Leviticus 6
Leviticus 6 continues by presenting specific laws related to sacrifices and restoration. The first part of the chapter (verses 1–7) deals with the guilt offering after wrongdoing against another person, including restitution and compensation. The remaining section (verses 8–30) explains the priests’ responsibilities in connection with the burnt offering, grain offering, sin offering, and other sacrificial procedures. This chapter values not only the way sin is addressed, but also the holiness of worship and the restoration of trust within the community.
1verseThe LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
2verse“If anyone sins, and commits a trespass against the LORD, and deals falsely with his neighbor in a matter of deposit, or of bargain, or of robbery, or has oppressed his neighbor,
3verseor has found that which was lost, and lied about it, and swearing to a lie—in any of these things that a man sins in his actions—
4versethen it shall be, if he has sinned, and is guilty, he shall restore that which he took by robbery, or the thing which he has gotten by oppression, or the deposit which was committed to him, or the lost thing which he found,
5verseor any thing about which he has sworn falsely: he shall restore it in full, and shall add a fifth part more to it. He shall return it to him to whom it belongs in the day of his being found guilty.
6verseHe shall bring his trespass offering to the LORD: a ram without defect from the flock, according to your estimation, for a trespass offering, to the priest.
7verseThe priest shall make atonement for him before the LORD, and he will be forgiven concerning whatever he does to become guilty.”
8verseThe LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
9verse“Command Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the law of the burnt offering: the burnt offering shall be on the hearth on the altar all night until the morning; and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning on it.
10verseThe priest shall put on his linen garment, and he shall put on his linen trousers upon his body; and he shall remove the ashes from where the fire has consumed the burnt offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar.
11verseHe shall take off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place.
12verseThe fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it, it shall not go out; and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning. He shall lay the burnt offering in order upon it, and shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings.
13verseFire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it shall not go out.
14verse“‘This is the law of the meal offering: the sons of Aaron shall offer it before the LORD, before the altar.
15verseHe shall take from there his handful of the fine flour of the meal offering, and of its oil, and all the frankincense which is on the meal offering, and shall burn it on the altar for a pleasant aroma, as its memorial portion, to the LORD.
16verseThat which is left of it Aaron and his sons shall eat. It shall be eaten without yeast in a holy place. They shall eat it in the court of the Tent of Meeting.
17verseIt shall not be baked with yeast. I have given it as their portion of my offerings made by fire. It is most holy, as are the sin offering and the trespass offering.
18verseEvery male among the children of Aaron shall eat of it, as their portion forever throughout your generations, from the offerings of the LORD made by fire. Whoever touches them shall be holy.’”
19verseThe LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
20verse“This is the offering of Aaron and of his sons, which they shall offer to the LORD in the day when he is anointed: one tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a meal offering perpetually, half of it in the morning, and half of it in the evening.
21verseIt shall be made with oil in a griddle. When it is soaked, you shall bring it in. You shall offer the meal offering in baked pieces for a pleasant aroma to the LORD.
22verseThe anointed priest that will be in his place from among his sons shall offer it. By a statute forever, it shall be wholly burned to the LORD.
23verseEvery meal offering of a priest shall be wholly burned. It shall not be eaten.”
24verseThe LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
25verse“Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, ‘This is the law of the sin offering: in the place where the burnt offering is killed, the sin offering shall be killed before the LORD. It is most holy.
26verseThe priest who offers it for sin shall eat it. It shall be eaten in a holy place, in the court of the Tent of Meeting.
27verseWhatever shall touch its flesh shall be holy. When there is any of its blood sprinkled on a garment, you shall wash that on which it was sprinkled in a holy place.
28verseBut the earthen vessel in which it is boiled shall be broken; and if it is boiled in a bronze vessel, it shall be scoured, and rinsed in water.
29verseEvery male among the priests shall eat of it. It is most holy.
30verseNo sin offering, of which any of the blood is brought into the Tent of Meeting to make atonement in the Holy Place, shall be eaten. It shall be burned with fire.
Summary of Key Content
- Guilt against others and restoration (verses 1–7): When a person deceives another, steals property, hides what was entrusted, or swears falsely, confession, restitution, additional compensation, and a guilt offering are required.
- Keeping the fire burning (verses 8–13): The priests are instructed to keep the fire on the altar of burnt offering burning continually. This symbolizes ongoing worship and the holiness of God’s presence.
- The grain offering and the priest’s portion (verses 14–23): The chapter explains how the grain offering is to be presented, where it is to be eaten, and which portions belong to the priests.
- Regulations for the sin offering (verses 24–30): The sin offering is to be slaughtered in the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered, and it is to be treated as most holy. The priestly portions are eaten in a holy place, while offerings whose blood is brought into the Tent of Meeting are burned.
Meditation Points
- Restoration and forgiveness: you can see that when harm and sin arise between God and people, or between people and people, it is not only about making a mere sacrifice, but also about practical restoration, responsibility, and restitution that must follow.
- Maintaining holiness that continues: just as there is a command to keep the fire of the offering from going out, it shows that holiness must be carried on in both daily life and faith.
- Community and trust: God’s law builds trust within a community, and it requires that sacrifices affect not just ceremonies, but all aspects of life.
Apply It to My Life
- Practical restoration: If there is wrongdoing in my life, check whether I go beyond simply seeking forgiveness and take real actions to take responsibility and restore what was harmed.
- Holiness to be kept: I reflect on whether, in the place of faith and in the place of everyday life entrusted to me, I am keeping holiness as if it is a fire that never goes out.
