Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, 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.
the law
Leviticus 4:2,3,21,24,33,34 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them: …
In the
Leviticus 1:3,5,11 If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD…
Leviticus 4:24,29,33 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat, and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the LORD: it is a sin offering…
it is
Leviticus 6:17 It shall not be baken with leaven. I have given it unto them for their portion of my offerings made by fire; it is most holy, as is the sin offering, and as the trespass offering.
Leviticus 21:22 He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy.
that this is the law of the sin offering:
The sin offering was a crucial part of the sacrificial system, designed to atone for unintentional sins and restore the relationship between the Israelites and God. The law of the sin offering underscores the seriousness of sin and the need for atonement. It also points to the meticulous nature of the Levitical laws, which were intended to guide the Israelites in living a life pleasing to God.
In the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered,
The location for the slaughtering of the sin offering was the same as that for the burnt offering, which was at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. This signifies the centrality of the sacrificial system in the worship of Israel and the importance of approaching God in a prescribed manner. The shared location also indicates the interconnectedness of different types of offerings, each serving a unique purpose in the worship and atonement process.
the sin offering shall be slaughtered before the LORD;
The phrase "before the LORD" indicates that the offering was made in the presence of God, emphasizing His holiness and the need for reverence. This act of slaughtering the sin offering before the LORD symbolizes the acknowledgment of sin and the need for divine forgiveness. It also foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who was offered "before the LORD" as the perfect atonement for sin.
it is most holy.
The designation of the sin offering as "most holy" underscores its significance in the sacrificial system. This classification required that the offering be treated with the utmost respect and care, reflecting the holiness of God Himself. The concept of holiness is central to the book of Leviticus, and it serves as a reminder of the call for God's people to be holy as He is holy. The sin offering, as most holy, points to the ultimate holiness of Christ, who was without sin and became the perfect sacrifice for humanity.
• “Tell Aaron and his sons” places the focus squarely on the priesthood. The Lord addresses those He has appointed as mediators (Exodus 28:1).
• Aaronic priests were responsible for representing the people, so God’s instructions reach the entire congregation through them (Numbers 18:1–2).
• By speaking to the priests first, God underscores that holiness begins with leadership (1 Timothy 4:16).
• A “law” here means an unchanging ordinance. God isn’t suggesting; He is commanding (Leviticus 4:2, 20).
• The sin offering deals with specific acts of sin, highlighting our continual need for atonement (Hebrews 10:3–4).
• The constancy of the regulation anticipates Christ, whose once-for-all sacrifice fulfills every sin offering (Hebrews 10:10–12).
• Both offerings are slain at the north side of the altar (Leviticus 1:11), spotlighting the continuity of sacrificial worship.
• Keeping the location identical safeguards purity—no mingling with common spaces (Leviticus 6:27).
• This shared altar foretells the cross, where every type of sin is addressed in one place (John 19:17–18).
• “Before the LORD” means directly in His presence at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting (Leviticus 1:3).
• God witnesses both the sinner’s guilt and the substitute’s death, reinforcing accountability (Hebrews 4:13).
• Blood is shed openly, teaching that forgiveness is costly and public, not hidden (Luke 23:33–34).
• “Most holy” elevates this offering above ordinary sacrifices (Leviticus 6:29). Only the priests may eat the meat, and only in a holy place.
• Anything touching the flesh becomes holy, illustrating contagious holiness from God’s provision (Leviticus 6:27).
• The designation anticipates Christ’s absolute purity—He is the sin offering and remains “holy, innocent, undefiled” (Hebrews 7:26).
Leviticus 6:25 shows God instructing His priests on an unchanging remedy for sin. The location, procedure, and designation “most holy” all stress that atonement is intentional, public, and sacred. By requiring the priests to carry out this law exactly, God prepares His people to recognize and trust the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who fulfills every detail and brings us into His holy presence.
(25) In the place where the burnt offering is killed.--That is, the north side of the altar. (See Leviticus 1:11.)It is most holy.--That is, the sin offering belongs to the class of sacrifices which is most holy. (See Leviticus 2:3.)