Leviticus 5-6

Leviticus 5 opens with a continuation of God’s instructions for the sin offering. Within these verses, we are again reminded of how Jesus Christ serves as our greater sin offering. Note the following in verse 1: “If anyone sins…he shall bear his iniquity.” Verse 6 adds on to this by stating that the one who sinned “shall bring to the LORD as his compensation for the sin that he has committed…a sin offering.” Later in Scripture, we read these two amazing truths:

·       Of Jesus: “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

·       “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). 

Do you get it? Jesus, THE ultimate sin offering, bore our iniquities and paid our sin debt on the Cross so that we may be healed from our sinful natures and inherit eternal life with Him. 

As you read more of God’s provisions for the sin offering, also take note that no one’s economic condition excluded them from receiving forgiveness of their sins. Specifically, if a person could not afford to bring a lamb, God permitted two pigeons or turtledoves to be brought (v. 7). If someone could not afford a bird, God allowed for flour to be offered (v. 11). In other words, God’s mercy and grace were available to all who put their faith in God to receive their sacrificial sin offering. And friends, today, no matter your background or worldly status, God’s mercy and grace are also extended to you, if you will only put your belief and trust in God’s sin offering given on your behalf. 

The latter half of Leviticus 5 introduces us to the final offering outlined in this section of the Bible: the guilt offering. The focus of this offering is making restitution for the wrong done to God and to one’s neighbor. This reminds us that our sin is first and foremost an affront against God, but also harmful to those around us. God desires for us to live at peace with Him (made possible through the blood of Jesus), but He also expects His people to live at peace with one another. Perhaps that’s why Jesus stresses in the Sermon on the Mount that “if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24). 

Although we’ve tried to show how each of the offerings and sacrifices we’ve read about over the past several days points to a more perfect fulfillment in Christ Jesus, Warren Wiersbe does well to summarize the significance of all six offerings God commanded His people to bring (the sixth, a drink offering, will be discussed in more detail in Leviticus 23):

Jesus provides all that we need. He is our burnt offering, and we must yield ourselves wholly to Him. He is our meal offering, the seed crushed and put through the fire, that we might have the bread of life; and we must feed on Him. He is our drink offering poured Himself out in sacrifice and service, and we must pour ourselves out for Him and for others. He is our fellowship offering, making life a joyful feast instead of a painful famine. He is our sin offering and our guilt offering, for He bore our sins on His body (1 Peter 2:24) and paid the full price for our sins (1:18-19). 

The nation of Israel had to offer six different sacrifices in order to have a right relationship with God, but Jesus Christ “offered one sacrifice for sins forever” (Heb. 10:12) and took care of our sin problem completely.[i]

Our reading today closes with God commanding the priests regarding how to handle each offering that has been discussed since we began the book of Leviticus. These sacrifices and offerings were considered to be precious and valuable to God, and for us, His offering of Jesus Christ as THE Sacrifice ought to be the most precious and valuable treasure we could ever receive. How much value do you put on the Cross? (Hint: you’ll know by how devoted you are to the narrow path that Jesus calls us to.)

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Journal responses to the following prompts:

·       What does it reveal about God’s heart that He would not exclude anyone from bringing an offering so that their sins could be forgiven? 

·       How much value do you put on the Cross? 

[i] Wiersbe, W. W. (2001). The Bible exposition commentary: The Pentateuch. David C. Cook. pp. 259-260.