Leviticus 6

Leviticus 6:1-7

UNINTENTIONAL TRESPASS AGAINST MAN 6:1-7 TEXT 6:1-7

1

And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

2

If any one sin, and commit a trespass against Jehovah, and deal falsely with his neighbor in a matter of deposit, or of bargain, or of robbery, or have oppressed his neighbor,

3

or have found that which was lost, and deal falsely therein, and swear to a lie; in any of all these things that a man doeth, sinning therein;

4

then it shall be, if he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took by robbery, or the thing which he hath gotten by oppression, or the deposit which was committed to him or the lost thing which he found,

5

or anything about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in full, and shall add the fifth part more thereto: unto him to whom it appertaineth shall he give it, in the day of his being found guilty.

6

And he shall bring his trespass-offering unto Jehovah, a ram without blemish out of the flock, according to thy estimation, for a trespass-offering, unto the priest:

7

and the priest shall make atonement for him before Jehovah; and he shall be forgiven concerning whatsoever he doeth so as to be guilty thereby.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 6:1-7

Mark how every sin and trespass is first against God before it is against our neighbor. Define the difference between a deposit and a bargain or a pledge.

The basic sin under these lesser sins is what?

List six possible sins against man here mentioned.

How can we call these unintentional trespasses?

In each case two or three acts are always the samewhat are they?

Where is the worshipper to obtain the ram?

PARAPHRASE 6:1-7

And the Lord said to Moses, If anyone sins against Me by refusing to return a deposit on something borrowed or rented, or by refusing to return something entrusted to him, or by robbery, or by oppressing his neighbor, or by finding a lost article and lying about it, swearing that he doesn-’t have it, on the day he is found guilty of any such sin, he shall restore what he took, adding a twenty percent fine, and give it to the one he has harmed; and on the same day he shall bring his guilt offering to the Tabernacle. His guilt offering shall be a ram without defect, and must be worth whatever value you demand. He shall bring it to the priest, and the priest shall make atonement for him before the Lord, and he shall be forgiven.

COMMENT 6:1-7

Leviticus 6:1 The sins against God would be against the first table of the ten commandments. We are now to consider those against man, or the second table of the law. We need to notice that each time this little phrase (And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,) appears we have a change in subjects.

Leviticus 6:2-3 How sadly easy it is to defraud our friends. Here are a list of those circumstances where temptations lurk. The first relates to the trust our friends put in us. We accept from them an amount of moneya field to till, a store to manage, or any one of many other articles or responsibilities. He trusts usshall we betray his trust? It has been done, Even in the small items such as a tool, or a book, or any other stuff. One is reminded of the golden rule as he reads the regulations for the use of those items which belong to another. What if we loaned something to our neighbor and he refused to admit he had received it? If we gave him money to keep and he used it for himself? If our friend left our machinery out in the weather to rust? Such thoughtlessness, such neglect, such greed will not go unnoticed by God (Cf. 2 Kings 6:5; Exodus 22:7).

But there, is another aspect of this law: the above activity was in private. There are those acts or transactions in public, which not openly unlawful are yet selfish. How many business transactions classify here? What kind of concern do we have for the rights of others as compared to our own? Do we without conscience cheat the government or the local police force? (Cf. Proverbs 20:14)

When we have an advantage with our neighbor we must not use it to satisfy our own selfishness; such was the case with Naboth’s vineyard (Cf. 1 Kings 21:2). The word used in Leviticus 6:3 hath deceived his neighbor refers to a situation where oppression is used. How much secret terror has been employed by how many deceitful selfish people? Present day work laws are all a result of the violation of God’s law. We are glad for fair work laws, but they would be unnecessary if we obeyed Leviticus. Read Deuteronomy 23:24-25 for another form of violating this law.

Finders keepers simply does not apply. We need but put ourselves in the place of our neighbor to imagine the anxiety and concern he has over that which is lost. To lie about what we have found and keep it is but another form of stealing. It is good for us to get this look into the attitudes that God wanted to prevail in the camp of Israel; it is far from the hard, even cruel attitude we Usually associate with keeping the law.

Leviticus 6:4-5 The guilt must be established and admittedeither by a free admission on the part of the offender or by a verdict from a trial (Cf. Exodus 22:7-9). Once this is done then restitution must be made in each case cited above. But there is more20% of the principal must be added to the principals:

God is exceedingly jealous for the rights of every man, but he is equally interested in an acknowledgement of His own righta double tithe is given, even though the person defrauded receives the gift it is none-the less done because God directed it.

Andrew Bonar has such a meaningful expression on this total concept as it relates to our Lord. When men are happy themselves, they take no thought of others-’ misery. When at ease, they disregard the pain of others. Some even relieve distress out of subtle selfishness, seeking thereby to be free to indulge themselves with less compunction. Not so the Lord. The Eternal Son comes forth from the bosom of the Blessed, and, for the sake of the vilest, dives into the depths of misery. -He restored what He took not away,-’ and -delivered him that without cause was His enemy.-’ And in proportion as we feel much love to Him, we feel love to our brother also. (1 John 4:20)

Leviticus 6:6-7 As wrong as these sins appear, they are not classified as presumptuous sins. How very gracious of God; but this is indeed the very best way to lead people out of sin: to establish guilt and offer free forgiveness. None go to the hiding place who fear no storm. The stream flows by unheeded when the traveler on its banks is not thirsty. The whole will not use the physician. Only sense of sin renders Jesus precious to the soul. (Ibid.)

FACT QUESTIONS 6:1-7

The laws of the first table of the law refer to possible sins against whom? This section refers to sins against whom?

It is amazingly easy to defraud our neighbor. Show how and why.

How does the golden rule relate here?

We can sin publicly and yet be involved in the unintentional trespass. Explain how.

What is involved in the use of the word deceived as used with our neighbor?

Finders keepers simply is not right. Why?

Keeping the law in the camp of Israel was not the rigid law-keeping attitude we usually associate with it. Explain.

What is the real underlying purpose in returning the principal plus 20%?

How was the principle applied to our Lord?

Show how wise and gracious God was in not classifying these as presumptuous sins.

Leviticus 6:8-13

2. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS, CHIEFLY FOR THE PRIESTS 6:8-7:38

a.

FOR BURNT OFFERINGS Leviticus 6:8-13

b.

FOR MEAL OFFERINGS Leviticus 6:14-23

c.

FOR SIN OFFERINGS Leviticus 6:24-30

d.

FOR TRESPASS OFFERINGS Leviticus 7:1-10

e.

FOR PEACE OFFERINGS Leviticus 7:11-34

f.

THE DIVINE ORIGIN OF THE LAWS Leviticus 7:35-38

THE BURNT OFFERINGS 6:8-13 TEXT 6:8-13

8

And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

9

Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt-offering: the burnt-offering shall be on the hearth upon the altar all night unto the morning; and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning thereon.

10

And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh; and he shall take up the ashes whereto the fire hath consumed the burnt-offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar.

11

And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place.

12

And the fire upon the altar shall be kept burning thereon, it shall not go out; and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning: and he shall lay the burnt-offering in order upon it, and shall burn thereon the fat of the peace-offerings.

13

Fire shall be kept burning upon the altar continually; it shall not go out.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 6:8-13

Why repeat the instructions here?

Why keep the fire alive all night?

Are we to understand from this text that the priest must have two changes of clothes to offer the sacrifice?

What two things are done with the ashes?

How often was the burnt offering made?

PARAPHRASE 6:8-13

Then the Lord said to Moses, Give Aaron and his sons these regulations concerning the burnt offering: The burnt offering shall be left upon the hearth of the altar all night, with the altar fire kept burning. (The next morning) the priest shall put on his linen undergarments and his linen outer garments and clean out the ashes of the burnt offering and put them beside the altar. Then he shall change his clothes and carry the ashes outside the camp to a place that is ceremonially clean. Meanwhile, the fire on the altar must be kept burningit must not go out. The priest shall put on fresh wood each morning, and lay the daily burnt offering on it, and burn the fat of the daily peace offering. The fire must be kept burning upon the altar continually. It must never go out.

COMMENT 6:8-13

Leviticus 6:8-9 We begin here instructions addressed to Aaron and his sons. The previous Chapter s were addressed to the children of Israel. We have learned about the sacrifices from the viewpoint of the worshipper; we now approach it as a priest. The burnt offering represents God’s judgment upon sin. In the continual burning of the sacrifice on the altar we can parallel the everlasting quality of this judgment. We think of Rev 14:11, The smoke of their torment goeth up forever and ever. The smoke never ceased from ascending and the fire never went out.

It is good to remember that the blood and sacrifice of our burnt offering will never cease to lose its power.

Leviticus 6:10 In the morning of every day the priest was to put on his linen dress (see Exodus 28:42) and the white drawers, and lift off, i.e. clear away, the ashes to which the fire had consumed the burnt offering upon the altar, and pour them down beside the altar (see Leviticus 1:16). (Keil & Delitzsch)

If this priest is typical of our great high priest and He is occupied with the work of atonement for us the white garments could well represent His purity (Cf. Revelation 19:8).

With the daily removal of the ashes the fire could be kept burning in a clear, bright manner.

Leviticus 6:11 The priest must change his clothes before he can carry the ashes to a clean place without the camp. This would be for the purpose of allowing time to wash the garments used for the sacrifice. Hebrews 13:10-13 definitely relates our Lord to this act. He is the one who became our burnt offering. Can we see in Joseph’s tomb a clean place (since it was never used)? The tomb was without the gateor beyond the walls of Jerusalemwhat a wonder it would be to find Jeremiah’s valley of ashes in the same location as Calvary and Joseph’s tomb!

Leviticus 6:12 The fact is stated in Leviticus 6:9 that the fire of the altar was not to go out. In this verse we have an explanation of how it is to be kept burning. The quantity of wood along with the sacrifice is replenished each morning by the priest. When the size of the altar is considered along with the slow burning nature of the flesh upon the fire it would be easy to contemplate a banked fire sufficient for the day. This was repeated at the end of the day; and as often as sacrifices were brought by the Israelites-’. The fat burned separate from the animal would add quick fuel to the fire.

Leviticus 6:13 We are reminded once again that the fire must be kept alive and burning upon the altar. We are almost instinctively drawn to references of eternal fire in the New Testament. It is our Lord who spoke most of this subject. He said of this punishment, And if thy hand cause thee to stumble, cut it off: it is good for thee to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. Three times in four verses He does not make reference to the fire that never goes out nor is it wanting for fuel! Cf. Mark 9:44-50. We are so glad for the eternal redemption provided by our sacrifice (Cf. Hebrews 9:12).

FACT QUESTIONS 6:8-13

Isn-’t the material given in this section repetitious of chapter one? Explain.

The burnt offering represents what aspect of God’s character?

What is learned from the fact that the fire on the altar is to never go out?

The priest was to change his clothes at least twice. When? For what purpose?

Who is typified in the garments of the priest?

Show how Hebrews 13:10-13 relates to this section. How was the fire kept perpetually burning?

Explain Mark 9:44-50 and Hebrews 9:12 as they compare with this text.

Leviticus 6:14-23

THE MEAL OFFERING 6:14-23 TEXT 6:14-23

14

And this is the law of the meal-offering: the sons of Aaron shall offer it before Jehovah, before the altar.

15

And he shall take up therefrom his handful, of the fine flour of the meal-offering, and of the oil thereof, and all the frankincense which is upon the meal-offering, and shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savor, as the memorial thereof, unto Jehovah.

16

And that which is left thereof shall Aaron and his sons eat: it shall be eaten without leaven in a holy place; in the court of the tent of meeting they shall eat it.

17

It shall not be baken with leaven. I have given it as their portion of my offerings made by fire; it is most holy, as the sin-offering, and as the trespass-offering.

18

Every male among the children of Aaron shall eat of it, as his portion for ever throughout your generations, from the offerings of Jehovah made by fire: whosoever toucheth them shall be holy.

19

And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

20

This is the oblation of Aaron and of his sons, which they shall offer unto Jehovah in the day when he is anointed: the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a meal-offering perpetually; half of it in the morning, and half thereof in the evening.

21

On a baking-pan it shall be made with oil; when it is soaked, thou shalt bring it in: in baken pieces shalt thou offer the meal-offering for a sweet savor unto Jehovah.

22

And the anointed priest that shall be in his stead from among his sons shall offer it: by a statute for ever it shall be wholly burnt unto Jehovah.

23

And every meal-offering of the priest shall be wholly burnt: it shall not be eaten.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 6:14-23

The regulations here are very similar to those in the second chapter. What verses here compare with those in chapter two?

There are some dissimilarities. Indicate them.

Why not leaven in the bread made from the meal offering? In what place were they to eat it? Why?

Only a certain class of persons were permitted to eat. Who were they?

What is meant by the thought that to touch one of the sons of Aaron was to make the person who touched holy?

Are we to understand that Leviticus 6:14-18 discuss what to bring and Leviticus 6:19-23 discuss when to bring it? Explain.

Broken bread baked or fried on the fire is the offering of priests. Is this a fair conclusion? Discuss.

PARAPHRASE 6:14-23

These are the regulations concerning the grain offering: Aaron’s sons shall stand in front of the altar to offer it before the Lord. The priest shall then take out a handful of the finely ground flour with the olive oil and the incense mixed into it, and burn it upon the altar as a representative portion for the Lord; and it will be received with pleasure by the Lord. After taking out this handful, the remainder of the flour will belong to Aaron and his sons for their food; it shall be eaten without yeast in the courtyard of the Tabernacle. (Stress this instruction, that if it is baked it must be without yeast.) I have given to the priests this part of the burnt offerings made to Me. However, all of it is most holy, just as is the entire sin offering and the entire guilt offering. It may be eaten by any male descendant of Aaron, any priest, generation after generation. But only the priests may eat these offerings made by fire to the Lord. And Jehovah said to Moses, On the day Aaron and his sons are anointed and inducted into the priesthood, they shall bring to the Lord a regular grain offeringa tenth of a bushel of fine flour, half to be offered in the morning and half in the evening. It shall be cooked on a griddle, using olive oil, and should be well cooked, then brought to the Lord as an offering that pleases Him very much. As the sons of the priests replace their fathers, they shall be inducted into office by offering this same sacrifice on the day of their anointing. This is a perpetual law. These offerings shall be entirely burned up before the Lord; none of it shall be eaten-'.

COMMENT 6:14-23

Leviticus 6:14 There is to be nothing secretive about this offering. It is to be made in the sight of all. The meal offering size and content are discussed in Leviticus 2:1 ff. Here we follow the actions and attitude of the priests as they make the offering. Before the people upon the altarhow meaningful are all our actions and attitudes when we know that first of all that it is done in the sight of God!

Leviticus 6:15 We learn nothing new in this verse from what we found in Leviticus 2:2 except we are standing with the priest and not the worshipper. The aroma of frankincense, the flash of the fire as the oil-mixed flour is consumed upon the altar; all of this says to the priest and to the worshipper and to all who see that God is well pleased with the thank offering of grain.

Leviticus 6:16 We are in this verse introduced to the exact action observed by Aaron’s sons as they take of their portion of the altar (Cf. 1 Corinthians 9:13-14). Careful, repeated instructions relate to this bread being unleaven. There must not be anything in it that would intimate sin or corruption; for since the memorial has been offered, the remainder is reckoned pure, so pure that it may be put into the hands of the priests as food, and eaten on holy ground. It may present to us the fact, that when Jesus was once offered as a -sweet savor of rest,-’ then what remained, i.e. His body the church, was pure, and might be freely admitted to holy groundto heaven, and to all heavenly employments. (Ibid.)

Leviticus 6:17 If the meal offering takes the form of cakes instruction is given that no leaven is to be Used. We like the thought that the enjoyment of eating is to come from their knowledge that the gift came from God and not in the flavor of the cake. There must be no leaven in it, for it is a gift to them from Me. Let it, then, derive its sweetness and relish to their taste from the consideration that it is my gift to them. There are two grand truths taught here: (1) any place becomes a holy place when we sense the presence of God. Calvary was a holy mount 2 Peter 1:18; the ground by a bush was holy ground Exodus 3:5; the outer court was called the most holy place Numbers 18:10 (depending upon what happened as related to the presence of God); (2) We should rejoice more in the giver than the gift. Hannah rejoiced more in God than in Samuel 1 Samuel 2:1; so did Mary and Elizabeth; It teaches us of the deep joyful communion which can exist between God and His people. Cf. Colossians 2:1-2.

Leviticus 6:18 While this food is available to all male members of the tribe of Levi they must not eat without thought and recognition of the giver because God has counted them holy or sanctified and therefore everyone who touches them or the altar or any of its utensils or garments is also holy. Even inanimate objects touched by the priests were thus set-aside as holy. All such items must be cleansed by washingspersons must also cleanse themselves of this ceremonial defilement. The purpose of such prohibitions was to teach respect, reverence for the Holy One of Israel. God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of His saints, and to be held in reverence of all that are about Him. Psalms 79:7. Nothing is more happy or holy than the presence of God!

Leviticus 6:19-20 Here is information we have not had before. This is part of the ceremony used in the ordination of a man to the priesthood, whether it be the ordinary priests or the high priest. It is interesting to notice that neither the richest nor the poorest of the kinds of meal offerings is chosen. The priest is to relate himself to all peoplethe rich and the poor. The amount is the same as that chosen by God for the daily portion of manna. The same amount as placed in the golden pot in the ark of the covenant. Thus the priest is to remember he is a servant of both God and man.

Leviticus 6:21 The cakes are prepared with oil and baked in a pan just as if they were to be eaten. They are to be consumed, but not by man, This could teach the priest that what he prepares for himself he also first prepares for God. What he prepares for himself is neither more nor less than what he prepares for God. God will accept what he has prepared. Our offerings to God must be as important and as basic as our everyday food.

Leviticus 6:22-23 Actually the priest is offering himself in this offering. His total, whole self is given up to God. As our great high priest gave Himself to God on our behalf, we give ourselves to Him and others in our commitment to Him. We are all priests and all have received the anointing of the Holy One (Cf. 1 John 2:21; 1 John 2:27) and belong to Him. Please remember whose you are!

FACT QUESTIONS 6:14-23

What is meant by saying there is nothing secretive about this offering?

What makes the actions and attitudes meaningful?

What is the one message we get from Leviticus 6:15?

Why was it so important that not only the memorial portion but the whole be unleavened ?

Why eat it in the holy place? What lesson is in this for us?

There are two grand truths taught in Leviticus 6:17. What are they?

Was there an advantage or disadvantage to the non-Levite to be counted holy by touching one of the priests or some portion of the tabernacle?

How was the meal offering used in the ordination service of the priests?

What lesson is in the fact that the priest is to prepare cakes as if they were to be eaten and then burn them?

The priest is offering himself in the meal offering. Show how and why.

Leviticus 6:24-30

THE SIN OFFERING 6:24-30 TEXT 6:24-30

24

And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

25

Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying, This is the law of the sin-offering: in the place where the burnt-offering is killed shall the sin-offering be killed before Jehovah: it is most holy.

26

The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in a holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tent of meeting.

27

Whatsoever shall touch the flesh thereof shall be holy; and when there is sprinkled of the blood thereof upon any garment, thou shalt wash that whereon it was sprinkled in a holy place.

28

But the earthen vessel wherein it is boiled shall be broken; and if it be boiled in a brazen vessel, it shall be scoured, and rinsed in water.

29

Every male among the priests shall eat thereof; it is most holy.

30

And no sin-offering, whereof any of the blood is brought into the tent of meeting to make atonement in the holy place, shall be eaten: it shall be burnt with fire.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 6:24-30

Where was the burnt offering slain? Why designate the place?

Why was the eating of the offering restricted to the holy place?

In what sense were people and garments made holy by contact with the sacrifice?

Vessels were made holy by contact. How?

Is there any lesson for us in the strong emphasis upon holiness and blood? Discuss.

PARAPHRASE 6:24-30

Then the Lord said to Moses, Tell Aaron and his sons that these are the instructions concerning the sin offering: This sacrifice is most holy, and shall be killed before the Lord at the place where the burnt offerings are killed. The priest who performs the ceremony shall eat it in the courtyard of the Tabernacle. Only those who are sanctifiedthe priestsmay touch this meat; if any blood sprinkles onto their clothing, it must be washed in a holy place. Then the clay pot in which the clothing is boiled shall be broken; or if a bronze kettle is used, it must be scoured and rinsed out thoroughly. Every male among the priests may eat this offering, but only they, for it is most holy. No sin offering may be eaten by the priests if any of its blood is taken into the Tabernacle, to make atonement in the Holy Place. That carcass must be entirely burned with fire before the Lord.

COMMENT 6:24-30

Leviticus 6:24-25 In Leviticus 1:11 we are given the location for the killing of the victim for the burnt offeringit was on the north side of the altar. All subsequent sacrifices were to be slain in the same place.

All sacrifices were to be regarded with awful reverence. We are sure many worshippers came who were not sincere and reverent, but there were doubtless many who stood in wonder and contemplation before the altar and watched with real understanding every movement of the priest and the sacrifice. We have much more reason to stand with holy wonder like the Marys of old beneath the cross upon which our sin offering was nailed. When we lift the cup and eat the bread do we discern the body and blood of our sin offering?

Leviticus 6:26 From the priest’s viewpoint he eats of the altar but from the worshipper’s viewpoint he finds acceptance from God in the act of eating by the priests (Cf. Leviticus 10:17). There is an instructive verse in Hosea 4:8, They feed on the sin of my people, and set their heart on their iniquity. This has reference to the sin offering. The priests only did their duty and ate the sacrifice but their hearts were fixed on iniquity. How easy it is to lose the meaning in oft repeated actions.

Leviticus 6:27-28 How awful is atoning blood! Even things without life, such as garments, are held in dreadful sacredness if this blood touches them. No wonder, then, that this earth, on which fell the blood of the Son of God, has a sacredness in the eye of God. It must be set apart for holy ends, since the blood of Jesus wet its soil. As the earthen vessels, within which the sacrifice was offered, must be broken, and not used for any meaner end again, so must our earth be decomposed and new-moulded, for it must be kept for the use of Him whose sacrifice was offered there. And as the brazen vessel must be rinsed and scoured, so must this earth be freed from all that dims its beauty, and be set apart for holy ends. It must be purified and reserved for holy purposes; for the blood of Jesus has dropped upon it, and made it more sacred than any spot, except where He Himself dwells. (Bonar)

Leviticus 6:29-30 The sin offering used by the high priest of the goat on the day of atonement must not be eaten but taken without the camp and burned. How perfectly does this compare with our Saviour who suffered as our sin offering, whose blood was taken into the Holy of Holies and made atonement for us. He suffered without the gate (Cf. Hebrews 13:11-13).

FACT QUESTIONS 6:24-30

Comment upon the awful reverence that was to be the attitude of those who shared in the sin offering. How related to us?

There is a two-fold meaning in the eating by the priest. What is it? A deadly danger existed here. What was it?

There are two viewpoints given as to the use of the earthen vessels. Which one is yours?

Show the application of Heb 13:11-13 to the goat of the sin offering on the day of atonement.