171 God spoke to Moses, 2 "Speak to Aaron and his sons and all the Israelites. Tell them, This is what God commands: 3 Any and every man who slaughters an ox or lamb or goat inside or outside the camp 4 instead of bringing it to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting to offer it to God in front of The Dwelling of God - that man is considered guilty of bloodshed; he has shed blood and must be cut off from his people. 5 This is so the Israelites will bring to God the sacrifices that they're in the habit of sacrificing out in the open fields. They must bring them to God and the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and sacrifice them as Peace-Offerings to God. 6 The priest will splash the blood on the Altar of God at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and burn the fat as a pleasing fragrance to God. 7 They must no longer offer their sacrifices to goat-demons - a kind of religious orgy. This is a perpetual decree down through the generations. 8 "Tell them: Any Israelite or foreigner living among them who offers a Whole-Burnt-Offering or Peace-Offering 9 but doesn't bring it to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting to sacrifice it to God, that person must be cut off from his people.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Leviticus 17:1-9
Commentary on Leviticus 17:1-9
(Read Leviticus 17:1-9)
All the cattle killed by the Israelites, while in the wilderness, were to be presented before the door of the tabernacle, and the flesh to be returned to the offerer, to be eaten as a peace-offering, according to the law. When they entered Canaan, this only continued in respect of sacrifices. The spiritual sacrifices we are now to offer, are not confined to any one place. We have now no temple or altar that sanctifies the gift; nor does the gospel unity rest only in one place, but in one heart, and the unity of the Spirit. Christ is our Altar, and the true Tabernacle; in him God dwells among men. It is in him that our sacrifices are acceptable to God, and in him only. To set up other mediators, or other altars, or other expiatory sacrifices, is, in effect, to set up other gods. And though God will graciously accept our family offerings, we must not therefore neglect attending at the tabernacle.