Leviticus 5-6

CHAPTER 5:
          Verses 1-4: The topic of the sin offering is continued in verses 1-13. These first four verses give some examples of sins that require this blood sacrifice are described as follows: failure to testify as a witness to another’s oath (v.1) (Proverbs 29:24, Jeremiah 23:10); accidentally touching any unclean thing such as an animal carcass (v.2) (Leviticus 11:24, 28, 31, 39, Numbers 19:11, Deuteronomy 14:8) or a corpse (v.3); or impulsively making a vow, which is something that should never be done lightly or rashly (v.4). (1 Samuel 25:22, Matthew 5:33, Mark 6:23, James 5:12, Acts 23:12) The Holman Bible Commentary sums up these verses as thus: “The four cases involve those who failed to testify in court (v. 1); those who became unclean through contact with an unclean animal (v. 2) or an unclean person (v. 3); and those who uttered an oath rashly (v. 4). The first and fourth of these cases of sin pertained to an oath, and the second and third cases regarded ceremonial uncleanness. One suggestion for why these four cases are treated as a separate category is that the person remained in his guilt for a prolonged time before he confessed.”
 
            Verses 5-13: The sin offering is also called a trespass offering. (v.6) As mentioned in chapter 4, the sinner is required to bring a female lamb or young goat. But if he is not able to afford either of those, he may bring a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. (v.7) (Leviticus 1:14) One is for the sin offering, the other for a burnt offering. The burnt offering, remember, signifies total devotion and surrender to God. It’s not clear from the text, however, why only the birds represent both categories of blood sacrifice, whereas the lamb and goat fulfill only the sin offering. Or perhaps the animal from the herd or the livestock does, in fact, represent both categories of offering?
            As noted in earlier chapters, God makes provision for even the poorest of His children. If one cannot afford even two birds he may bring to the priest “…the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering…”. (v.11) However, unlike the grain offering which signifies fellowship and thankfulness by the addition of oil and frankincense, only the flour is used for the sin offering. Remorse for sin is not the same as gratitude and fellowship. The Moody Bible Commentary makes this important note: “It may be objected that this was not a blood sacrifice and therefore conclude that God did not require a blood sacrifice for sin in every case. Yet the priest was to take the flour and ‘…burn it on the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the Lord…’ (v.12), thereby uniting the flour to previous animal sacrifices. Thus, the grain offering became part of a blood offering.”
            As with previous offerings, the priest is allowed a portion of the sin offering for his own sustenance. (v.13) (Leviticus 2:3, 6:17, 26) Additionally, this demonstrates to the repentant sinner that God has accepted his sin offering and forgiven his sin.
 
            Verses 14-19: These verses deal with the sin, or trespass, that inadvertently results in a failure to treat the things of the Lord as holy. (v.15) This refers to the property of the tabernacle. One of the definitions of sin is that which defrauds God by robbing Him of anything that is rightfully due Him. One example of this is idolatry. God is the only true and living God and He deserves all our worship and praise. But when we turn that worship and adoration to something other than God, we are robbing God of His rightful worship and glory. When that happens, the repentant sinner must make reparations to God, hence the purpose of the trespass offering as described in these last 6 verses of chapter 5 as well as the first 7 verses of chapter 6.
            The required animal is a ram (Ezra 10:19), spotless and perfect, worth a certain number of “…shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary…”. (v.15) (Exodus 30:13, Leviticus 27:25) An additional penalty of one fifth of the value of whatever holy things of God are violated is also required of the sinner. (v.16) The last 3 verses emphasize that all sin – even that which is committed in ignorance – is still sin in the eyes of God. The sinner is still guilty even though he’s not consciously aware of his sin at first  “…and shall bear his iniquity…” (v.17), hence the reason for the trespass offering. (v.18) “…he hath certainly trespassed against the Lord.” (v.19) (Ezra 10:2)

CHAPTER 6:
          Verses 1-7: These first few verses concern the sins of deliberate deception with regards to one’s neighbor. Lying to one’s neighbor violates the ninth commandment. (Exodus 20:16) Verses 2 and 3 revisit the scenarios described in Exodus 22:7, 10 and 23:4. (Deuteronomy 22:1) God is a God of truth, and all manner of deception – particularly lying when under oath in a court of law – is abhorrent to Him. (Exodus 22:11, Leviticus 19:12, Jeremiah 7:9, Zechariah 5:4) Not only is the deceiver required to pay back full restitution but an additional one fifth penalty as well. The reparations are to be made the same day as the trespass offering. (v.4-5) (Leviticus 5:16, 24:18, Numbers 5:7-8, 2 Samuel 12:6) (Genesis 9:6 and Leviticus 24:21 also make it clear that if it’s the life of another man or woman that is taken, then the murderer shall repay with his own life.)
 
           The remainder of this chapter, as well as all of chapter 7, goes back over each of the five types of sacrifices and offerings, giving further instruction for the priests.
 
          Verses 8-13: The law of the burnt offering. (Exodus 29:38, Numbers 28:3) The fire on the brazen altar in the courtyard is to be kept burning continually. (v.9, 12-13) (Leviticus 1:7) One of the many daily tasks of the priests is to stoke the fire throughout the day as well as remove the ashes after each sacrifice to a predesignated clean place outside the camp. (v.10-11) Verse 10 also makes it clear that the priest is to be properly dressed at all times while serving God and the people. (Exodus 28:39, Leviticus 16:4, Ezekiel 44:17-18) Another reason that this directive is repeated here is to emphasize the primary difference between the right and proper worship of God compared to the pagan idolatry that often involves nakedness and all forms of sexual depravity and immorality. Modesty of dress for the Israelites, as well as proper attire for the priests, is required by God for the daily sacrifices at the tabernacle.
 
           Verses 14-18: The law of the meat offering. (v.14) The priests are to eat their portion of the meat offering, a.k.a. grain offering, which is to be unleavened, “…in the holy place; in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation…”. (v.16) Verse 17 repeats once more, “It shall not be baken with leaven…it is most holy…”. As noted earlier, the fact that the priest consumes his portion in the presence of God and the one offering the sacrifice demonstrates God’s acceptance of the sacrifice and His fellowship with the one who has brought it. There is also a reminder in verse 18 that only the males of the tribe of Levi may serve as priests, and that their partaking of this ritual is a holy rite and privilege. “It shall be a statute for ever in your generations…” (Leviticus 3:17, 7:6, Numbers 18:10, 1 Corinthians 9:13) Touching the holy things of the Lord is not something to be taken lightly or treated as trivial or mundane. (Exodus 29:37, Leviticus 10:1-2, 22:3, Numbers 4:15, Haggai 2:11-12)
 
        Verses 19-23: These five verses give instructions for the offering that is done by just the priests on behalf of themselves before God. “The high priest is to present a regular (i.e., daily, morning and evening, v. 20; see Hebrews 7:27) grain offering for himself and for the priesthood in general. The amount is about a day’s ration of grain (v. 20), or 2.3 liters. Unlike the common person’s offering, the priest has no portion to consume (v. 23); the offering is totally consumed by fire.” (Moody Bible Commentary) This offering is to be made in a pan (Leviticus 2:5, 7:9), unleavened, and offered up “…for a sweet savour unto the Lord.” (v.21) “…it is a statute for ever unto the Lord; it shall be wholly burnt.” (v.22) This offering is a meat offering, but is not to be eaten. (v.23) It belongs to entirely to God alone.
 
         Verses 24-30: The law of the sin offering. The same rule for the meat offering also applies here. The priest shall eat his portion “…in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation.” (v.26) (Leviticus 10:17-18, Numbers 18:9-10, Ezekiel 44:28-29) Both the animal for the burnt offering and the sacrifice for this one are killed in the same place (v.25), which is in the courtyard of the tabernacle of the congregation. (Leviticus 1:3, 5, 11) Both the garments that are sprinkled with blood, as well as the brazen pots in which the meat is prepared are to be washed and cleaned (v.27-28), presumably after each use, in order to maintain their holiness before the Lord. If the meat was prepared in an earthen vessel then that vessel is to be broken and discarded. (v.28) (Leviticus 11:33, 15:12) Neither of the sin offerings that are sacrificed for the guilt of the priest or the ruler are to be consumed. All of it is either burnt on the altar or burned outside the camp. (Leviticus 4:7, 11-12, 18, 21, Leviticus 10:18, 16:27, Hebrews 13:11-12)