John Wesley

He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, so it can be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.

“And although burnt-offerings were commonly offered by way of thanksgiving; yet they were sometimes offered by way of atonement for sin, that is, for sins in general, as appears from Job i, 5, but for particular sins there were special sacrifices.”

The sons of Aaron the priest shall put a fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire.

“Put fire - Or, dispose the fire, that is, blow it up, and put it together, so as it might be fit for the present work. For the fire there used and allowed came down from heaven, chap.”

He shall slaughter it on the north side of the altar before the LORD, and Aaron’s sons the priests are to sprinkle its blood against the altar on all sides.

“Besides this might design the place of Christ's death both more generally, in Jerusalem, which was in the sides of the north, Psalm xlviii, 2, and more specially, on mount Calvary, which was on the northwest side of Jerusalem.”

Then the priest shall bring it to the altar, twist off its head, and burn it on the altar; its blood should be drained out on the side of the…

“His head - From the rest of the body; as sufficiently appears, because this was to be burnt by itself, and the body afterwards, ver. 17. And whereas it is said chap. v, 8.”

And he is to remove the crop with its contents and throw it to the east side of the altar, in the place for ashes.

“With its feathers - Or, with its dung or filth, contained in the crop and in the guts. On the east - Of the Tabernacle.”

“When anyone brings a grain offering to the LORD, his offering must consist of fine flour. He is to pour olive oil on it, put frankincense on it,

“A meal-offering - (Not meat-offering, an ancient false print, which has run thro' many editions of our bible.) This was of two kinds, the one joined with other offerings, Num.”

No grain offering that you present to the LORD may be made with leaven, for you are not to burn any leaven or honey as an offering made by fire…

“Nor any honey - Either, 1. because it hath the same effect with leaven in paste or dough, making it sour, and swelling. Or, 2. in opposition to the sacrifices of the Gentiles, in which the use of honey was most frequent. Or, 3.”

He is to lay his hand on the head of the offering and slaughter it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

“And the reason of this difference is not obscure, both because part of this sacrifice was to be waved by the hands of the offerer, chap.”

Then Aaron’s sons are to burn it on the altar atop the burnt offering that is on the burning wood, as an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to…

“After it; for the daily burnt-offering was first to be offered, both as more eminently respecting God's honour; and as the most solemn and stated sacrifice, which should take place of all occasional oblations, and as a sacrifice of an higher nature, being for atonement…”

Then the priest is to burn the food on the altar as an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma. All the fat is the LORD’s.

“Shall burn them - The parts mentioned, among which the tail is not one, as it was in the sheep. because that in goats is a refuse part. All the fat - This is to be limited, 1.”

This is a permanent statute for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.”

“Blood - Was forbidden partly to maintain reverence to God and his worship; partly out of opposition to idolaters, who used to drink the blood of their sacrifices; partly with respect to Christ's Blood, thereby manifestly signified.”

He is to lay his hand on the head of the goat and slaughter it at the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered before the LORD.

“The burnt-offering - So called by way of eminency, to wit, the daily burnt-offering. It is a sin-offering - And therefore to be killed where the burnt-offering is killed; whereby it is distinguished from the peace-offering, which were killed elsewhere.”

He must burn all its fat on the altar, like the fat of the peace offerings; thus the priest will make atonement for that man’s sin, and he will be…

“It shall be forgiven - Both judicially, as to all ecclesiastical censures or civil punishment; and really, upon condition of repentance and faith in the Messiah to come.”

When he becomes aware of the sin he has committed, he must bring an unblemished female goat as his offering for that sin.

“A female - Which here was sufficient, because the sin of one of those was less than the sin of the ruler, for whom a male was required.”

“If someone sins by failing to testify when he hears a public charge about something he has witnessed, whether he has seen it or learned of it, he shall bear…

“And hear - And for that is, as that particle is often used. For this declares in particular what the sin was. Or, namely, that of cursing, or blasphemy, or execration, as the word commonly signifies, and that either against one's neighbour, or against God.”

If someone incurs guilt in one of these ways, he must confess the sin he has committed,

“He shall confess - Before the Lord in the place of public worship. And this confession is not to be restrained to the present case, but by a parity of reason, and comparing of other scriptures, to be extended to other sacrifices for sin, to…”

and he must bring his guilt offering to the LORD for the sin he has committed: a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering.

“This place speaks of him that being so unclean did come into the tabernacle, as may be gathered by comparing this place with Num.”

If, however, he cannot afford a lamb, he may bring to the LORD as restitution for his sin two turtledoves or two young pigeons—one as a sin offering and the…

“For a sin-offering - Which was for that particular sin, and therefore offered first: before the burnt- offering, which was for sins in general; to teach us not to rest in general confessions and repentance, but distinctly and particularly, as far as we can, to…”

And the priest must prepare the second bird as a burnt offering according to the ordinance.

“According to the manner - Or order appointed by God. The priest shall make an atonement - Either declaratively, he shall pronounce him to be pardoned; or typically, with respect to Christ.”

In this way the priest will make atonement for him for any of these sins he has committed, and he will be forgiven.

“As a meal offering - As it was in the meal-offering, where all, except one handful, fell to the share of the priests. And this is the rather mentioned here, because in the foregoing sacrifices, chap. iv, 3, &c. chap. iv, 13, &c.”

“If someone acts unfaithfully and sins unintentionally against any of the LORD’s holy things, he must bring his guilt offering to the LORD: an unblemished ram from the flock, of…

“In the holy things - In things consecrated to God, and to holy uses; such as tithes and first-fruits, or any things due, or devoted to God, which possibly a man might either with-hold, or employ to some common use.”

If someone sins and violates any of the LORD’s commandments even though he was unaware, he is guilty and shall bear his punishment.

“The former law concerns the alienation of holy things from sacred to common use; this may concern other miscarriages about holy things, and holy duties, as may be gathered from ver.”

“If someone sins and acts unfaithfully against the LORD by deceiving his neighbor in regard to a deposit or security entrusted to him or stolen, or if he extorts his…

“Or in fellowship - Hebrew. Or in putting of the hand: that is, commerce or fellowship in trading, which is very usual when one man puts any thing into another's hand, not to keep it, but to improve it for the common benefit of them…”

once he has sinned and becomes guilty, he must return what he has stolen or taken by extortion, or the deposit entrusted to him, or the lost property he found,

“Is guilty - This guilt being manifested by his voluntary confession upon remorse, whereby he reapeth this benefit, that he only restores the principal with the addition of a fifth part; whereas if he were convicted of his fault, he was to pay double, Exod.”

or anything else about which he has sworn falsely. He must make restitution in full, add a fifth of the value, and pay it to the owner on the day…

“In the day - It must not be delayed, but restitution to man must accompany repentance towards God.”