Chapter 6 of Leviticus covers how to offer burnt offerings, grain offerings and sin offerings. Now God was getting very specific with Moses about each type of offering that the people were to bring to the Sanctuary.
Aaron and his sons were the priests who prepared the offerings for sin. They were able to eat of the sin offerings. Both the burnt offerings and the sin offerings were to be slaughtered before the LORD in the place where the burnt offering is always slaughtered (the door of the sanctuary.) It was considered most holy. The priest who offered that offering was to eat a meal from it in the location of the sanctuary area, in the courtyard of the tent of meeting.
Whatever touched any of the flesh of this offering would become holy. One could assume from this that true offerings to God increased a person’s holiness. Not because the person themselves become holier; but because God’s working inside of them increases. Sin makes people unholy. Removing sin allows room for holiness to exist.
In the case of a sin offering; the offering which receives atonement breaks down the unholy barriers that separate the sinner from God. In ancient times people needed to make animal sacrifices to do this. Today we need to come to God in prayer and confession.
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to our every Thursday chronological bible study called COME AS A CHILD. Today we will continue studying from Leviticus; Chapter 6. We have already discussed the first section of this chapter and we are now moving toward the end of the Chapter. If you missed last week’s lesson; you may review it here: https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/grain-offerings/
THE SIN OFFERING
Again; our Father is teaching. The sin offering teaches mankind about sin. Sin is evil. Sin is inconsistent with the ways and the righteousness of God. Sin is defined by God and His Word; not the knowledge and proclamations of mankind. Our civil laws automatically cover many sins; but society in general also overlooks and applauds other sins. Civil laws cover our society and culture’s definition of sin; but the Holy Scriptures cover God’s definition of sins. God’s law is always higher and more righteous than man’s law.
Culture and society will always punish for intentional sins (their definition of it.) God demands correction for ALL sins; intentional or unintentional. Culture and society seem to be more concerned about punishing the individual with their laws; God is more concerned about correcting the evil that the individual has committed and keeping it from harming more. God says that sins of inaction or ignorance still qualify as sins.
With the instructions of the sin offering; God was teaching mankind to recognize their sinful nature.
Recognition of sins is the first step to being able to come closer to God.
Once you recognize something you can confess and correct it; until then you are steering a sinking ship.
HELPING US TO SEE OURSELVES
By setting up this ancient sacrificial system in the Tabernacle where He dwelled; God was compelling us to take a long look at ourselves in the mirror. He wanted us to really SEE how sinful our nature can be. Perhaps this was one reason that the bronze basin for washing was made from the mirrors of the women of the community. That helps us to get a clear concept of where God was leading us; even as one enters into the court of worship.
Mankind needed a clear way to see that their sins brought defilement upon the earth. It caused decay. Sin caused rot. It caused disease. Sin caused infestation. Left unattended; sin caused death. How many times have we repeated that old scripture passage that says “the wages of sin” is death?” It is more true today than ever. If you look around you can see clear evidence of how evil and sin are daily destroying the creation that Our Father gave us as a precious gift on the day we were born.
Though Jesus has stepped into our time and paid the price of our sins through HIS death instead of requiring us to die; sin caused the sacrifice to be necessary. Sin always brings some type of death or destruction.
Jesus stands as the DOOR of the Sanctuary of God.
He replaces that old practice we read of here in Leviticus; where the people brought a certain type of sacrifice to the entrance of the tabernacle and laid hands on top of the animal’s head to transfer their sins over onto it.
At this door Christ waits for you and I to enter into His Kingdom. He alone is the door where sacrifice for sin is now accomplished. HE IS THE DOOR. You can’t enter God’s courts without Him. Like the priest who took the animal sacrifices to be offered; Jesus stands as our eternal High Priest.
Every animal sacrifice that the people brought symbolized a type of sin that Jesus died on the cross to cover for you and me. We are without excuse if we do not confess these sins to our Father in Heaven and allow the blood of Jesus to cover us in atonement and be forgiven.
Unconfessed sins cannot be forgiven. Forgiveness is offered freely and graciously; but it must be received in order to be effective.
Forgiveness begins with honest confession to God.
FORGIVENESS
As the people brought their sacrifices to the door of the sanctuary and laid hands on the animal to transfer their sins; they prayed for God’s forgiveness. The priest who would offer the sacrifice on the altar prayed with them. When you confess your sins to God today; Jesus is right there (like the priest of old) sitting on the right hand of God; standing before God as a witness for you and me. He says that your sins are worthy of forgiveness because He has accepted them and paid for them with His own life. You confess to God with Jesus as an intermediary (like the priests of old) and you receive atonement and forgiveness and you become free.
This was how it worked then; and this is how it works now. Jesus made it easy for us. The ancient people had to keep continuously offering sacrifices for every time they sinned. No animal was ever perfect. Jesus gave His perfect blood for our atonement. It is finished. He has done His part. The rest is up to you and me.
CELEBRATE FREEDOM AFTER ATONEMENT
How do you celebrate freedom today? You enjoy a meal with the LORD inside the Sanctuary or in the courtyard of your place of worship. Today we call this Communion. It is a celebration of the freedom we have received because of the sacrifice of Christ our LORD. Those who belong to Christ have been ordained into a special priesthood that lasts through eternity. We get to eat at God’s table.
STAYING CLEAN AND PURE
If any of the blood of the offering was spattered on a garment, that garment was to be washed within the sanctuary area. After cooking; the clay pot which the meat was cooked in was to be broken and never reused; but if the meat was cooked in a bronze pot, the pot was to be scoured and rinsed with water. Once cleaned and sanctified; everything was kept that way continuously. If maintenance was needed it wasn’t put off. It was done, right then and right there. The same applies for confession of our continual sins. Being saved will not stop you from sinning; you are still human with that tendency for evil from birth. Only prayer and sacrifice will keep you continuously holy. The blood of Jesus atones you forever; but you must occasionally wash your feet because they will get dirty along the road on the journey. Keep short accounts with God. He is a good, good Father. He will be merciful and kind to you.
Any male in the priest’s family (any descendant of Aaron) could eat a meal from this sacrificed meat; it was most holy. But any sin offering whose blood is brought into the tent of meeting to make atonement in the Holy Place must not be eaten’ it must be burned up.
ARE THE BURNT OFFERING AND THE SIN OFFERING THE SAME?
When I first learned about the burnt offering and the sin offering; I was confused.
Were they the same thing?
No – they are not. I’ll try to explain.
FIVE TYPES OF OFFERINGS
Let’s review the order of the offerings a bit more. There were actually five types of offerings that could be brought. These were (1) Burnt offering, (2) Meat offering, (3) Peace Offering (4) Sin Offering and (5) Trespass offerings.
The first three of these five types of offerings, (the burnt, meat and peace offerings) were to be a sweet savored offering before the LORD. These offerings were voluntary; or people brought them in worship of God of their own free-will. They were not used as offerings for atonement of sin. They were more like thank you offerings.
The last two offerings mentioned above,(the sin offerings and the trespass offerings) were both considered to be sin offerings. They were compulsory offerings. In other words; they were mandatory if one wished to be forgiven by God.
These last two offerings were for atonement of different types of sins with requirements for different types of people; some were for the anointed priests, some were made for rulers, some were made for the congregation as a whole, and some were made for an individual of the congregation. Different requirements were performed according to the different type of sins.
If the guilt of sin was upon the entire congregation, the blood of the animal was taken into the sanctuary and sprinkled on the veil and placed on the horn of the golden altar of incense. The rest was poured out at the base of the altar of burnt offering.
With sin offerings, the fat was burned (similar to a peace offering) but the body of the animal was either burned completely outside the camp, or eaten by the priests.
The person making the sacrifice never received any of the meat from the sin offering.
The Sin Offering and the Trespass Offering are both offered for sins; but the difference in the two seems to be that one is for sins against God and one is for sins against man and/or holy things. The offering for sins against men was called the trespass offering and the offering for sins against God was called a sin offering. They both were sin offerings; just offered for different types of sins by different categories of sinners.
Here I am reminded of the great words in the way that Jesus taught us to pray through The Lord’s prayer. I think of that line that says “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Whenever a person is so blessed as to receive God’s gracious forgiveness; they then become responsible for reflecting the love of God and forgiving others that have sinned against them.
LIVING IN THE CALLING
So what should we take away from this today?
We should have a clear understanding that God does not like sin, that it is evil and wrong.
We should understand that we are to confess our sins to God. The only way to do this is to walk through that spiritual doorway called JESUS. He can take us to the Father and He will mediate before Him as we confess our sins in prayer.
Today God accepts the prayers of individuals and He accepts the prayers of groups of people, such as congregations, prayer groups and other organizations that honor His existence. It is a good practice to pray to receive corporate holiness as well as individual holiness. Pray alone and pray with others.
When you have received forgiveness bring thank offerings to show God you appreciate His freedom. Let it be praise, or service, or adoration or giving to others; but offer up an offering that shows God you appreciate and honor Him.
Celebrate your freedom. Go to Communion and participate with understanding.
God will bless you tremendously.