We just finished talking about the nine different grades of olive oil that come out in three different harvests. All nine grades are technically valid for use in the menachot (meal offerings), but, as we described earlier, you should use the best possible oil for the menachot. You want to do everything in your avodat Hashem (service of Hashem) on the highest level. So we'll now rank the nine olive oils in order of preference, according to how they should be used for the menachot.
The Mishnah says there is nothing higher than the first grade of oil from the first olive harvest. That's the highest possible level of oil. If you have the ability, that's what should be used for the menachot. The second oil from the first harvest and the first oil from the second harvest are equal in quality. Likewise, the third level consists of the third oil from the first harvest, the second oil from the second harvest, and the first oil from the third harvest. All of those are equal in quality. That's the third level. The fourth level is the third oil from the second harvest and the second oil from the third harvest, which are also equal in quality. There's nothing worse than the third oil from the third harvest. That one is considered the lowest level of oil for use in the menachot.
The last Mishnah told us that the Menorah (lampstand) can only be lit with Shemen Zayit Zach (pure olive oil), which is the first-level oil from each harvest. But when it comes to the menachot, any grade of oil can be used. Now we'll talk about why the Menorah and the menachot are different. It's logical. It makes sense that the menachot would also require pure olive oil, the first grade of oil from every one of the harvests, as we do with the Menorah, based on the following logic. The comparison is between the oil of the Menorah and Shemen Zayit Zach. The Menorah is not about eating; it's just to provide illumination, and you need to use Shemen Zayit Zach. Wouldn't it make sense that menachot, which are for eating, by the Mizbeach (altar)—the Mizbeach eats them; they're burned on the Mizbeach—should require pure olive oil? Doesn't it make sense that, when you're talking about offerings to Hashem, part of the menachot is consumed by the fire on the Mizbeach, a form of eating? So the oil of the Menorah is used just to light. Wouldn't it make sense that the oil made for eating should be of higher quality, like the oil used for light, in order to undo this?
The Torah tells us that the oil of the Menorah has to be pure from the olives that are pressed for la-ma'or, or for illumination. So we say straight up over here: la-ma'or, for illumination. That's only for illumination; only for the Menorah do the olives have to be pure and come katit. There's no need for the olives to be pressed for the menachot. What we're really saying over here is that this is the first level in each harvest. We said simply, he just had to pound the olives open a little bit, and the oil would come out on its own. So that katit aspect of it, that pounded aspect of it, which is saying it's coming out on its own—it was just pounded a little bit beforehand, pressed a little bit beforehand—that's enough, and that's all you need only when talking about the Menorah. But when it comes to the menachot, you do not need that level.