What role does the priest play in atonement according to Leviticus 5:13? Framing the Passage - Leviticus 5 gathers several “unintentional” or “inadvertent” sins that still call for guilt offerings. - Verse 13 summarizes what happens after a worshiper brings the prescribed sacrifice. Verse Spotlight “In this way the priest will make atonement for him regarding the sin he has committed in any of these matters, and he will be forgiven. The rest of the offering will belong to the priest, like the grain offering.” (Leviticus 5:13) What the Priest Actually Does - Receives the sinner’s offering and presents it at the altar. - Applies the sacrificial blood or grain in the manner God commanded (cf. Leviticus 4:20, 26). - Burns the memorial portion to the LORD, acknowledging sin’s seriousness. - Keeps the remaining portion for priestly use, marking acceptance (Leviticus 6:16–18). Why the Priest’s Role Is Essential 1. Mediator • Stands between the sinner and the holy God (Numbers 15:25). • Carries the worshiper’s guilt symbolically into God’s presence. 2. Atonement Maker • “The priest will make atonement for him” – the verb describes covering or canceling guilt. • God decrees forgiveness through the priestly act, not through personal merit (Leviticus 6:7). 3. Assurance Giver • Publicly declares, “he will be forgiven,” offering tangible certainty. • The remaining portion given to the priest signals completed reconciliation. Results Produced - Guilt removed, fellowship restored. - Worshiper departs forgiven, free to re-enter covenant life. - Priest shares in the offering, sustaining those who serve at the altar (1 Corinthians 9:13 points to the same principle). Wider Old-Testament Pattern - Repeated refrain: “the priest shall make atonement…and he will be forgiven” (Leviticus 4:31, 35; 5:10). - God designed priestly mediation as the regular path to forgiveness until a greater solution arrived. Foreshadowing the Ultimate Priest - The Aaronic priesthood prefigures Jesus, “a priest forever” (Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 7:23-27). - He presents His own sacrifice, guarantees perfect atonement, and forever declares, “Your sins are forgiven” (Hebrews 10:11-14). Through Leviticus 5:13, the priest’s indispensable role is clear: receive the offering, perform the ritual, secure God’s forgiveness, and confirm it to the sinner—an enduring picture of substitutionary atonement fulfilled completely in Christ. |
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