Leviticus Chapter 6 continues God’s instructions concerning sacrifices, repentance, restitution, and the responsibilities of Israel’s priests. The chapter begins by addressing sins committed against other people through deception, theft, fraud, or dishonesty. True repentance requires more than bringing an offering to God—it also requires making things right with the person who was wronged. The chapter then turns to detailed instructions for the burnt offering, grain offering, and sin offering, emphasizing the holiness of worship and the priests’ responsibility to carefully maintain what God had commanded.
Leviticus Chapter 6 Summary
Leviticus 6 begins with instructions concerning someone who sins against another person by deceiving a neighbor about property, stealing, committing fraud, keeping something that was lost, or swearing falsely.
When the guilty person recognizes the sin, restitution must be made. The stolen or dishonestly obtained property must be returned, along with an additional fifth of its value. The offender must then bring a ram without defect as a guilt offering to the Lord. The priest makes atonement, and forgiveness is provided.
The chapter then turns to the responsibilities of Aaron and his sons regarding the offerings.
For the burnt offering, God commands that the sacrifice remain upon the altar throughout the night. Most importantly, the fire on the altar must continually be kept burning. Each morning the priest adds wood, arranges the burnt offering, and burns the fat of the peace offerings. The command is emphasized: the fire must never go out.
Instructions are then given for the grain offering. A portion consisting of fine flour, oil, and frankincense is burned before the Lord, while Aaron and his sons eat the remaining portion in a holy place. Because the offering is holy, it must be treated with reverence.
God also establishes a special grain offering that Aaron and his descendants are to present when serving as priests. Unlike the regular grain offering, this priestly offering is completely burned and is not eaten.
Finally, instructions are given concerning the sin offering. It is described as most holy and must be slaughtered before the Lord in the designated place. The priests are commanded to carefully handle the sacrifice, its meat, and any objects that come into contact with it.
Throughout Leviticus 6, God demonstrates that approaching Him requires holiness, obedience, restitution, and reverence.
Key Lessons – Leviticus Chapter 6
- True repentance includes making wrongs right. When someone had stolen or obtained something dishonestly, confession alone was not enough; restitution was required.
- Sin against another person is also sin against God. Dishonesty, theft, fraud, and deception violate both human relationships and God’s commands.
- Restitution demonstrates genuine repentance. Returning what was taken and adding compensation showed a willingness to repair the harm caused.
- God provides a path to forgiveness. Through the guilt offering and priestly atonement, the repentant sinner could receive forgiveness.
- The altar fire symbolizes continual devotion. God repeatedly commanded that the fire upon the altar must never be allowed to go out.
- Worship must be approached with reverence. The detailed instructions concerning sacrifices demonstrate the holiness of God and the seriousness of approaching His presence.
- Those who serve God carry special responsibilities. Aaron and his sons were required to carefully follow God’s commands because they served as priests before Him.
Important Verses
- Leviticus 6:5
- “He shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto.”
- Leviticus 6:6
- “And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD, a ram without blemish out of the flock.”
- Leviticus 6:7
- “And the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD: and it shall be forgiven him.”
- Leviticus 6:12
- “And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out.”
- Leviticus 6:13
- “The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.”
- Leviticus 6:25
- “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.”
