What personal sins require confession before approaching God, as seen in Leviticus 16:17? Leviticus 16:17 in Focus “ ‘No one may be in the Tent of Meeting from the time Aaron enters the sanctuary to make atonement for himself, his household, and the whole assembly of Israel until he comes out…’ ” The Scope of Required Confession The verse names three circles of guilt—“himself,” “his household,” and “the whole assembly.” By singling out the high priest first, God makes clear that every personal sin—large, small, public, hidden—needs to be dealt with before stepping into His presence. Categories of Personal Sin Highlighted by Leviticus 16 • Willful acts of disobedience (Leviticus 6:1–7) • Unintentional or hidden faults (Leviticus 4:2; Hebrews 9:7) • Ritual or moral impurity—anything that “defiles” (Leviticus 15:31) • Broken commitments or false vows (Leviticus 5:4–6) • Relational offenses within the family; unrest at home disqualifies worship (Malachi 2:13–16) • Personal pride and self-reliance that ignore God (Proverbs 16:5) New Testament Confirmation • Psalm 66:18—“If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” • 1 John 1:8-9—Confession is the pathway to cleansing. • Hebrews 10:19-22—We draw near “having our hearts sprinkled clean” only after sin is confessed and forgiven. Practical Takeaways • Nothing is too minor to confess; Aaron atoned for “himself” before anyone else. • Household harmony matters—hidden family sin still bars the door. • Confession covers both what we did (commission) and what we failed to do (omission). • The goal is restored fellowship, not mere ritual; confession re-opens communion with a holy God. |
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