Leviticus 6 deals with intentional sin, particularly sins involving taking from a neighbor. God speaks about realizing one’s guilt. At the point that we acknowledge that we are guilty of doing something wrong we must act. In our justice system we can continue to plead our innocence even if we know that we are guilty. In God’s law our realization of guilt ends the deception and payment is to be made.

When the people realize their guilt they are to pay it back plus 20%. Then they make a guilt offering of a ram. The priest makes atonement on their behalf and they will be forgiven.

The fire on the altar is never to be put out. That way, offerings may be made at any time. God’s forgiveness is available at all times. In the morning the priest makes the offering of well-being.

It is unclear if this is always followed by a grain offering but when a grain offering is made Aaron and his sons make a memorial portion as the offering and are to eat the rest in the form of unleavened cakes in a holy place in the tent of meeting. They may eat it because it is a holy offering. The priests are also allowed to eat a portion of the sin offering in the holy place in the tent of meeting. But if blood has touched anything it must be made clean.

Leviticus 7 speaks about the guilt offering which is also a holy offering. The priests may eat a portion of the offering in the holy place.

It goes on to speak about thanksgiving offerings such as the sacrifice of well-being, votive offerings and freewill offerings. The people may eat of these offerings after they have given the priests their share either on the day of the offering or the next day. It is important that those eating the offerings of thanksgiving have been made clean before eating otherwise they will be cut off from their family.

Acts 6 opens with a dispute between Greek believers and Hebrew believers. It seems that the Hebrew widows are being favored in the daily distribution of food.

The apostles have been called to preach the word of God and do not want to be bogged down by handling these kinds of issues. They select certain men to be responsible for serving the people. The Hebrew word for “waiting on tables” is the word from which we get our word “deacon.” Thus the first deacons are chosen.

One of the men, Stephen, even though he is chosen to be a deacon, is also given the ability to speak about Christ. It is clear to the people that he is empowered by the Spirit. He gets into an argument with some members of a synagogue. He is brought before the council His opponents bring in false witnesses who claim that he is speaking against the temple and the Torah.