Meaning of Leviticus 6:20

This verse, Leviticus 6:20, details a specific and perpetual ordinance for the priestly offering, emphasizing its fixed nature and the precise timing of its presentation. It establishes that upon the day of anointing, the high priest and his sons were to bring a daily, regular grain offering of one-tenth of an ephah of the finest flour. This offering was not a one-time event but a continuous requirement, divided equally, with half presented in the morning and the other half in the evening. This meticulous regulation underscores the constant need for atonement and the unwavering commitment required in the service of God.

Context and Background

Leviticus 6 follows the account of the consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests in Leviticus 8. The preceding chapters (Leviticus 1-5) outline various sacrificial offerings. Chapter 6 then shifts to the laws governing the offerings after the priests have been consecrated and are actively serving. Specifically, Leviticus 6:8-18 details the burnt offering and the sin offering for the priests themselves, highlighting their need for purification even in their sacred duties. Leviticus 6:20, therefore, introduces a unique and continuous offering specifically designated for the priestly family, marking the beginning of their daily ministry.

Key Themes and Messages

• Perpetual Service: The phrase "regular grain offering" (Hebrew: minchah tamid) signifies a continuous and unwavering duty. It points to the ongoing need for reconciliation between God and His people, a service that was never to cease.
• Purity and Excellence: The use of "finest flour" (sōlet) indicates that the offering was to be of the highest quality, representing the best of what Israel could produce, symbolizing the purity and perfection required in approaching a holy God.
• Order and Discipline: The division of the offering into morning and evening portions highlights the structured and disciplined nature of worship and service ordained by God. This regularity reflects the predictable cycles of the sun and the consistent nature of God's covenant.
• Priestly Responsibility: This offering is specifically for Aaron and his sons, underscoring their unique role as mediators and their personal responsibility to maintain their relationship with God through prescribed acts of worship.

Spiritual Significance and Application

Spiritually, this daily offering foreshadows the continuous intercessory ministry of Jesus Christ. Just as the priests offered this flour daily, representing Israel's devotion and seeking atonement, Christ's sacrifice is a once-for-all, yet perpetually effective, atonement for the sins of humanity. The "finest flour" can be seen as a type of Christ Himself, the perfect and unblemished Lamb of God, whose life and sacrifice were the ultimate offering. The morning and evening offerings speak to the completeness and constancy of His work, available at all times. For believers today, this verse calls for a life of continuous devotion, consistent prayer, and reliance on Christ's finished work for ongoing access to God.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

This verse fits within the overarching theme of God's desire for relationship with humanity, established through a system of worship and sacrifice. It is a crucial piece of the Levitical economy, which served as a shadow and a preparation for the New Covenant. The perpetual nature of this offering points towards the eternal efficacy of Christ's sacrifice, which fulfills and supersedes the temporary ordinances of the Old Testament. It highlights the transition from a system of daily, mediated atonement to a singular, perfect atonement secured by Christ.

Analogies

One analogy for this perpetual offering is the daily maintenance of a vital machine. Just as a complex piece of machinery requires regular checks, lubrication, and calibration to function optimally, the spiritual relationship between God and His people, and the priestly ministry, required constant attention and appeasement through prescribed offerings. Another analogy is the rising and setting of the sun. These predictable, daily events mirror the constancy and reliability of God's provision and the need for continuous engagement with Him, both at the beginning and end of each day.

Relation to Other Verses

• Exodus 29:38-42: This passage describes the daily burnt offering that was to be made by the priests in the wilderness, which this Levitical instruction elaborates upon for the consecrated priests. It reinforces the concept of a continuous, prescribed offering.
• Hebrews 7:23-27: This New Testament passage explicitly contrasts the Levitical priesthood with the priesthood of Melchizedek, through which Jesus Christ ministers. It emphasizes that Christ's priesthood is eternal and His sacrifice is once for all, rendering the daily sacrifices of the Old Covenant obsolete in their need for repetition.
• 1 John 2:1-2: This verse speaks of Christ as our advocate with the Father, and that He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. This echoes the perpetual and all-encompassing nature of Christ's atoning work, which the daily Levitical offerings foreshadowed.
• Malachi 1:11: This verse speaks of a future offering that will be pure and accepted by God from the rising of the sun to its setting, pointing towards the universal and acceptable worship of God through Christ in the New Covenant.