Offering and Restitution

Leviticus 6:1-13

1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 2 “If a person sins and commits a trespass against the Lord by lying to his neighbor about what was delivered to him for safekeeping, or about a pledge, or about a robbery, or if he has extorted from his neighbor, 3 or if he has found what was lost and lies concerning it, and swears falsely—in any one of these things that a man may do in which he sins: 4 then it shall be, because he has sinned and is guilty, that he shall restore what he has stolen, or the thing which he has extorted, or what was delivered to him for safekeeping, or the lost thing which he found, 5 or all that about which he has sworn falsely. He shall restore its full value, add one-fifth more to it, and give it to whomever it belongs, on the day of his trespass offering. 6 And he shall bring his trespass offering to the Lord, a ram without blemish from the flock, with your valuation, as a trespass offering, to the priest. 7 So the priest shall make atonement for him before the Lord, and he shall be forgiven for any one of these things that he may have done in which he trespasses.” 
    8 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 9 “Command Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the law of the burnt offering: The burnt offering shall be on the hearth upon the altar all night until morning, and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning on it. 10 And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen trousers he shall put on his body, and take up the ashes of the burnt offering which the fire has consumed on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar. 11 Then he shall take off his garments, put on other garments, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place. 12 And the fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not be put out. And the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order on it; and he shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings. 13 A fire shall always be burning on the altar; it shall never go out.

Sins of trespass against another person such as lying or stealing or extortion had to be atoned for.  But then he had to restore those things taken by sinful means - not just what was taken, but also adding punitive damages in the amount of twenty percent of the full value (no devaluation first).  After restoration with the victim, the sinner would then have to give God a trespass offering so that the priest could make atonement on their behalf.  Both God and man had to be reconciled.  As to the burnt offering mentioned here, it is worth noting that holiness and eternal vigilance were key; vigilance in not allowing the fires ready for the sacrifices, and holiness in the atoning one remaining clean.  We are also to be holy in our lives and confessions of sin before our Lord who ever lives to intercede for and reconcile us by Christ’s blood and righteousness.  Likewise we are to seek reconciliation with others we offend and sin against, seeking both forgiveness and reconciliation.  We are not to take brothers to court as the unregenerate, but arbitrate within His body to resolve and restore relationships.  Let us ask ourselves if we are then eternally vigilant in dealing with sin and loving God and man who is made in His image.