What role does the priest play in atonement according to Leviticus 5:18? Scripture Snapshot “He must bring to the priest a ram without defect from the flock, according to your valuation, as a guilt offering; and the priest will make atonement for him concerning the error he has unintentionally committed, and he will be forgiven.” (Leviticus 5:18) Key Responsibilities of the Priest • Receives the offender’s substitute: the flawless ram. • Confirms its value “according to your valuation,” ensuring the offering meets God’s stated worth. • Presents the animal on the altar as a “guilt offering,” the divinely prescribed sacrifice for this situation (compare Leviticus 7:1–7). • Mediates between sinner and God by applying the sacrificial blood (see Leviticus 4:25, 30). • Pronounces God’s verdict: “he will be forgiven.” A Closer Look at “Make Atonement” • The Hebrew verb kipper means “to cover” or “to reconcile.” • Through the priest’s action, the sin is covered, the guilt removed, and fellowship with God restored (Leviticus 4:20; 16:30). • The offender’s unintentional sin is treated seriously, yet mercy is offered through substitutionary sacrifice. • The priest does not forgive on his own authority; he serves as God’s appointed mediator (Hebrews 5:1–3). Ongoing Significance • The priestly role highlights humanity’s need for an intercessor when approaching a holy God (Exodus 28:36–38). • It foreshadows the perfect, once-for-all mediation of Jesus Christ, “the great High Priest” who “offered Himself without blemish to God” (Hebrews 9:11–14; 10:11–14). • Leviticus 5:18 reassures believers that God graciously provides a way for sin—even unintentional sin—to be forgiven through a divinely authorized mediator and a flawless substitute. |
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