The Torah stipulates that the meat and bread of the korban todah must be eaten the same day on which the sacrifice is brought. In as much as this rule similarly applies to some of the other korbanos, it is significant that this rule is expressed for the first time in regard to the korban todah. The Shaagas Aryeh cites a number of reasons for this law. In the case of a korban todah, the owner is required to invite a group of people to share in the large meal. All of the meat and the forty loaves of bread must be consumed in one day. The grateful person would thus be afforded an opportunity to publicly proclaim his thanks to Hashem for all of His beneficence.
Another perspective is offered by Chazal. The todah must be consumed in one day, because Hashem grants us miracles daily. Tomorrow might present a new obligation for sacrifice. It behooves us to thank Hashem daily for His constant favors. All too often we wait until something is taken away from us before we recognize its importance.
Horav S.R. Hirsch z.l. suggests that the animal must be eaten soon after it has been slaughtered. Slaughtering is a negative activity, which represents the rejection of the purely physical aspect of man’s nature. This negative act, however, leads to an ennoblement of life on earth. The person who offers the sacrifice is thereby empowered to eat of the flesh, which has been elevated through the ritual of the Divine service. This is why these two actions, slaughtering and eating, must be closely affiliated.
Thus, the Torah emphasizes the stipulation that the sacrifice be eaten on the day of the sacrifice, specifically in regard to the korban todah. This sacrifice raises one’s consciousness and teaches a proper appreciation of the worldly, physical possessions. This sacrifice seems to stress that one can enjoy his material belongings. He must, however, elevate them to the sublime level of holiness that was evidenced by the individual’s response to the flesh of the korban.
