Introduction to Leviticus 6

 

Introduction to Leviticus 6

Leviticus is the third book of the Bible and primarily focuses on the laws God gave to Moses for the Israelites, particularly concerning sacrifices, offerings, and priestly duties. Leviticus 6 continues instructions on offerings and emphasizes the importance of atonement, restitution, and holiness.

This chapter is divided into two major sections:

1. Verses 1–7 – Laws concerning guilt (trespass) offerings

2. Verses 8–30 – Regulations for burnt offerings, grain offerings, sin offerings, and ordination offerings

Now, let’s break it down in detail.

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Detailed Breakdown of Leviticus 6

1. The Law of the Guilt (Trespass) Offering (Verses 1–7)

Verses 1–2: The Nature of the Trespass

"And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘If anyone sins and is unfaithful to the LORD by deceiving a neighbor about something entrusted to them, or about a pledge, or stealing, or cheating their neighbor…’"

This section focuses on sins involving dishonesty, fraud, or theft. Unlike other sin offerings, these sins involve wrongdoing against both God and people. When someone steals, lies, or cheats, they are not only harming their neighbor but also breaking God’s law.

Verses 3–5: The Requirement of Restitution

"...or if they find lost property and lie about it, or if they swear falsely about any such sin that people may commit—when they sin in any of these ways and realize their guilt, they must return what they have stolen or taken by extortion, or what was entrusted to them, or the lost property they found…"

These verses emphasize the need for restoration. The guilty person must:

1. Confess their sin – Acknowledging their wrongdoing before God

2. Return what was taken – Whether stolen money or lost property

3. Add an additional 20% (one-fifth) restitution – This extra payment discourages dishonesty

4. Offer a guilt offering – A ram without blemish

This highlights God’s justice and mercy. True repentance includes not only confessing but also restoring what was wrongfully taken.

Verses 6–7: The Role of the Priest

"And he shall bring his trespass offering to the LORD, a ram without blemish from the flock… The priest shall make atonement for him before the LORD, and he shall be forgiven for any of these things he may have done."

The priest’s role was essential in making atonement. Forgiveness was granted not merely because of confession but through the sacrifice of the guilt offering. This foreshadows Christ’s ultimate sacrifice for our sins.

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2. Instructions for the Burnt Offering (Verses 8–13)

Verses 8–9: The Perpetual Nature of the Burnt Offering

"The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering: The burnt offering shall be on the hearth of the altar all night until morning, and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning on it.’"

The burnt offering (Hebrew: Olah, meaning "to ascend") was given entirely to God. Unlike other offerings, no part was eaten; it was completely burned.

Verses 10–11: The Role of the Priests

"The priest shall put on his linen garment and linen undergarments, and he shall take up the ashes to which the fire has reduced the burnt offering on the altar and place them beside the altar."

• The priests wore special garments when handling the ashes, emphasizing purity and order.

• The ashes were placed in a special location, showing reverence for the holy things of God.

Verses 12–13: The Fire Must Never Go Out

"The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it shall not go out. Every morning the priest shall add wood…"

The continual fire symbolizes:

• God’s unceasing presence

• Continuous atonement for sin

• Israel’s ongoing devotion to God

This also foreshadows the New Testament teaching that our hearts must always be burning with devotion to God (Romans 12:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19).

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3. The Law of the Grain Offering (Verses 14–18)

Verses 14–16: The Priests’ Portion

"This is the law of the grain offering: The sons of Aaron shall offer it before the LORD in front of the altar…"

The grain offering (Minchah) was a non-blood sacrifice of fine flour, oil, and frankincense, symbolizing thankfulness and dedication.

The offering was divided:

1. A memorial portion was burned to God

2. The rest was eaten by the priests

This shows that worship involves both giving to God and receiving from Him.

Verses 17–18: Holy and Restricted to Priests

"It shall not be baked with leaven. I have given it as their portion of My food offerings. It is most holy…"

• No leaven (symbolizing sin and corruption) was allowed in this offering.

• The priests alone could eat it, signifying holiness and consecration.

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4. Special Offering for Priestly Ordination (Verses 19–23)

Verses 19–22: The Daily Offering of the High Priest

"This is the offering that Aaron and his sons shall offer to the LORD on the day when he is anointed…"

Unlike the regular grain offerings, this was entirely burned and not eaten. This represents:

• The priest’s complete devotion to God

• The higher standard of holiness required for leaders

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5. The Law of the Sin Offering (Verses 24–30)

Verses 24–25: Most Holy and Eaten by Priests

"Tell Aaron and his sons: ‘This is the law of the sin offering: It shall be slaughtered before the LORD in the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered; it is most holy.’"

• The sin offering (Chatat) was made for atonement.

• Only priests could eat it, signifying their role as intercessors.

Verses 26–28: The Sacred Handling of the Sacrifice

"The priest who offers it shall eat it in a holy place… But the earthen vessel in which it is boiled shall be broken…"

• Holiness required careful handling

• Earthen vessels had to be broken, symbolizing the fragile nature of humanity and the seriousness of sin

Verses 29–30: No Eating of Certain Offerings

"But no sin offering shall be eaten if its blood is brought into the Tent of Meeting…"

If the blood was brought into the tabernacle, the entire offering had to be burned, showing deeper reverence for atonement.

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Conclusion and Applications

Leviticus 6 teaches key spiritual principles:

1. True repentance involves restitution – We must make things right with others (Luke 19:8).

2. Holiness requires continual devotion – The fire on the altar represents our need for ongoing worship.

3. God’s laws demand reverence – Sacrifices and offerings were handled with care to maintain holiness.

4. Jesus is our ultimate sacrifice – The entire sacrificial system foreshadows Christ, who made atonement for all sin (Hebrews 9:11-14).