Leviticus 4:1














God is the source of authority and law. From him instructions emanate. His words are to be communicated to the people. Like unto Moses, ministers and teachers receive truth not to secrete it in their own breasts, but to impart it for the guidance of those under their charge. "The Lord spake,... saying, Speak unto the children of Israel." May we listen carefully, lest the utterances of the "still small voice" should be misheard, and the counsels intended for comfort and direction prove a false light, speeding the unconscious traveler to the very pitfalls he was to avoid.

I. THE UNIVERSALITY OF TRANSGRESSION. Provision is announced for cases of sin, and the possibility of its commission by all classes is thus shown.

1. The ordinary citizen may err; one of "the people of the land" (see verse 27). Poverty and obscurity are not safeguards against unrighteous acts.

2. The man of rank, the "ruler" (verse 22) or prince, is liable to sin. Honour and responsibility do not guarantee or produce immunity from transgression.

3. The whole congregation (verse 13) is not exempt, for collective wisdom and might are not effectual barriers against the encroachments of unlawful desire and action. In the multitude of counselors safety is often thought to lie, but the "people" may do wickedly as well as an individual. This was exemplified at Mount Sinai and Baal-peor, and modern instances abound. Even

4. The man specially consecrated to holy service, the "anointed priest" (verse 3), may incur guilt and bring punishment upon the people. How cautious we should be! What searching of ourselves with the candle of the Lord; what prayer for knowledge and strength should distinguish us all!

II. THE POSSIBILITY OF UNINTENTIONAL TRANSGRESSION. A distinction is intimated between sin that arises from mistake ("ignorance," verse 2), that is at first "hid" from perception and afterwards becomes known (verses 13,14), awaking penitence and a desire to undo the wrong perpetrated, and sin that is willful, committed with a high hand, with an attitude of defiance, a sin against light and knowledge. Inadvertent sinning is possible through

(1) carelessness of behaviour, heedless conduct, acting without previous deliberation; or

(2) a misunderstanding of the Law, failure in correct interpretation, or in remembering the precise precept at the moment; or

(3) a sudden outburst of passion, blinding the judgment and hurrying the will to words and deeds afterwards repented of.

III. THE GUILT OF SUCH TRANSGRESSION. This is assumed by the atonement necessary to shield the doer from penalty, and by the expressions employed in verses 13, 22, and 27. "Guilty" refers to the consequences of sinning, the state of wrath into which the sinner enters, and the moral devastation to which he is liable, and from which preservation is possible only through an offering. Learn, then, that ignorance does not of itself excuse violation of God's commands, but it permits resort to such an atonement as will procure God's forgiveness. Paul said, "I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly and in unbelief." Whereas if we sin willfully, there is no more sacrifice for sins. The soul that doeth presumptuously shall be cut off from among the people. - S.R.A.

These are the commandments which the Lord commanded Moses for the children of Israel.
Many of these commandments are moral and of perpetual obligation. Others of them ceremonial and peculiar to the Jewish economy, which yet have a spiritual significance, and are instructive to us who are furnished with a key to let us into the mysteries contained in them; for unto us by these institutions is the gospel preached, as well as unto them (Hebrews 4:2). And upon the whole matter we may see cause to bless God that we are not come to Mount Sinai (Hebrews 12:18).

1. That we are not under the dark shadows of the law, but enjoy the clear light of the gospel, which shows us Christ the end of the law for righteousness (Romans 10:4). The doctrine of our reconciliation to God by a Mediator is not clouded with the smoke of burning sacrifices, but cleared by the knowledge of Christ, and Him crucified.

2. That we are not under the heavy yoke of the law and the carnal ordinances of it, as the apostle calls them (Hebrews 9:10), imposed till the time of reformation, a yoke which neither they nor their fathers were able to bear (Acts 15:10); but under the sweet and easy institutions of the gospel, which pronounces those the true worshippers, that worship the Father in spirit and truth, by Christ only, and in His name, who is our Priest, Temple, Altar, Sacrifice, Purification, and All. Let us not therefore think that because we are not tied to the ceremonial cleansings, feasts, and oblations, a little care, time, and expense will serve to honour God with. No, but rather have our hearts more enlarged in free-will-offerings, to His praise, more inflamed with holy love and joy, and more engaged in seriousness of thoughts, and sincerity of intention. Having boldness to enter into the holiness by the blood of Jesus, let us draw near with a true heart, and in full assurance of faith, worshipping God with so much the more cheerfulness and humble confidence, still saying, Blessed be God for Jesus Christ.

( Matthew Henry, D. D..)

The last chapter of the book is taken up with directions for individual worship, on the details of which we cannot enter; but this general thought is suggested, that though the nation as a whole may lose its covenant standing, the way is always open for individuals. There is much comfort in this thought, in view of such dark times as those to which the prophetical part of the preceding chapter points. The door of mercy is never shut, however dark and degenerate the times may be. However wickedness may abound in the world, and coldness and deadness in the Church, God will always have His witnesses, and they will always have their opportunities. This word is never changed, "Whosoever will, let him come." In all times religion in the last resort must be an individual matter between the soul and God. No man can be saved in a crowd; but neither can any man be lost in a crowd. And sometimes, when the great multitude seems to carry all before it, God still may have His seven thousand men, known to Him alone, who have brought their individual offerings to Him, and "never bowed the knee to Baal." Remember the comfort that was given to Daniel, when his spirit was ready to faint in the prospect of the dark days which the prophetic vision had disclosed. "Go thou thy way till the end be; for thou shalt rest and stand in thy lot at the end of the days." "Go thou thy way" — in times of apostasy and darkness, it is for the individual believer to leave the destinies of the world and of the Church in the hands of Him who "doeth all things well," and seek only to be faithful to his own duty. As for others: "shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" And as for thee, "thou shalt rest" — there is the fulfilment of the Sabbath and all the sabbatic series — "and stand in thy lot at the end of the days" — there is the fulfilment of the jubilee and all the eighth day series. Amid all the secularities and unbelief and disobedience of the times, let us seek to maintain communion with God, and bring our individual offerings, however "singular" they be, and we shall certainly find that "the joy of the Lord is our strength," and that His thoughts of love expressed in the feasts of the old covenant will be fulfilled for us, and then at the end of the days we shall enter on our sabbath of rest, and our jubilee of joy eternal.

(J. M. Gibson, D. D.).

People
Moses
Places
Teman
Topics
Saying, Spake, Speaketh, Spoke
Outline
1. The sin offering of ignorance
3. for the priest
13. for the congregation
22. for the ruler
27. for any of the people

Dictionary of Bible Themes
Leviticus 4:1-5:6

     6648   expiation

Leviticus 4:1-5:13

     6027   sin, remedy for

Leviticus 4:1-3

     7422   ritual
     7435   sacrifice, in OT

Leviticus 4:1-5

     6021   sin, nature of

Leviticus 4:1-35

     6750   sin-bearer
     7316   blood, OT sacrifices

Library
John's First Testimony to Jesus.
(Bethany Beyond Jordan, February, a.d. 27.) ^D John I. 19-34. ^d 19 And this is the witness of John [John had been sent to testify, "and" this is the matter of his testimony], when the Jews [The term "Jews" is used seventy times by John to describe the ruling classes of Judæa] sent unto him [In thus sending an embassy they honored John more than they ever honored Christ. They looked upon John as a priest and Judæan, but upon Jesus as a carpenter and Galilæan. It is probable that
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Leviticus
The emphasis which modern criticism has very properly laid on the prophetic books and the prophetic element generally in the Old Testament, has had the effect of somewhat diverting popular attention from the priestly contributions to the literature and religion of Israel. From this neglect Leviticus has suffered most. Yet for many reasons it is worthy of close attention; it is the deliberate expression of the priestly mind of Israel at its best, and it thus forms a welcome foil to the unattractive
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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