Leviticus 4-Leviticus 6:7 (Click title for audio access)
"Sin Offerings" • 8.11.11 • Thursday Night Bible Study, Calvary Christian Fellowship
Intro.
- All throughout this decade, the corporate fast food giant McDonalds has repeatedly faced lawsuits against them, alleging their culpability for the problem of obesity.
- In 2003, the first such case brought to trial was dismissed as frivolous. However, in 2010, a Brazilian manager gained 65 lbs won a lawsuit against Mickey D's, paying him over $17,000.
˚ "The plaintiff said that the random presence of "mystery clients" -- who are tasked with visiting franchises and evaluating their food quality, cleanliness and customer service -- made him feel obliged to sample the food every day. He also scolded McDonald's for offering free lunches to its employees, charging that those meals -- which consisted mostly of hamburgers, French fries and ice cream -- increased his daily caloric intake." [i]
- Today, we have a real problem with taking responsibility. I would suggest to this man that he sue himself and learn to stop blaming others.
- Sin, sacrifice, responsibility and restutition are front and center in Leviticus 4 and 5. The Israelites are ready to worship. The sanctuary is built. They are a redeemed community.
- In the first three chapters, we looked at the sweet savor sacrifices, all voluntary, all speaking toward man's relationship to God.
- The burnt offering speaks of total consecration. The meal offering speaks of a partnership through service. The peace or fellowship offering speaks of the foundation, a meal we share.
- What happens though when we inevitably don't live up to our part of this relationship? What happens when what is in our very nature, comes to the surface. God thought of that too.
Text
• Leviticus 4:1-3 : "Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 'Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘If a person sins unintentionally against any of the commandments of the Lord in anything which ought not to be done, and does any of them, if the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, then let him offer to the Lord for his sin which he has sinned a young bull without blemish as a sin offering." : Sin is that which happens when a person misses the mark or errors. The Hebrew word is defined as "missing the goal or path of right and duty"
- The word "sin" is borrowed from the world of archery. A person "sinned" when they missed the bullseye. This will be the case for God's people.
- This is indicative of a person who wants to do right, but falls short of what he or she intended to do. It's related to the commandments in doing what was not to be done.
- Sin is exactly that: A failure to fully live according to God's law. How does that happen? There are several ways that this takes place.
- First, it can be said that we do not ever intend to sin. You do not go out and attempt to sin. However, when you are on the road and another person cuts you off, you react sinfully.
- Another way that unintended sin occurs is when people sin and then come to a knowledge of that which the Lord commands.
- I mean by this they were unaware beforehand of the Word's applicability to their situation.
- The final way and one that I have experienced many times is when you do something and then later, under the conviction of the Holy Spirit, you realize that you were wrong.
- Your best intentions aside, you sinned and now you are guilty in God's economy. In this time in history, God prescribed an offering that would cover this for 4 different groups of people.
- Things were to begin with the priest, who could sin just like anyone else. Some versions translate this as the High Priest.
- When it comes to God's community, things were to begin with the ones that were leading in worship. God begins things there in this chapter.
- The priest, the anointed, consecrated one could sin. Spiritual office does not insulate a man from sin. He does not intend to break God's law, but he inevitably will.
- When that happens, he becomes guilty AND brings guilt upon the people. This is the danger of leading. You must be careful for how you live and how you help others live.
- God gives instructions on what they are to sacrifice, in this case a young bull, a sin offering.
• Leviticus 4:4-7 : "He shall bring the bull to the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the Lord, lay his hand on the bull’s head, and kill the bull before the Lord. Then the anointed priest shall take some of the bull’s blood and bring it to the tabernacle of meeting. The priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle some of the blood seven times before the Lord, in front of the veil of the sanctuary. And the priest shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the Lord, which is in the tabernacle of meeting; and he shall pour the remaining blood of the bull at the base of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of meeting." : The priest was to bring a bull and touch it, just as the people did. He was to transfer his guilt upon the animal.
- This might have been fairly embarassing, for a man of such high standing to show how much he needed the same forgiveness that the people did, but what a true picture.
- Verses 4-7 speak to what he was to do with the blood of this sacrificed bull.
- He was to touch the blood that had been collected and sprinkle some 7 times before the Lord, before the veil of the Most Holy Place.
- In this action, he is understanding that his sin is against the Lord. Then he was to take some and put some on the horns of the altar of incense, the place of intercessory prayer.
- The rest was to be placed at the base of the bronze altar.
- He was to place the blood where God's presence dwelt, where the prayers of the saints and Christ's intercession are represented, as well as the place of judgment.
• Leviticus 4:8-12 : "He shall take from it all the fat of the bull as the sin offering. The fat that covers the entrails and all the fat which is on the entrails, the two kidneys and the fat that is on them by the flanks, and the fatty lobe attached to the liver above the kidneys, he shall remove, as it was taken from the bull of the sacrifice of the peace offering; and the priest shall burn them on the altar of the burnt offering. But the bull’s hide and all its flesh, with its head and legs, its entrails and offal—the whole bull he shall carry outside the camp to a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn it on wood with fire; where the ashes are poured out it shall be burned." : You'll recall that the fat in the thanksgiving offering was to be given to the Lord. Here again, it's to be offered to him.
- The rest of the bull, it's visible parts, were to be taken outside the camp of the Israelites, where the carcass would be burned.
• Leviticus 4:13-21 : "Now if the whole congregation of Israel sins unintentionally, and the thing is hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done something against any of the commandments of the Lord in anything which should not be done, and are guilty; when the sin which they have committed becomes known, then the assembly shall offer a young bull for the sin, and bring it before the tabernacle of meeting. And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands on the head of the bull before the Lord. Then the bull shall be killed before the Lord. The anointed priest shall bring some of the bull’s blood to the tabernacle of meeting. Then the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle it seven times before the Lord, in front of the veil. And he shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar which is before the Lord, which is in the tabernacle of meeting; and he shall pour the remaining blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. He shall take all the fat from it and burn it on the altar. And he shall do with the bull as he did with the bull as a sin offering; thus he shall do with it. So the priest shall make atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them. Then he shall carry the bull outside the camp, and burn it as he burned the first bull. It is a sin offering for the assembly." : As you can see much of the details remain the same when the entire congregation sinned, as when the priest sinned.
- The elders would would represent the nation. Their hands would touch the head of the bull.
- The blood of bulls covering the sin of the people of Israel, but just one chosen animal would suffice for the nation. It could not take away sin, but it would satisfy the Lord until the next situation.
• Leviticus 4:22-26 : "When a ruler has sinned, and done something unintentionally against any of the commandments of the Lord his God in anything which should not be done, and is guilty, or if his sin which he has committed comes to his knowledge, he shall bring as his offering a kid of the goats, a male without blemish. And he shall lay his hand on the head of the goat, and kill it at the place where they kill the burnt offering before the Lord. It is a sin offering. The priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and pour its blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering. And he shall burn all its fat on the altar, like the fat of the sacrifice of the peace offering. So the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him." : The ruler was a prince or a member of leadership among the nation. This was included for a time when the people would have a King.
- When they did something and it came to their attention, they were to offer the blood of goats.
- One goat for the sinning party, to be treated in much the same way. When the ruler went through this process, he was atoned for and forgiven or pardoned.
- The word translated "forgiven" has the sense of lightening a burden or lifting it from one's shoulders. Men and women carry the burden of their sin. The sacrifice and atonement lifts the person.
• Leviticus 4:27-31 : "If anyone of the common people sins unintentionally by doing something against any of the commandments of the Lord in anything which ought not to be done, and is guilty, or if his sin which he has committed comes to his knowledge, then he shall bring as his offering a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has committed. And he shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering, and kill the sin offering at the place of the burnt offering. Then the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger, put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and pour all the remaining blood at the base of the altar. He shall remove all its fat, as fat is removed from the sacrifice of the peace offering; and the priest shall burn it on the altar for a sweet aroma to the Lord. So the priest shall make atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him. If he brings a lamb as his sin offering, he shall bring a female without blemish. Then he shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering, and kill it as a sin offering at the place where they kill the burnt offering. The priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and pour all the remaining blood at the base of the altar. He shall remove all its fat, as the fat of the lamb is removed from the sacrifice of the peace offering. Then the priest shall burn it on the altar, according to the offerings made by fire to the Lord. So the priest shall make atonement for his sin that he has committed, and it shall be forgiven him." : We have gone from the priest, to the assembly, to the rulers and now to the everyday guy. All are accountable to the Lord.
- Every man, no matter his status, lives a life before the Lord God and must deal personally with his own sin.
- Once again it's the blood of a goat. He lays his hand on it to signify his faith. Blood is taken and sprinkled, fat is burned, God is satisfied and the man is forgiven.
• Leviticus 5:1-6 : "If a person sins in hearing the utterance of an oath, and is a witness, whether he has seen or known of the matter - if he does not tell it, he bears guilt. Or if a person touches any unclean thing, whether it is the carcass of an unclean beast, or the carcass of unclean livestock, or the carcass of unclean creeping things, and he is unaware of it, he also shall be unclean and guilty. Or if he touches human uncleanness - whatever uncleanness with which a man may be defiled, and he is unaware of it - when he realizes it, then he shall be guilty. Or if a person swears, speaking thoughtlessly with his lips to do evil or to do good, whatever it is that a man may pronounce by an oath, and he is unaware of it - when he realizes it, then he shall be guilty in any of these matters. And it shall be, when he is guilty in any of these matters, that he shall confess that he has sinned in that thing; and he shall bring his trespass offering to the Lord for his sin which he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats as a sin offering. So the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin. " : God gives Moses a few sin examples. The first example is a man who hears an oath, but does not tell it. In other words, one who refuses to testify. He likes both men and doesn't want to be unpopular.
- However, by his failure to act, is actually obstructing justice.
- The next examples deal with touching something unclean. The people of Israel were not to touch dead animals or open wounds with bloody discharge.
- God then speaks to their speech and the rash and uncareful way in which a person might talk or promise to do something, but then refuses to do so or backs out.
- After such things were done, there would be a realization that the person knew better and should not have acted this way. They have become guilty of sin.
- When that guilt came upon him, what was he to do? He was to confess first that he sinned.
- The word "confess" comes from a word in Hebrew which has the idea of casting a stone or throwing out an accusation. It seems to be that the person is casting a vote against himself!
- That person, who has humbly confessed, can now bring an offering from the goats.
• Leviticus 5:7-13 : "If he is not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring to the Lord, for his trespass which he has committed, two turtledoves or two young pigeons: one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering. And he shall bring them to the priest, who shall offer that which is for the sin offering first, and wring off its head from its neck, but shall not divide it completely. Then he shall sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar, and the rest of the blood shall be drained out at the base of the altar. It is a sin offering. And he shall offer the second as a burnt offering according to the prescribed manner. So the priest shall make atonement on his behalf for his sin which he has committed, and it shall be forgiven him. But if he is not able to bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons, then he who sinned shall bring for his offering one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a sin offering. He shall put no oil on it, nor shall he put frankincense on it, for it is a sin offering. Then he shall bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it as a memorial portion, and burn it on the altar according to the offerings made by fire to the Lord. It is a sin offering. The priest shall make atonement for him, for his sin that he has committed in any of these matters; and it shall be forgiven him. The rest shall be the priest’s as a grain offering.'" : For the man who was poor, God prescribed the offering of turtle doves and pigeons, or even of flour, making a way for that man, in his poverty, to be forgiven.
- God's economy of forgiveness and His desire to see men unburdened in their walk before Him is telling. He wants all men and women to experience His forgiveness and He made a way.
- Now, the sin offering is dealt with. We come now to the trespass offering. The sin offering deals with their guilt. The trespass offering will deal now with restoring what has been affected.
• Leviticus 5:14-16 : "Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 'If a person commits a trespass, and sins unintentionally in regard to the holy things of the Lord, then he shall bring to the Lord as his trespass offering a ram without blemish from the flocks, with your valuation in shekels of silver according to the shekel of the sanctuary, as a trespass offering. And he shall make restitution for the harm that he has done in regard to the holy thing, and shall add one-fifth to it and give it to the priest. So the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and it shall be forgiven him." : A trespass, which can be translated as a "treachery" or an "unfaithfulness."
- The word "trespass" is often defined by another word. To "transgress" means to go beyond or pass over the limits. Does this speak to anyone?
- Who has not tested the limits and found themselves thoroughly burned? Often, while a trespass can occur unintentionally, there are times when there is an intention.
- What are the "holy things?" This would refer to failure to those things which are dedicated to God, such as their firstborn, their tithe or anything that was supposed to be dedicated to God.
- Restitution was required for the harm done, plus 20% on top of that. This was meant to sting.
• Leviticus 5:17-19 : "If a person sins, and commits any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the Lord, though he does not know it, yet he is guilty and shall bear his iniquity. And he shall bring to the priest a ram without blemish from the flock, with your valuation, as a trespass offering. So the priest shall make atonement for him regarding his ignorance in which he erred and did not know it, and it shall be forgiven him. It is a trespass offering; he has certainly trespassed against the Lord.'" : God demands that those who come to Him recognize their personal guilt and therefore their responsibility.
- Even when someone sins in ignorance, God declared that they are guilty. In this next section, God provides Moses and the people with an example of what a trespass would be.
• Leviticus 6:1-7 : "And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 'If a person sins and commits a trespass against the Lord by lying to his neighbor about what was delivered to him for safekeeping, or about a pledge, or about a robbery, or if he has extorted from his neighbor, or if he has found what was lost and lies concerning it, and swears falsely—in any one of these things that a man may do in which he sins: then it shall be, because he has sinned and is guilty, that he shall restore what he has stolen, or the thing which he has extorted, or what was delivered to him for safekeeping, or the lost thing which he found, or all that about which he has sworn falsely. He shall restore its full value, add one-fifth more to it, and give it to whomever it belongs, on the day of his trespass offering. And he shall bring his trespass offering to the Lord, a ram without blemish from the flock, with your valuation, as a trespass offering, to the priest. So the priest shall make atonement for him before the Lord, and he shall be forgiven for any one of these things that he may have done in which he trespasses.'" : One can look at this and say one thing that is very true: It's much better to come quickly and get things right!
- Restitution, consequence, is way more expensive than coming clean with our sin.
- The thing of beauty is that God, knowing our nature, that we can't be perfect and that sometimes we refuse to even try, provided a sacrifice to cover His people in either case!
Conclusion
- Thankfully tonight, as we stand on this side of Calvary, we can rejoice in the sacrifice of Jesus, our sin offering and our guilt or trespass offering.
- Tonight, you might need to confess your sin. If you do, because of Jesus, He will be faithful to forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness!
[i] http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2010/11/brazilian-mcdonald-s-manager-wins-obesity-lawsuit.html
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