Leviticus 6

Leviticus 6:1

E. The Trespass Offering (5:146:7)The trespass offering (Heb., ’e3she3m) is taken up in 5:146:7. The distinctive feature of this offering is that restitution had to be made for the sin committed before the offering was presented (Lev_5:16). There were several types of sin for which an offering had to be made. Trespass against God: Withholding from the Lord that which rightly belonged to Himtithes and offerings, consecration of firstfruits or of the firstborn, etc. (Lev_5:14). Unwittingly committing some act forbidden by the Lord (Lev_5:17), and presumably an act that required restitution. “In cases where it was not possible to know whether another had been wronged, the scrupulously devout Israelite would still offer a guilt offering by itself” (Daily Notes of the Scripture Union). Trespass against man: Dealing falsely with one’s neighbor in a matter of deposit or bargain or robbery or oppression (6:2). Finding a lost article and swearing to a lie about it (6:3). A trespass offering was also required in the case of immorality with a slave girl who was engaged (Lev_19:20-22), the cleansing of a leper (Lev_14:10-14), and the defilement of a Nazirite (Num_6:6-12). The offering itself: A ram without blemish (Lev_5:15, Lev_5:18; 6:6) or a male lamb in the case of a leper (Lev_14:12) or a Nazirite (Num_6:12). Duties of the offerer: In the case of a trespass against God, he first brought the restitution to the priest, with twenty percent added. Then he brought the animal to the priest at the entrance to the tabernacle court, presented it to the Lord, placed his hand on its head, and killed it. He also removed the fat, fat tail, kidneys, and fatty lobe above the liver. The procedure was the same in the case of a trespass against a neighbor. In both instances, the offerer had to pay the twenty percent penalty, reminding him that sin is unprofitable and costly. Duties of the priest: He sprinkled the blood around the brazen altar (Lev_7:2); he then burned the fat, the fat tail (rump), the kidneys, and the fatty lobe above the liver on the altar (Lev_7:3-4). Distribution of the offering: The Lord’s portion was that which was burned on the altar (Lev_7:5). The officiating priest received the skin of the ram (Lev_7:8). All the priests shared the meat of the animal as food (Lev_7:6). The offerer had no part in the sin or trespass offerings. As has been mentioned, the person bringing a trespass offering was seeking to make amends for some action of his that had caused loss or damage to someone else. Symbolically, the trespass offering points to that aspect of the work of Christ by which He restored that which He took not away (Psa_69:4 b). Through man’s sin, God was robbed of service, worship, obedience, and glory. And man himself was robbed of life, peace, gladness, and fellowship with God. As our trespass offering, the Lord Jesus not only restored what had been stolen through man’s sin, but He added more. For God has received more glory through the finished work of Christ than if sin had never entered the world. And we are better off in Christ than we ever could have been in unfallen Adam. Aside He threw His most divine array, And veiled His Godhead in a robe of clay; And in that garb did wondrous love display, Restoring what He never took away. Author unknown

Leviticus 6:8

II. LAWS OF THE OFFERINGS (6:87:38)The section from 6:8 to 7:38 presents “the law of the offerings.” In many ways, it is very similar to what has gone before. However, it is addressed to the priests whereas the previous instructions were for the children of Israel (Lev_1:2). 6:8-13 The law of the burnt offering: Additional details are given here concerning the garments worn by the priest, the manner in which he disposed of the ashes from the burnt offering, and the care he must exercise to see that the fire on the altar never went out. The ashes were first placed at the east side of the altar, and then carried outside the camp to a clean place. 6:14-17 The law of the grain offering: Here we learn that the priests had to eat their portion of the offering within the court of the tabernacle, and that it was not to be leavened because it was most holy to the Lord. 6:18 Any male children of Aaron could eat the grain offering, but they must be holy, that is, ceremonially clean. These priests did not become holy by touching the offerings. Holiness was not imparted by touch, but defilement was (Hag_2:11-13). 6:19-23 These verses describe a special grain offering which the high priest had to offer morning and evening continually. It was wholly burned by fire. 6:24-30 The law of the sin offering: As explained previously, the priest was allowed to eat portions of certain sin offerings (those described in Leviticus 4:225:13, where the blood was not carried into the sanctuary). The offerings had to be eaten . . . in the court of the tabernacle. Notice that this offering was most holy. If a layman touched the flesh of the offering, he must be holy or consecrated and had to cleanse himself from ceremonial defilement just as the priests did, though he could not exercise priestly functions. If any of the blood was sprinkled on a garment, the garment had to be washednot because it was unclean but so that the most holy blood might not be carried out of the sanctuary into everyday life, and thus be profaned. An earthen vessel used to cook the meat of the sin offering had to be broken because the earthenware, being porous, absorbed some of the blood and might later be used for profane purposes.

A bronze pot had to be both scoured and rinsed in water to prevent any portion of the most holy sin offering from ever coming in contact with anything that was common or unclean. The sin offering, like the guilt offering, was to be slain in the place where the burnt offering is killed. This was the north side of the altar (Lev_1:11), the place of shadows.