LEVITICUS CHAPTER 4

THE SIN OF IGNORANCE

 

I.   The divisions of the chapter:

A.     The first part of our discussion.

1.       V. 3-11 - The sin through Ignorance of the Priest.

2.       V. 12-21 - The sin through Ignorance of the Whole Congregation.

B.     The second part of our discussion.

1.       V. 22-26 - The sin through Ignorance of the Ruler.

2.       V. 27-35 - The sin through Ignorance of the Common People.

 

II.   Points concerning the entire chapter:

A.     There is no sacrifice for willful sins.  Heb. 10:26,27 - But a certain fearful looking for judgment.

B.     This is a judgment of acts (deeds), not thoughts. Some say that thinking a sin and acting a sin is the same.

1.       Matt. 5:27,28 - A man looking upon a woman to lust commits adultery in his heart.

2.       He does not commit adultery in his body.

3.       "Soul sin" - This is the root cause of all sin.  The soul that sinneth, it shall die.

4.       Breaking the commandments of the Lord - This is what makes a sin.  To disobey any other command is not a sin, although that may lead to sin.

C.     The methods of sacrifice is the same for (1) the priest and the whole congregation, and (2) the ruler and the common people.  Different levels of influence call for different sacrifices.

1.       The most influential position is that of priest (today the pastor-teacher).

2.       Next is the whole congregation, followed by the rulers and the common people.

3.       The administrators of the gospel have more to do with the future good of a nation than anyone.  When the "common people" place themselves above the priest, the result is chaos.  (As today when rock stars, television and movie actors and actresses have more influence than political leaders or pastors.

a.      This shows that the error of the priest (pastor) often leads the whole congregation into sin.  What a responsibility is placed on pastors!

b.      The secular leaders have a great responsibility of leading God's people correctly, but their responsibility ends with this life.  The pastor will bear everlasting fruits or everlasting loss.

D.     There is no verbal confession.  All true confession shall be of the heart, before the Lord.

1.       Catholicism declares that a sinner shall list all their sins and ask forgiveness for each one.

2.       God declares that sinners are to confess their sinfulness and ask forgiveness for being a sinner.  If there are particular sins, then those must be confessed to God and forgiveness granted.

 

The first part of our discussion.

V. 3-11 - The sin through Ignorance of the Priest.

V. 12-21 - The sin through Ignorance of the Whole Congregation.

 

Definition:

Priest: A male from the tribe of Levi who leads in tabernacle worship.

Whole Congregation: The entire population of Israel.

 

I.   Verse 3,13, {3} If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering. {13} And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which should not be done, and are guilty;

A.     Everybody, even a priest (pastor), sins.

1.       Verse 1, 2, And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, {2} Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them: God knows they can't be perfect.

2.       The priest (pastor) shouldn't expect perfection from his congregation, neither should the congregation expect perfection from the priest (pastor).

B.     The priest (pastor) should set a good example and strive for holiness, just like the congregation ought to be doing.

C.     There is a "relationship of influence" between the priest (pastor) and the congregation.

II.   V. 3,14, {3} If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering. {14} When the sin, which they have sinned against it, is known, then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin, and bring him before the tabernacle of the congregation. - The offering is a young bullock - an expensive offering.  The priest (pastor) and congregation pay dearly for their sins.

III.   V. 4,15 {4} And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD; and shall lay his hand upon the bullock's head, and kill the bullock before the LORD. {15} And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock before the LORD: and the bullock shall be killed before the LORD. - He shall lay his hand on the bullocks head - identifying himself as guilty and worthy of death.

IV.   V. 4,15 {4} And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD; and shall lay his hand upon the bullock's head, and kill the bullock before the LORD. {15} And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock before the LORD: and the bullock shall be killed before the LORD. - He shall kill the bullock - Because Christ, who is represented by the bullock, has paid for his sin debt.

V.   V. 5,6,16,17 {5} And the priest that is anointed shall take of the bullock's blood, and bring it to the tabernacle of the congregation: {6} And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the LORD, before the veil of the sanctuary. {16} And the priest that is anointed shall bring of the bullock's blood to the tabernacle of the congregation: {17} And the priest shall dip his finger in some of the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before the LORD, even before the veil. - The blood is sprinkled 7 times before the Lord (before the vail of the sanctuary).  The purpose of this is to show forgiveness of sin for those engaged in the service of the tabernacle.  (Both the priest and the whole congregation is involved in the service of the tabernacle.)

VI.   V. 7, {7} And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD, which is in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. - The blood is put on the horns of the altar of sweet incense which is in the Tabernacle.

A.     Before the priests' services in the tabernacle can be a sweet savour before the Lord, V. 5,6 must be done.

B.     V. 18, {18} And he shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar which is before the LORD, that is in the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall pour out all the blood at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. - As is true for the priest, so it is true for the whole congregation.

VII.   V. 7, {7} And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD, which is in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. - The remainder of the blood is poured out at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering.

A.     V. 18,25,30,34, {18} And he shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar which is before the LORD, that is in the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall pour out all the blood at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. {25} And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out his blood at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering. {30} And the priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar. {34} And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar: - This is true for the whole congregation, ruler and common people.

B.     This is because the blood causes the burnt offering to be accepted.

C.     The sinless blood of Christ caused Christ to live a holy life and His sacrificial death on Calvary accepted.

VIII.   V. 8-10,19-20 {8} And he shall take off from it all the fat of the bullock for the sin offering; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards, {9} And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away, {10} As it was taken off from the bullock of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall burn them upon the altar of the burnt offering. {19} And he shall take all his fat from him, and burn it upon the altar. {20} And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them. - The inward purity (healthiness) of the sacrifice is burned before the Lord.

A.     The part that is burned is the same as the peace offering.

B.     They shall be burned on the altar of burnt offering. (Brazen Altar).

IX.   V. 11-12,21, {11} And the skin of the bullock, and all his flesh, with his head, and with his legs, and his inwards, and his dung, {12} Even the whole bullock shall he carry forth without the camp unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire: where the ashes are poured out shall he be burnt. {21} And he shall carry forth the bullock without the camp, and burn him as he burned the first bullock: it is a sin offering for the congregation.  - The remainder of the sacrifice is burned outside the camp in a clean place.  Christ was crucified outside the camp (Jerusalem).

A.     The purpose is the symbolic total removal of sin from the tabernacle and the camp.

B.     If the priest ate his own sacrifice for the Sin of Ignorance, it would be the same as a peace offering (chapter 7:11-34).  He would be reaping a benefit from his own sins.  (And there is no benefit from sin.)

 

The second part of our discussion.

V. 22-26 - The sin through Ignorance of the Ruler.

V. 27-35 - The sin through Ignorance of the Common People.

 

Definition:

Ruler: a person who is in control of the government of Israel.

Common People: Any group of people except the entire congregation of Israel.

I.   V. 22, 23 {22} When a ruler hath sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD his God concerning things which should not be done, and is guilty;  {23} Or if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish: - A ruler brings a male, kid of the goats, a less expensive offering than the priest or whole congregation.  His sin is grievous, but not so far reaching in its effects as the priest.

II.   V. 27, 28, {27} And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat againstany of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty; {28} Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned. - The common people bring a female, kid of the goats, or (verse 32) a lamb.  These are less expensive than a goat.  Their sin is also bad and requires forgiveness, but does not have the effects of a person in a more influential position.

III.   V. 24,29,33 {24} And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat, and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the LORD: it is a sin offering. {29} And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering. {33} And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay it for a sin offering in the place where they kill the burnt offering. - He shall lay his hand on the animals head - identifying himself as guilty and worthy of death.

IV.   V. 24,29,33 {24} And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat, and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the LORD: it is a sin offering. {29} And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering. {33} And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay it for a sin offering in the place where they kill the burnt offering. - He shall kill the animal - Because Christ, who is represented by the animal, has paid for his sin debt.

A.     The blood of the sacrifice of the ruler (v. 22-26) and the common people (v. 27-35) is not sprinkled 7 times before the vail of the sanctuary because they do not participate in the active ministry of the tabernacle.

B.     The blood of the sacrifice for the ruler and the common people is not put on the horns of the altar of sweet incense because they have no part in the ministry of the tabernacle.

C.     V. 25,34 - The blood of the sacrifice is put on the horns of the altar of burnt offering.  This is a symbol of recognizing guilt and seeking mercy through the blood of Jesus Christ.

V.   V. 26,31,32, 35, {26} And he shall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him. {31} And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat is taken away from off the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour unto the LORD; and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him. {32} And if he bring a lamb for a sin offering, he shall bring it a female without blemish. {35} And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat of the lamb is taken away from the sacrifice of the peace offerings; and the priest shall burn them upon the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD: and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath committed, and it shall be forgiven him. - The inward purity (healthiness) of the sacrifice is burned before the Lord.

A.     The inward purity of the sacrifice is a token of the paid sin debt of the ruler (v. 26) and the common people (v. 35).

B.     Leviticus 6:24-29 - The remainder of the sacrifices of the ruler and the common people is given to the priest as "pay" for their work in the service of God. (They that preach the gospel should also live of the gospel.)