Praise the Lord Jesus Christ, please study this chapter and then answer all 91 questions at the end of this chapter.

Leviticus Chapter 6

Verses 1-7: While all sins are against God (compare Psalm 51:4), some are direct (5:14-19), and others are indirect, involving people (6:1-7), as here. These violations are not exhaustive, but representative sample used to establish and illustrate the principle.

Leviticus 6:1 “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,”

Continuing his speech with him, for the same law of the trespass offering is still discoursed of, only with respect to different persons.

“Saying”: As follows.

We notice from this brief statement, that the LORD (JEHOVAH), was the one giving the instructions. Even though Moses wrote the book of Leviticus, he did not speak of himself as me in the above verse, because he did not want any doubt to arise, who this message was given to.

Leviticus 6:2 “If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbor in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbor;”

“And commit a trespass against the Lord”: It will be seen that the trespass against God is, strictly speaking, a violation of the rights of a neighbor’s property. As fraud and plunder are most subversive of social life, a crime of this sort is described as an insult to God, who is the founder and sovereign ruler of his people.

“In that which was delivered him to keep”: To deposit valuable property with a neighbor was, and still is, a common practice in the East where no responsible establishments exist for the reception of private treasure. Hence, when a man went on a journey, he concealed his precious things underground. This was connected with the danger of forgetting the spot where they were hidden, when search and digging had to be resorted to. This not only accounts for the fact that treasure is called in Hebrew by a name which denotes hidden, or things which men are in the habit of hiding underground, but explains such allusions as “hidden riches of secret places” (Isa. 45:3). “And searchest for her as for hid treasure” (Prov. 2:4). “Dig for it more than for hid treasure” (Job 3:21). To avoid this danger, men entrusted their treasure to the custody of a neighbor. It is to this practice which the text before us refers. And it is from this practice that the apostle took the expression when he declares, “I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” (2 Tim. 1:12; see also Lev. 6:14, 1 Tim. 6:20).

“Or in fellowship”: Literally, or in something that is placed in the hand. That is, put in his hand, a deposit. It is similar in nature to the trust mentioned in the preceding clause, for which reason it is not repeated in the general recapitulation of the offences in (Lev. 6:4-5).

“Or in a thing taken away in violence”: Having specified two cases of embezzlement in connection with things voluntarily handed over to the defrauder. Two other frauds are adduced, in which the offender possessed himself of his neighbor’s property by violence and extortion.

Leviticus 6:3 “Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein:”

Who having found anything lost, at once concludes it his own, and converts it to his own use, never inquiring after the proprietor of it, or taking any method to get knowledge of him, and restore it to him. But so far from that, being suspected of finding it, and charged with it denies it. Maimonides gives a reason why a lost thing should be restored, not only because so to do is a virtue in itself praiseworthy, but because it has a reciprocal utility. For if you do not restore another’s lost things, neither will your own be restored to you.

“And sweareth falsely”: Which is to be understood, not of the last case only, but of all the rest, or of anyone of them, as it follows.

“In any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein”: By unfaithfulness in a trust, cheating, defrauding, lying, and false swearing.

Leviticus 6:4 “Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found,”

These offences have to do with moral sins against one’s neighbor, or friend. These sins would not be ceremonial sins against God. Jesus reminded us of the seriousness of these trespasses in the following verses.

Matthew 5:23-24 “Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;” “Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.”

The thing that stands out clearly in these verses, is the need to make the offense right with the person you offended, before you come to offer in the tabernacle. Soul means a breathing creature. This is used so that there would be no question whether all would be subject. A female can trespass against her neighbor the same as a male. You can read a more detailed explanation (in Exodus chapter 22:7-13), on this subject. When teaching this lesson, turn there and read the explanation. These verses go into detail about the things that you are taking care of for someone else. We read a more detailed explanation of things we find, and what we are to do with them in the next 3 verses.

Deuteronomy 22:1-3 “Thou shalt not see thy brother’s ox or his sheep go astray, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt in any case bring them again unto thy brother.” “And if thy brother [be] not nigh unto thee, or if thou know him not, then thou shalt bring it unto thine own house, and it shall be with thee until thy brother seek after it, and thou shalt restore it to him again.” “In like manner shalt thou do with his ass; and so shalt thou do with his raiment; and with all lost thing of thy brother’s, which he hath lost, and thou hast found, shalt thou do likewise: thou mayest not hide thyself.”

We must see in this that anything thy brother has lost should be returned to him, even if it is a billfold full of money. Jesus taught that we are not to swear at all, but to swear a lie would be doubly serious. In all of this, we are to make amends to the person we offended, before God will accept the trespass offering. God will not overlook this trespass. We must go to the person offended and make it right, and then go to the tabernacle and offer our offering.

Leviticus 6:5 “Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, [and] give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering.”

In all of the above cases, in which he had committed a trespass and denied it, and to the denial adds a false oath, and yet after all acknowledges it.

“He shall even restore it in the principal”: Whatsoever he has embezzled, or cheated another of, or detained from the right owner, the whole of that was to be restored.

“And shall add the fifth part more thereto”: To the principal (see Lev. 5:16). But Maimonides says, this was an instruction to add a fifth to a fifth.

“And give it unto him to whom appertaineth”: As, to his neighbor, who had deposited anything in his hands. Or his partner, he had any ways wronged; or whomsoever he had defrauded in any respect; or the proprietor of lost goods.

“In the day of his trespass offering”: When he brings that, but restoration must first be made. The Targum of Jonathan renders it; in the day he repents of his sin. and so Aben Ezra interprets it, “in the day he returns from his trespass;” when he owns and confesses it, is sorry for it, and determines to do so no more. Maimonides observes, that one that takes away anything by violence (which is one of the cases supposed), is not fined so much as a thief. He only restores the principal. For the fifth part is for his false oath. The reasons of which are, because robbery is not so frequently, and is more easily committed, and is more open, and against which persons may guard and make resistance, and the robber is more known than a thief who steals secretly (see Exodus 22:1).

You can see here, that not only must the person repay, but must add 20% more for the trouble they caused their neighbor. After all this is done, then they can go to the tabernacle and make a trespass offering, to make this right with God.

Leviticus 6:6 “And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD, a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest:”

That is, to the tabernacle of the Lord, to the altar of the Lord in it, and to his priest ministering therein, as it follows.

“A ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering unto the priest”: The same offering that was ordered for a trespass through ignorance (Lev. 5:16). Typical of the sacrifice of Christ offered up both for sins of ignorance and willful transgressions. For his blood cleanses from all sin (see note on Lev. 5:16). The phrase “with thy estimation”, used there also (Lev. 5:16), is here interpreted by Ben Gersom of two shekels, the value the ram was to be of, brought for the trespass offering. The priest served as an appraiser to give appropriate value to the goods in question.

Leviticus 6:7 “And the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD: and it shall be forgiven him for any thing of all that he hath done in trespassing therein.”

By offering the ram he brought, by which a typical, but not real atonement was made. For the blood of bulls and goats, of sheep and rams, could not take away sin; but as they were types of Christ, and led to him, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.

“And it shall be forgiven him, for anything of all that he hath done, in trespassing therein”: Any and every one of the above sins, with all the aggravations of them, were forgiven, upon the atonement made. Though they were so enormous; and, indeed, all manner of sin is forgiven for Christ’s sake, except the sin against the Holy Ghost.

You can easily see how expensive this trespass can be. Not only would the person have to give 20% extra to the one he offended, but would be required to bring an offering to the tabernacle, also. It is much better and in fact, less expensive to just go ahead and do the right thing at first and not have to do all of this. The best promise in all of this is, it shall be forgiven him. This reminds me of people who cheat on their income tax. When you are caught, you have to pay a penalty above the tax owed. Why not just do right at first and save all the hassle? We will jump away from this train of thought now and get into the law of the offerings.

Verses 6:8 – 7:38: These were laws of sacrifice for the priesthood. (Leviticus 1:1 – 6:7), has dealt with 5 major offerings from the worshiper’s perspective. Here instructions for the priest are given, with special attention to the priests’ portion of the sacrifice.

Leviticus 6:8 “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,”

Here begins a new subject, and if our Bibles were rightly divided, it ought to begin a new chapter. As in Junius and Tremellius, who join the first seven verses of this chapter to the former. Indeed, according to the Jewish division, the twenty-fifth section of the law begins here.

It seems that every time we begin a new thing, Moses reminds us that God gave him these rules for the people. These laws are divine in nature. Every one of them served a purpose. At the time these laws were given, Israel did not have a king. God was their King.

Leviticus 6:9 “Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This [is] the law of the burnt offering: It [is] the burnt offering, because of the burning upon the altar all night unto the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it.”

“Upon the altar all night”: This resulted in the complete incineration of the sacrifice, picturing it as totally given to the Lord, with the smoke arising as a sweet aroma to Him (1:7, 13, 17).

The very first thing that we must see in this, is the fact that this was not just a suggestion of what they might do, but was a commandment of God. On the burnt offering, they were not to let the fire go out at all, but were to keep it burning until the offering was completely burned up. Aaron and his sons were to wear their linen garments while this offering was being made. This was a very holy offering, and they were to be attired properly while it burned. If you need to read again about the lamb being offered every evening, it can be found (in Exodus 29:38 on). Remember, the burnt offering was to be totally burned up, except for the hide which was given to the priest. Remember also, the burnt offering showed that the individual had turned themselves over completely to God. My favorite saying that says the same thing is: Make Jesus Christ your Lord and not just your Savior. Total commitment to God is all He will settle for. He does not want 50% of you, He wants all of you.

Leviticus 6:10 “And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh, and take up the ashes which the fire hath consumed with the burnt offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar.”

A garment that was just the measure of his body, and exactly fitted it. It was a sort of a shirt, which he wore next his body, and reached down to his feet. And in this he always officiated, and was an emblem of the purity and holiness of Christ our high priest. Who was without sin, and so a fit person to take away the sin of others, by offering up himself without spot to God.

“And his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh”: To cover his nakedness; that indecency might be prevented, and that he might not be exposed to ridicule. And though these two garments are only mentioned, yet the wise men say the word “put on”, includes the bonnet and the girdle. For the removing of the ashes from the altar, which is the thing he was to be thus clothed to do, was done in the four garments, though the Scripture mentions but two.

“And take up the ashes which the fire hath consumed, with the burnt offering on the altar”: This was the first thing the priests did in a morning, and which in later times they cast lots for, and the first lot was for this service, and which was performed very early.

“And he shall put them beside the altar”: At the corner of the altar, as Aben Ezra, on the east side of it. So says Jarchi, the priest takes a full censer of the innermost consumptions (that is, of the innermost parts of the sacrifice reduced to ashes), and puts them in the east of the rise of the altar.

Notice the linen garment. To handle the things of God, the priest should be free from sin. The linen garment indicates freedom from sin. This linen garment was not worn outside the tabernacle. The linen garment was not to be contaminated with the world. We have discussed it before, but the plain linen garment was worn when the priest was representing the people to God. The fancy garment with the jewels on the breastplate was worn when the high priest was representing God to the people. No flesh at all was to be showing on the priest, and that is why the linen breeches were worn.

Leviticus 6:11 “And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place.”

Those before mentioned, he is said to put on.

“And put on other garments”: Not common garments or lay-habits, but what the priests wore when they were not on duty.

“And carry forth the ashes”: When these, gathered on a heap, had become large, as Jarchi says, and there was no room for the pile of wood, they carried them out from there. And this, he observes, was not obligatory every day. but the taking of them up, as in the preceding verse (Lev. 6:10), they were bound to every day. And these they carried:

“Without the camp, unto a clean place”: For though they were ashes, yet being ashes of holy things were not to be laid in an unclean place. Or where unclean things were. As the burnt offering was a type of Christ in his sufferings and death, enduring the fire of divine wrath in the room and stead of his people. So the carrying forth the ashes of the burnt offering, and laying them in a clean place, may denote the burial of the body of Christ without the city of Jerusalem. Wrapped in a clean linen cloth and laid in a new tomb, wherein no man had been laid (Matt. 27:59).

The priest is to never wear the ceremonial clothes outside the tabernacle. He would change his clothes to street clothes before he left the tabernacle. The ashes would be carried without the camp. This burnt offering had been totally consumed, and the remains carried out of the camp. Jesus paid it all outside the city wall for us.

Leviticus 6:12 “And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings.”

There were three fires, or piles of wood for fire continually. The first was a large one, on which the daily sacrifice was burnt. The second less, and called the pile of the incense, because they took from it fire in a censer to burn the morning and evening incense. And the third was only for preserving the fire that it might not go out.

“And the priest shall burn wood in it every morning”: Until the fourth hour of the day, according to the Targum of Jonathan. That is, unto ten o’clock in the morning.

“And lay the burnt offering in order upon it”: Both morning and evening, and as often as any sacrifices of that kind were offered up.

“And he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings”: That which was upon the inwards and covered them, and upon the kidneys, and flanks, and caul of the liver (see Lev. 3:3-4).

This altar was to have wood on it burning continuously, because there would be an offering on the wood every morning and every night. Each time before the offering was to be made, the priest laid fresh wood sufficient to burn the entire animal.

Leviticus 6:13 “The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.”

“Ever be burning”: The perpetual flame indicated a continuous readiness on the part of God to receive confession and restitution through the sacrifice.

This fire was to burn continuously. It was never to go out. God wants us to worship Him forever after, when we once commit our lives to Him. We must not let our fire go out either. The walk with God must be a daily walk. In fact, it must be a never ending walk. The best way to stay in right standing with God, is to go to Him in prayer at least 2 times a day. Christianity is a walk through life with Jesus.

Verses 14-18: The priests were to display reverence in eating what was left over of the “meat offering”, doing so in a “holy place” (the tabernacle “court”) with “unleavened bread” (1 Cor. 9:13).

Leviticus 6:14 “And this [is] the law of the meat offering: the sons of Aaron shall offer it before the LORD, before the altar.”

Or the rules to be observed concerning that, for which, though directions are given (Lev. 2:1). Yet is here repeated with some additions to it.

“The sons of Aaron shall offer it before the Lord”: Being brought unto them by the children of Israel.

“Before the altar”: Or at the face of it, for what was properly offered was burnt upon it, as in the following verse (Lev. 6:15). For it should be rather rendered “in”, or “on the altar”; the face of it is the top of it, on which every sacrifice was offered, and not before it.

A great portion of the grain offered in the meat offering is consumed by Aaron and his sons who are priests. Just a small portion of the grain is offered to be burned. One very important thing about this grain offered, is that it must not have leaven mixed with it. We discussed in a previous lesson how this actually foreshadowed the body of Christ and must be kept without sin (leaven). Jesus Christ, the Bread of life, was holy. Those who eat this bread take on the righteousness of Christ. They take on His righteousness.

Leviticus 6:15 “And he shall take of it his handful, of the flour of the meat offering, and of the oil thereof, and all the frankincense which [is] upon the meat offering, and shall burn [it] upon the altar [for] a sweet savor, [even] the memorial of it, unto the LORD.”

“Handful” (see note on 2:2).

The memorial here, is a remembrance of what God has done for them. We will see in the following Scripture what Jesus had to say about this bread.

Luke 22:19 “And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake [it], and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.”

In the instance of this flour, oil, and frankincense, we would not be able to get a clear picture by just looking at these 3 elements without looking at the One they foreshadow. Jesus’ life on this earth was a sweet savor to the Father. As we said in a previous lesson, somehow the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross glorified the Father. We do not now understand all of this, but all of this is a beautiful shadow of what Jesus did for you and me. Oil, as we have said so many times, indicates the Holy Spirit. The frankincense always accompanied the meat offering into the tabernacle. The frankincense at Jesus’ birth, recognized Him as the meat sacrifice. Remember, the gold recognized Him as God, the frankincense recognized Him as the meat sacrifice, and myrrh recognized Him as the groom of the bride of Christ. Read more on this in the gospels.

Verses 16-18: Unlike the burnt offering, the meat offering provided food for the priests and their male children, i.e., future priests.

Leviticus 6:16 “And the remainder thereof shall Aaron and his sons eat: with unleavened bread shall it be eaten in the holy place; in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation they shall eat it.”

“In the holy place”: This was to be eaten only in the courtyard of the tabernacle.

This also is a repetition of a former lesson, but God thought it important enough to mention twice, so we must too. This bread that they are to eat symbolizes the Word (Bible). Remember, Aaron in this particular situation symbolizes the preacher, and the sons symbolize the believers in Christ. This then is telling us to read our Bible. He emphasizes over and over again, that we are to keep leaven (sin), out of our life. Notice also, that the Word is to be consumed in the tabernacle (church). So many churches have forgotten why we come to church. Church should be a place where the Word of God is consumed, not a playground for all sorts of worldliness.

Leviticus 6:17 “It shall not be baked with leaven. I have given it [unto them for] their portion of my offerings made by fire; it [is] most holy, as [is] the sin offering, and as the trespass offering.”

Which, as it was a type of Christ, may denote his sincerity both in doctrine, life, and conversation. And as it may respect the offeror, may signify his uprightness and integrity, and his being devoid of hypocrisy and insincerity.

“I have given it unto thee for their portion of my offerings made by fire”: This was part of the provision made for the maintenance of the priests, as it was but just that they that ministered at the altar should live of it. And the rather, as the priests and Levites had no portion and inheritance in the land of Israel. And therefore, must be supported in another way, which the Lord took care of.

“It is most holy, as the sin offering, and as the trespass offering”: As they, so this being devoted to sacred uses, what were not consumed upon the altar belonged to the priests, and were their perquisites, nor might they be appropriated to the use of any other.

We see from this, that this offering had a portion going to the priest. All of these offerings are most holy as they represent the sacrifice Jesus made for us. Not only the offering would be holy, but all who put this in their body would be made holy by the Bread.

Leviticus 6:18 “All the males among the children of Aaron shall eat of it. [It shall be] a statute for ever in your generations concerning the offerings of the LORD made by fire: every one that toucheth them shall be holy.”

And they only, for none but they might eat in the Holy Place, and therefore these holy things that were to be eaten there, were only eaten by them. What might be eaten by the priests in their own houses, their wives and daughters ate of, but in the Holy Place only their males, and a male was one that was thirteen years of age.

John 6:27 “It shall be a statute for ever in your generations, concerning the offerings of the Lord made by fire. “A statute to last till the Messiah should come, the true meat or bread offering; and the bread he gave was his flesh. And he that eats of it shall not die, but live for ever.

“Everyone that toucheth them shall be holy”: Signifying, that no one ought to touch them but a holy person, one devoted to holy services, the priests and their sons; or “whatsoever” toucheth them. The dishes they eat those offerings out of, or the knives they cut them with, were not to be used for anything else.

This seems to be a difficult statement, but Aaron and his sons (the priests), were in the temple. This bread was not to be taken out of the temple. This bread was actually for the high priest and for his sons the priests. Not only does Aaron represent the minister in the church, but in the greater sense, he represents Christ. The priests, in the same sense, would represent all Christians. The symbolism we must see in this, is that the Bible (Word), Bread was furnished by Christ, and was for the minister of the church (who Aaron represents). And the believers in Christ (who Aaron’s sons represent). Worldly people can read the Bible every day and not be able to understand. The Bible is written for believers. The Holy Spirit helps us understand.

Verses 19-23: The priests were worshipers too and were not exempt from sacrifice. Their own “daily meat offering” was to be “wholly burnt”, unlike the meat offering of the people.

Aaron, as High-Priest, was to make a daily meat offering at morning and night on behalf of his priestly family.

Leviticus 6:19 “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,”

The new law, which is here introduced with this special formula (see Lev. 6:8), gives directions about the meat offering which the high priest is to bring on his consecration to the pontifical office (Lev. 6:19-23). It naturally follows the sacrificial instructions given for the priests in the preceding section.

Moses put this in again, to leave no doubt where these instructions came from.

Leviticus 6:20 “This [is] the offering of Aaron and of his sons, which they shall offer unto the LORD in the day when he is anointed; the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a meat offering perpetual, half of it in the morning, and half thereof at night.”

That is, of such of them as succeeded him in the high priesthood, as appears from (Lev. 6:22). So Aben Ezra, of him, or of one of his sons in his room. Though some think the common priests offered the following oblation at the time of their initiation into their office, though they were not anointed as the high priest was, nor obliged as he to continue the offering daily.

“Which they shall offer unto the Lord in the day when he is anointed”: When he, or any of his sons in his stead, were anointed, for as yet he himself was not (see Lev. 8:2). Some, as Aben Ezra observes, think that “in”, is instead of “from”, and that the sense is, that Aaron, or his successor, and every of them, were to offer the following offering perpetually from the time of their being anointed. And put into the office of the high priest, and which certainly was the case, as appears by what follows:

“The tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a meat offering perpetual”: Which was an omer, and as much as a man could eat in one day. And this the high priest offered every day, as long as he lived, or was in his office. And that at his own expense, as Josephus says, not altogether, but in the following manner.

“Half of it in the morning, and half of it at night”: So that this constantly returned as the morning and evening sacrifices did, and followed them. Jarchi says of this, that it was the common meat offering at the consecration of a priest, but the high priest offered it every day. And it appears from the Misnic writers that this meat offering consisted of twelve cakes, the same number as those of the showbread. The same phrase, a “perpetual statute”, being used of one as the other. And six of these were offered in the morning, and six at evening. And this as the daily sacrifice had the same mystical meaning, and respected the continual efficacy of the sacrifice of Christ.

The part that was to be burned for an offering to God was one tenth, or a tithe. Half of it would be burned at the morning sacrifice and half at the evening sacrifice. Aaron and his sons were the only ones anointed to help with the things of God. We need to touch on the sons of Aaron a little more here. All believers in Christ are sons of the Father.

1 John 3:1-2 “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”

The “we” above include all believers’ male and female, just as all believers in Christ are the bride of Christ (male and female). The followers of God in the Old Testament were only servants of God. Under the New covenant with Jesus, we are God’s sons. I will quote just 2 more Scriptures which make our Sonship perfectly clear. God the Father has a name that only His children can call Him, the world dare not call Him by this name. The name Abba is reserved for just His children to call Him.

Romans 8:15 “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”

Galatians 4:6 “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.”

Leviticus 6:21 “In a pan it shall be made with oil; [and when it is] baked, thou shalt bring it in: [and] the baked pieces of the meat offering shalt thou offer [for] a sweet savor unto the LORD.”

With oil olive, as the Targum of Jonathan. The pan in which it was made was a vessel that had no covering, nor hollow in the middle, nor any lip or edge. But was a plane, and extended, and the dough made on it was hard and stiff, that it might not run off. In the temple was a chamber of those that made the cakes, where, as Bartenora observes, was prepared the meat offering. Which the high priest offered, one half in the morning, and the other half in the evening.

“And when it is baked, thou shalt bring it in”: Not thoroughly baked, but very little, as says Josephus. Hastily, so that it swells, and rises up in bubbles. Jarchi says, the flour was first mixed in hot water, and after that it was baked in an oven, and then fried in a pan.

“And the baked pieces of the meat offering shalt thou offer for a sweet savor unto the Lord”: Or the meat offering cut in pieces shalt thou offer, as both the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem. The twelve cakes were broken each into two, and twelve halves were offered in the morning, and twelve at evening. The manner in which it was done was, the priest divided every cake into two by measure, so that he might offer half in the morning, and half in the evening. And he took the halves and doubled every one of them into two, and broke them, until he found every broken piece doubled into two. And he offered the halves with half the handful of frankincense in the morning, and in like manner in the evening. This may have respect to the body of Christ being broken for us, whereby he became fit food for faith, and an offering of a sweet smelling savor to God.

We can easily see from this that this offering to God was of the bread baked in the oven.

Verses 22-23: “The priest … anointed in his stead”: The High-Priests who succeed Aaron are in view here.

“Wholly burnt”: The priests’ offering was to be given completely, with nothing left over.

Leviticus 6:22 “And the priest of his sons that is anointed in his stead shall offer it: [it is] a statute for ever unto the LORD; it shall be wholly burnt.”

The successor of the high priest.

“It is a statute for ever unto the Lord”: Which he by an everlasting statute appointed to be offered to him by every high priest, until the Messiah should come.

“It shall be wholly burnt”: Of a common meat offering only a handful was burnt, and the rest was the priest’s (see Lev. 6:15).

We must see in all of this that God has always, and will always have a provision for mankind where they can come to God. God’s provision never stops. Jesus fulfilled every one of these offerings and sacrifices for the believers, and opened the way to the Father for us, when He sacrificed His body on the cross. Aaron’s son here, is a specific son who has been anointed to take Aaron’s place, as high priest after Aaron.

Leviticus 6:23 “For every meat offering for the priest shall be wholly burnt: it shall not be eaten.”

Wherefore the priest that offered this for the high priest got nothing by it: he served him free gratis.

“It shall not be eaten”: Neither by himself, nor any other priest. The priests by eating the offerings of the people bore their iniquities, and made atonement for them (Lev. 10:17). But the priests might not eat their own sacrifices, to show that they could not bear their own sins, and make atonement for them. And this proves the insufficiency of the legal sacrifices, and the need there was for one to arise of another order to take away sin. And it is thought by some to be typical of the active obedience of Christ. Every day yielded to the law and will of God, and is perfect, as the word here signifies, and to be distinguished from “a burnt offering”.

This is when the priest is offering for himself. It would not be right for the priest to share in the offering, if it is one he has made for himself. In all of this, it seems to be pointing to the fact that the grace of God is so much better than the keeping of the law. It screams out that God has always wanted to fellowship with man. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, we can come boldly to the throne of God. Jesus gave us power of attorney to use His name. In fact, He made us joint heirs with Himself.

Romans 8:17 “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together.”

These last few verses (in chapter 6), have to do with the sin offering. Let us just look into this, even before we start the verses. We know that Jesus Christ was the sin offering for all believers. We also know that He took our sin upon His body, that we might receive His righteousness. The sin offering was for sins that had been committed against God Himself. A sin of this nature would be much more serious than some of the lesser offenses we have been studying. I have said it before, but it is very important for us as Christians to see Jesus in this sin offering.

It is a very serious thing to decide to believe in Jesus and decide to live and work for Him the rest of your life. Before we decide to do such a thing, we must count the cost. Lot’s wife lost her life, after she had been saved from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, by looking back. I will show you just one Scripture here that tells us the seriousness of looking back, after we have begun with God.

Luke 9:62 “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

We are warned in another Scripture to count the cost before we begin.

Luke 14:27- “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have [sufficient] to finish [it]?”

Luke 14:33 “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.”

Whatever job God has called you to do, and you have accepted the call, you must continue to do until God says stop.

We have been speaking of the high priest and his sons, the priests, in these lessons. God has made those He called (the Christians), to be priests. I will give you 2 examples of Scriptures where the believers in Christ are called priests.

Revelation 1:6 “And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

Revelation 5:10 “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”

Notice that kings and priests are not capitalized here. In the next Scripture, you will see that Jesus becomes the King, and we are His subordinate kings.

Revelation 17:14 “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him [are] called, and chosen, and faithful.”

We are priests in the sight of God, if we are believers. We notice in all of this, that this offering must be eaten in the sanctuary. This means, to me, that the things of God are not to be mixed with the things of the world. We have our life, our very being, hidden in Him. He is our life.

Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

The things dedicated to God are holy and must not be contaminated by things of the world. Worldliness has no place in the church. We are to be holy for God is holy.

Verses 24-30: “All the males among the priests shall eat thereof” suggests that in some instances, members of the priests’ families would eat the sacrifices too; although in this case, the priest alone was commanded to eat his portion.

“The sin offering” (see notes on 4:1 – 5:13).

Leviticus 6:24 “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,”

As is indicated by the special formula, this introduces a new law, or rather a more expanded law than the one contained (in Leviticus 4:1-5), giving more precise directions to the priests about the sin offering of the laity (Lev. 6:24-30).

A new thought begins here, and Moses wants it clearly understood that this message is from God. LORD here of course, is Jehovah.

Leviticus 6:25 “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 the LORD: it [is] most holy.”

Or the rules to be observed concerning that, besides what had been already delivered in (Lev. 4:1).

“In the place where the burnt offering is killed shall the sin offering be killed before the Lord”: And that was on the north side of the altar (see Lev. 1:11; see notes on 1:3-17). And so Aben Ezra and Ben Gersom observe, that the place of slaying every sin offering was the north. And some have observed that Mount Calvary, where our Lord was crucified, lay pretty much to the north of Jerusalem (see Psalm 48:2).

“It is most holy”: Sacred to the Lord, offered up to him, and accepted by him, and typical of the most pure and holy sacrifice of Christ. Who was made sin, and an offering for sin, in the place of his people. “Most holy” (see note on 2:3).

The location seems to be important here. This animal will be killed just inside the door of the tabernacle. Jesus is the door that we enter to come to fellowship with God. Jesus also, is this offering. The altar spoken of here is the bronze altar of judgment. We have all been judged guilty of sin and worthy of death before we come to Jesus Christ our Savior. Remember again, that the person bringing the animal places their hand upon the animal’s head to transfer the guilt of sin on the animal. The animal’s blood is then shed to pay the penalty for sin. Blood is the only payment acceptable unto God. This animal becomes the substitute for this person who has sinned, just as Jesus became our substitute. The sin was paid in full by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Our offering (Jesus Christ), was most holy. He took our sin that we might become holy in the sight of God.

Leviticus 6:26 “The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in the holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation.”

“Priest … eat”: The priest putting the offering on the brazen altar could use it for food, if the sacrifice was for a ruler (4:22-26), or the people (4:27-35).

We have dealt with this before, but I would like to show you one Scripture here.

John 6:53 “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.”

Verses 27-28: Instructions on the cleanness of the priest’s garments as they relate to blood.

Leviticus 6:27 “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 the holy place.”

None but holy persons, such as were devoted to holy services, even the priests and their sons, might touch and eat of the flesh of the sin offering. All that did so were sacred persons. And even what were used in eating it, dishes and knives, were to be put to no other use, not to any common service, or for anything but holy things. Which was done to keep up a veneration for the sacrifices. And especially for the great sacrifice they typified, the sacrifice of Christ, whose flesh is meat indeed. And whoever eats of that by faith dwells in Christ, and Christ dwells in him (John 6:55).

“And when there is sprinkled of the blood thereof upon any garment; the garment of the priest that slays and offers it.

“Thou shalt wash that whereon it was sprinkled in the holy place”: It was not to be carried out of the tabernacle, and washed elsewhere, but in the sanctuary. Either at the laver, where the priests washed their hands and feet, or in some room in the court for that purpose. This was done to preserve an esteem and value for the blood of the sacrifice, as typical of the precious blood of Christ.

It appears that sometimes the priest, in the preparation of the offering, would accidently drop some blood on the garment. He was to wash the garment inside the holy place. The garment was holy, because it had come into contact with the offering. Notice also, that the priests and the high priest were holy. They were not to get involved with worldly things. They were to be separated unto God.

2 Corinthians 6:17 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you,”

Christians, you cannot have one foot in the world and the other foot in heaven. You must choose between the world and God.

Leviticus 6:28 “But the earthen vessel wherein it is sodden shall be broken: and if it be sodden in a brasen pot, it shall be both scoured, and rinsed in water.”

That being porous, the liquor in which the sin offering was boiled might soak into it, and the smell of it be retained, and therefore, as such vessels were not very costly, they were ordered to be broken. But where the broken pieces were carried and laid, the Jewish writers are at a loss about. For, those vessels which had served for holy uses, should be laid in an open public place and exposed, they thought was indecent. And as there might be in a course of time great quantities broken, so it would look very disagreeable and unseemly to have them lie in heaps in the sanctuary. They therefore have framed a miracle, and conceit that they were swallowed up in the ground where they were laid.

“And if it be sodden in a brazen it shall be both scoured and rinsed in water”: Brass, being more valuable, must not be destroyed. And besides the liquor could not soak into that, and whatever scent it retained was easily and soon removed by scouring and rinsing. The former was with hot water, and the latter with cold, as Ben Gersom affirms.

This is a beautiful example of how things, or people dedicated to God, must not participate in worldly things. In an earthen vessel, it would be impossible to keep the things out of the pores of the vessel, so God said break them to keep them from being contaminated. In the case of the bronze pot, it could be scraped and cleaned so that it would not mix things used in it.

Leviticus 6:29 “All the males among the priests shall eat thereof: it [is] most holy.”

As of the meat offerings (Lev. 6:18), and this shows that not the single priest that offered only ate of it (Lev. 6:26). But his male children, and not those only, but those of other priests then upon duty, or in the court.

“It is most holy (see notes on Lev. 6:25).

We dealt with this before, but so no one can say they did not know, we will go through it again. The priests were symbolic of all believers in Christ (both male and female). All believers in Christ are spoken of as sons of God, just as all believers both male and female are the bride of Christ. You might say, well how can this be? With God there is no male and female. The only time we will have a gender is for our stay on this earth in the flesh. We are male and female on the earth to procreate life with God. We are spirit beings with a different kind of body than we had here on the earth. First I will give the Scripture that says with God there is no male or female.

Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Now let me give you the Scriptures that say we will have a different kind of body in heaven.

1 Corinthians 15:42-45 “So also [is] the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:” “It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:” “It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.” “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam [was made] a quickening spirit.”

Leviticus 6:30 “And no sin offering, whereof [any] of the blood is brought into the tabernacle of the congregation to reconcile [withal] in the holy [place], shall be eaten: it shall be burnt in the fire.”

“No sin offering … eaten”: Those sacrifices made on behalf of a priest (4:3-12), or the congregation (4:13-21), could be eaten.

We dealt with this fully, when we looked at the sin offering. We remember that for this particular offering, the offering was burned up except for the hide. The hide was given to the priest.

Leviticus 6: Questions