundamental lesson for our own lives:
If a Kohen brings an animal offering, he has spent a considerable amount of money, and much of the animal will be burned on the Mizbei’ach, it is truly an act that requires a level of commitment and dedication, even if he does get to eat from it.
The Minchah, however, is inexpensive, and nearly the entire korban is eaten. A Kohen could easily bring Menchos and delude himself into thinking that he is a Holy Man, bringing korbanos regularly, when all he is actually doing is feeding himself.
When a person does a mitzvah he draws closer to Hashem. Of course, we must do mitzvos whether or not we have the proper intent or focus on it adequately, but this verse tells us that we must, at the very least, be honest with ourselves. There are no shortcuts in ruchniyos.
May we all be zocheh to achieve true growth, particularly at this very special time of year.
Gut Shabbos.
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