Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Leviticus
Book: Leviticus
Chapter: 6
Overview:
Concerning trespasses against our neighbour.
(1-7) Concerning
the burnt-
Offering.
(8-13) Concerning the meat-
Offering.
(14-23)
Concerning the
Sin-Offering.
(24-30)
1-7 Though all the instances relate to our neighbour, yet it is
called a trespass against the
Lord. Though the person injured be
mean, and even despicable, yet the injury reflects upon that
God
who has made the command of loving our neighbour next to that of
loving himself. Human laws make a difference as to punishments;
but all methods of doing wrong to others, are alike violations
of the Divine
Law, even keeping what is found, when the owner
can be discovered. Frauds are generally accompanied with lies,
often with false oaths. If the offender would escape the
vengeance of
God, he must make ample restitution, according to
his power, and seek forgiveness
By Faith in that one
Offering
which taketh away the
Sin of the world. The trespasses here
mentioned, still are trespasses against the
Law of
Christ, which
insists as much upon
Justice and
Truth, as the
Law of nature, or
the
Law of
Moses.
8-13 The daily
Sacrifice of a
Lamb is chiefly referred to. The
Priest must take care of the
Fire upon the
Altar. The first
Fire
upon the
Altar came from
Heaven, ch. 9:24;
By keeping that up
continually, all their sacrifices might be said to be consumed
with the
Fire from
Heaven, in token of
God's acceptance. Thus
should the
Fire of our holy affections, the
Exercise of our
Faith and
Love, of
Prayer and praise, be without ceasing.
14-23 The
Law of the burnt-offerings
Put upon the priests a
great
Deal of care and work; the
Flesh was wholly burnt, and the
priests had nothing but the
Skin. But most of the meat-
Offering
was their own. It is
God's will that his ministers should be
provided with what is needful.
24-30 The
Blood of the
Sin-Offering was to be washed out of the
clothes
On which it should happen to be sprinkled, which
signified the regard we ought to have to the
Blood of
Christ,
not counting it a common thing. The vessel in which the
Flesh of
the
Sin-Offering was boiled must be broken, if it were an
earthen one; but if a brazen one,
Well washed. This showed that
the defilement was not wholly taken away
By the
Offering; but
the
Blood of
Christ thoroughly cleanses from all
Sin. All these
rules set forth the polluting nature of
Sin, and the removal of
guilt from the sinner to the
Sacrifice. Behold and wonder at
Christ's
Love, in that he was content to be made a
Sin-Offering
for us, and
So to procure our
Pardon for continual sins and
failings. He that knew
No Sin was made
Sin (that is, a
Sin-Offering) for us, 2Co 5:21. Hence we have
Pardon, and not
only
Pardon, but power also, against
Sin, Ro 8:3.