Leviticus 6:1-7

The law for guilt offerings was laid out for the reader in chapter 5. What is so very interesting here, in this section, is that the process is clarified. Chapter 5 talked of what specific animals were to be used for the guilt offerings, preferably a female goat or female lamb (5:6), but if the person could not afford that, then he could bring either two turtledoves or two young (look into the significance of young here (rather than a more mature one, and for that matter, why isn’t young a qualifier for the turtledove?)) pigeons (5:7); and, furthermore, if he couldn’t even afford that then he was to bring flour as an offering (5:11). It seems that the above mentioned sacrifices were for a specific category of unintentional sin (see verses 5:1-4).

Then if the sin was unintentional but was against the Lord’s holy things then the sacrifice was a ram without defect (5:15). Furthermore, any other unintentional sin, it seems, (that didn’t otherwise fall into the category of the verse 1-4) must also be atoned for by means of a ram.

What is interesting to note (which will lead to the verses for today) is that starting back with 5:5, then 5:16, and 5:17 there is something more than just the sacrifice mentioned – guilt and consequences. In 5:5 acknowledgment is made of sin – how could a person come to seek forgiveness (in the OT this process was accomplished by obedience in bringing a sacrifice and today I can go directly to the throne of God (cf. Heb 4:16)) if he did not first acknowledge his sin? I could stop and meditate on this for quite some time. How often have I found myself going through the motions of prayer, and possibly even asking forgiveness without truly agreeing with the Lord about my sin? Then in 5:16 the notable phrase “he shall make restitution for that which he has sinned against the holy thing, and shall add to it a fifth part.” Though this part of the law is coming later, (the restitution of goods plus the addition of goods because of the sin) the point here is that part of coming before the Lord to confess sin is making that sin right. It is only after the person has done this that the priest offers up the sacrifice! Without trying to allegorize it, and without having studied out the ministry of our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ the Righteous who has passed into the heavens and even makes intercession on our behalf according to the will of the Father, could it be that there is some application to the believer today? We know that the sacrifices which the Lord is looking for are a broken spirit and a contrite heart (cf. Psalm 51:17) yet are these even possible without first agreeing with God regarding our sin (that it is a grievous thing to Him) and doing what we can to make it right? Only then can these acceptable sacrifices be offered. Then we come to verse 17 of chapter 5 which carries with it the same idea, with perhaps further ramifications: “though he was unaware, still he is guilty and shall bear his punishment.” The idea here is much the same as in 5:5, and 16 but could carry with it the idea that just because you have made things right, acknowledged your sin and brought your offering does not guarantee the removal of consequences that your sinful action has brought about. Are you forgiven? Absolutely, however, depending on the nature of the sin, those consequences could haunt a person for the rest of their life!

Enter Leviticus 6:1-7. This now takes little space, for the foundational principles were laid out above. Here, the ideas from the preceding chapter are spelled out with detailed (though arguably non-exhaustively) examples. Verses 2-5 talk of specific sins and the idea behind all of them, in view of the upcoming sacrifice for the sin, is restitution. Restitution is key – the idea of payment, or rather repayment with additional funds (pay what you took plus . . .). Only then can verses 6-7 happen; he brings his sacrifice to the priest and the priest shall make atonement for him.

What an exhausting process! Sin is a nasty thing with terrible consequences, but there is hope. At the end of 6:7 we find this glorious ray of light: “he will be forgiven for any one of the things which he may have done to incur guilt.” In light of this gem we are reminded of the wonderful forgiving nature of our compassionate God as detailed in Psalm 103:12 – “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Our loving Father is not looking to beat us over the head with our sin. He will not keep bringing it up. However, in light of these Scriptures, it is probably safe to say that if we come and ask for forgiveness and have not followed these guidelines (confession and restitution) then we don’t have the assurance of Psalm 103:12.

“Lord, search my heart. You know my very frame. You alone know what so easily besets me. What evil lurks in the dark recesses of my heart is known fully by You. May You find within me humility, genuine confession, and repentance. No matter the cost, strengthen me to walk uprightly before you and have a conscience void of offense before You and before men. Thank you for the shed blood of the perfect sacrificial Lamb, Jesus Christ, through whom I have eternal life!”