Leviticus 6

Leviticus 6:1

But the inwards shall he wash - To signify the universal and perfect purity both of the inwards, or the heart, and of the legs, or ways or actions, which was in Christ, and which should be in all Christians. And he washed not only the parts now mentioned, but all the rest, the trunk of the body, and the shoulders. A sweet savour - Not in itself, for so it rather caused a stink, but as it represented Christ’s offering up himself to God as a sweet smelling savour.

Leviticus 6:3

North - ward - Here this and other kinds of sacrifices were killed, Leviticus 6:25, and Leviticus 7:2, because here seems to have been the largest and most convenient place for that work, the altar being probably near the middle of the east - end of the building, and the entrance being on the south - side. Besides this might design the place of Christ’s death both more generally, in Jerusalem, which was in the sides of the north, Psalms 48:2, and more specially, on mount Calvary, which was on the north - west side of Jerusalem.

Leviticus 6:6

Turtle - doves - These birds were appointed for the poor who could not bring better. And these birds are preferred before others, partly because they were easily gotten, and partly because they are fit representations of Christ’s chastity, and meekness, and gentleness, for which these birds are remarkable. The pigeons must be young, because then they are best; but the turtle - doves are better when they are grown up, and therefore they are not confined to that age.

Leviticus 6:7

His head - From the rest of the body; as sufficiently appears, because this was to be burnt by itself, and the body afterwards, Leviticus 1:17. And whereas it is said Leviticus 5:8. He shall - wring his head from his neck, but shall not divide it asunder, that is spoken not of the burnt - offering as here, but of the sin - offering.

Leviticus 6:8

With its feathers - Or, with its dung or filth, contained in the crop and in the guts. On the east - Of the Tabernacle. Here the filth was cast, because this was the remotest place from the holy of holies, which was in the west - end; to teach us, that impure things and persons should not presume to approach to God, and that they should be banished from his presence. The place of the ashes - Where the ashes fell down and lay, whence they were afterwards removed without the camp.

Leviticus 6:9

He shall cleave the bird through the whole length, yet so as not to separate the one side from the other. A sweet savour unto the Lord - Yet after all, to love God with all our hearts, and to love our neighbour as ourselves, is better than all burnt - offerings and sacrifices.

Leviticus 6:11

A meal - offering - (Not meat - offering, an ancient false print, which has run thro’ many editions of our bible.) This was of two kinds, the one joined with other offerings, Numbers 15:4,7,10, which was prescribed, together with the measure or proportion of it: the other, of which this place speaks, was left to the offerer’s good will both for the thing, and for the quantity. And the matter for this offering was things without life, as meal, corn, or cakes. Now this sort of sacrifices were appointed, because these are things of greatest necessity and benefit to man, and therefore it is meet that God should be served with them, and owned and praised as the giver of them. In condescension to the poor, that they might not want an offering for God, and to shew that God would accept even the meanest services, when offered with a sincere mind. These were necessary provisions for the feast which was to be presented to God, and for the use of the priests, who were to attend upon these holy ministrations. He shall pour oil - This may note the graces of the Holy Ghost, which are compared to oil, and anointing with it, Psalms 45:7, 1 John 2:20, and which are necessary to make any offering acceptable to God. Frankincense - Manifestly designed Christ’s satisfaction and intercession, which is compared to a sweet odour, Ephesians 5:2.

Leviticus 6:12

He shall take - That priest to whom he brought it, and who is appointed to offer it. The memorial - That part thus selected and offered; which is called a memorial, either to the offerer, who by offering this part is minded, that the whole of that he brought, and of all which he hath of that kind, is God’s to whom this part was paid as an acknowledgment. Or to God, whom (to speak after the manner of men) this did put in mind of his gracious covenant and promises of favour, and acceptance of the offerer and his offering. A sweet savour unto the Lord - And so are our spiritual offerings, which are made by the fire of holy love, particularly that of almsgiving. With such sacrifices God is well - pleased.

Leviticus 6:13

Sons - To be eaten by them, Leviticus 6:16. Most holy - Or such as were to be eaten only by the priests, and that only in the holy place near the altar.

Leviticus 6:14

In the oven - Made in the sanctuary for that use.

Leviticus 6:16

In pieces - Because part of it was offered to God, and part given to the priests.

Leviticus 6:21

No leaven - Namely, in that which is offered of free - will; for in other offerings it might be used, Leviticus 7:13, 23:17. This was forbidden, partly to mind them of their deliverance out of Egypt, when they were forced thro’ haste to bring away their meal or dough (which was the matter of this oblation) unleavened; partly to signify what Christ would be, and what they should be, pure and free from all error in the faith and worship of God, and from all hypocrisy, and malice or wickedness, all which are signified by leaven. Nor any honey - Either, because it hath the same effect with leaven in paste or dough, making it sour, and swelling. Or, in opposition to the sacrifices of the Gentiles, in which the use of honey was most frequent. Or, to teach us, that God’s worship is not to be governed by men’s fancies and appetites but by God’s will.

Leviticus 6:22

Ye may offer them - Or either of them, leaven or honey. They shall not be burnt - But reserved for the priests.

Leviticus 6:23

Salt - To signify that incorruption of mind, and sincerity of grace, which in scripture is signified by salt, Mark 9:49, Colossians 4:6, and which is necessary in all them that would offer an acceptable offering to God. Or in testimony of that communion which they had with God in these exercises of worship; salt being the great symbol of friendship in all nations is called, either, because it represented the perpetuity of God’s covenant with them, which is designed by salt, Numbers 18:19, 2 Chronicles 13:5. Or, because it was so particularly required as a condition of their covenant with God; this being made absolutely necessary in all their offerings; and as the neglect of sacrifices was a breach of covenant on their part, so also was the neglect of salt in their sacrifices.

Leviticus 6:24

First - fruits - Of thine own free - will; for there were other first - fruits, and that of several sorts, which were prescribed, and the time, quality, and proportion of them appointed by God.

Leviticus 6:26

Made by fire - The fire denotes that fervency of spirit, which ought to be in all our religious services. Holy love is the fire, by which all our offerings must be made: else they are not of a sweet savour to God.

Leviticus 6:28

A peace - offering - This was an offering for peace and prosperity, and the blessing of God, either, obtained, and so it was a thank - offering, or, desired; and so it was a kind of supplication to God. A female - Which were allowed here, tho’ not in burnt - offerings, because those principally respected the honour of God, who is to be served with the best; but the peace - offerings did primarily respect the benefit of the offerer, and therefore the choice was left to himself. Burnt - offerings had regard to God, as in himself the best of beings, and therefore were wholly burned. But peace - offerings had regard to God as a benefactor to his creatures, and therefore were divided between the altar, the priest, and the offerer.

Leviticus 6:29

At the door - Not on the north - side of the altar, where the burnt - offering was killed, as also the sin - offering, and the trespass - offering, but in the very entrance of the court where the brazen altar stood, which place was not so holy as the other; as appears both because it was more remote from the holy of holies, and because the ashes of the sacrifices were to be laid here. And the reason of this difference is not obscure, both because part of this sacrifice was to be waved by the hands of the offerer, Leviticus 7:30, who might not come into the court; and because this offering was not so holy as the others, which were to be eaten only by the priest, whereas part of these were eaten by the offerer.