Leviticus 6:20 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

This is the offering of Aaron, and of his sons, &c.— The directions here given, are generally supposed to refer to the offering made by Aaron and his sons on the day of their consecration: but others imagine, that they refer to the daily meat-offering, which was to be offered by the priest, as long as he continued in his office: and, therefore; instead of in the day when he is anointed, they would read, from the day, &c. This latter opinion seems to be confirmed by the 22nd verse. Josephus tells us, that this perpetual bread-offering was at the charge of the high-priest. It was to be wholly consumed, Leviticus 6:23 rd. unlike the bread-offerings of the people; because, says Maimonides, as the priests themselves offered their oblation to God, had they applied it to their own use, it would have been all the same as offering nothing. The priests were hereby taught, that they themselves, no less than the people, stood in need of an expiation. "The priest's eating of the sin-offering," says Clarke, "figured his typical bearing of the sinner's iniquity; (ch. Leviticus 10:17.) but because no priest, being a sinner, could bear his own iniquity, or make atonement for himself, therefore, his meat-offering might not be eaten, but all burnt; to shew him to expect salvation, not by himself, but by Christ." Note; They whom God advances to his service, are bound to a particular and perpetual oblation of themselves to him.