Chapter 88 of 1163

LEVITICUS 4

The sin offering was for unintentional sins of ignorance and not for deliberate sins of disobedience. For deliberate sins, God made no provision for a sacrifice (Num. 15:30–31). All the offender could do was plead the mercy of God (Ps. 51:16–17).

But ignorance is no excuse in God’s sight! Once we know that we have sinned, we must come to God for forgiveness. Jesus Christ was the sin offering for the whole world, including ignorant Israel (Luke 23:34; Acts 3:17). Our Lord’s prayer on Calvary did not automatically forgive their sins, because the people did not repent; but it did postpone the outpouring of God’s wrath for nearly forty years.

The priest’s sacrifice was the same as that of the whole congregation (vv. 3, 14), for the higher the privilege, the greater the responsibility (Luke 12:48). But when the offerings were brought by faith, God promised to forgive (vv. 20, 26, 31, 35). Of course, the final and complete atonement was wrought by Jesus Christ on the cross (Heb. 10:1–14).

When we sin, it affects our prayer life. This is why the priest had to cleanse the golden altar (v. 7). (See Ps. 66:18.)

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