Leviticus 6:11
And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place. And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place.
The verse describes the priest putting off his priestly garments and putting on other garments to carry the accumulated ashes from beside the altar outside the camp to a clean place and pour them out there. It belongs to the daily service of the earthly sanctuary, which was the example and shadow and pattern and type of Christ's more excellent ministry as High Priest in the true tabernacle in heaven. Its details had meaning fulfilled in the sacrifice, life, and work of Jesus Christ, teaching that God hates sin and that sin demands its penalty. The ashes taken out represent sin and sinners after the final fires have destroyed them, and their careful removal teaches that the earth will finally be cleansed from all sin. Their carrying to a clean place points to the earth purified of every trace of sin and made new, where the ashes will be under the feet of the righteous, while the change of garments represents Christ laying aside His priestly work and coming as King to bring judgment and complete the destruction of sin.
Ritual Setting in Leviticus
The priest was to lay aside his priestly garments, put on other garments, and carry the altar's accumulated ashes outside the camp to a clean place and pour them out there. The ashes were taken from beside the altar and borne outward in different garments from those of ministration.
The instruction belongs to the ceremonial law instituted in consequence of sin. It stands in Leviticus 1 to 7, which give the main features of the service of the sanctuary built by Moses in the wilderness by divine appointment for the worship of the true God. It is part of the complete round of service performed every year in that sanctuary with its appointments, priesthood, and service.
That portion is the especial work for individuals as they present their particular offerings during the year. It belongs to the daily service in the first apartment, the holy place, alongside the regular morning and evening burnt offering, the burning of sweet incense when the lamps are lighted morning and evening, and the special offerings on the Lord's Sabbaths, annual sabbaths, new moons and feasts. It stands distinct from the yearly work in the most holy place for the sins of the people and for the cleansing of the sanctuary.
The first seven chapters describe the individual offerings offered in faith by the sinner together with the daily offering. Through the blood of the sacrifice or the person of the priest the sins of the penitent were transferred in figure to the sanctuary, where when the blood was sprinkled upon the altar the forgiven sins of the people were left in figure. This work went on through the year until cleansed on the tenth day of the seventh month. Burdened individuals thus brought offerings showing faith in the Redeemer to come, taken up into the daily ministration for the nation in the morning and evening offering by which remembrance of sin was constantly made in the sanctuary through beasts continually offered. Together this formed one entire yearly round of worship that looked forward to a future antitype and to the yearly cleansing of the sanctuary as the great antitypical day of atonement.
Type of Christ's Ministry
The service set out in Leviticus 1 to 7 is the especial work for individuals as they present their particular offerings during the year, belonging to the daily service in the first apartment, the holy place, alongside the regular morning and evening burnt offering, the burning of sweet incense when the lamps are lighted morning and evening, and the special offerings on the Lord's Sabbaths, annual sabbaths, new moons and feasts, and standing distinct from the yearly work in the most holy place for the sins of the people and for the cleansing of the sanctuary. That whole earthly ministration in the sanctuary built by Moses in the wilderness by divine appointment for the worship of the true God is the example and shadow and pattern and type of Christ's more excellent ministry in the true tabernacle and heavenly sanctuary as High Priest and Minister. The complete round of service performed every year with its appointments, priesthood, and service was typical of Christ and His priesthood in the heavenly sanctuary begun when He ascended on high, with each year's service typifying His service which was once for all.
Its details had meaning, and their fuller meaning is found in the sacrifice, life, and work of Jesus Christ. The instructions concerning offerings and the priesthood and about sacrifices picture the work of Jesus Christ, and the offerings and their ceremonies are shadows of their fulfillment in Him. They teach that God hates sin and that sin demands its penalty.
That instruction was not written in vain or without purpose but is part of Scripture profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness to make the man of God perfect, and was written for learning that through patience and comfort of the Scriptures hope may be had. Study of it as an impressive object-lesson concerning the temple of God in heaven and Christ's priestly service therein gives clearer views of the Saviour and His work in behalf of men and enables understanding of God's way, power, and glory.
Final Cleansing and Application
The ashes lifted from beside the altar are sin and sinners after the final fires have destroyed them. Their careful carrying out teaches that the earth will finally be cleansed from all sin. Their removal to a clean place points to the earth purified of every trace of sin and made new. After the fires of the last day destroy sin, sinners, and the devil, the earth will be made clean and the ashes of sin will be under the feet of the righteous in the new earth.
The putting off of priestly garments for other garments represents Christ laying aside His priestly work and coming as King to bring judgment and to complete the destruction of sin. The unusual sight of ashes poured out in a clean place taught Israel, and prompted questions from children, giving them a lesson about the earth made free from sin and finally cleansed. Carrying the altar ashes outside the camp to a clean place was a priestly duty, showing that though it was lowly work it was acceptable service to God and no task done for Him is degrading.