Have you ever had someone call you out for offending them, when you had NO idea you did anything? Dare I say, this happens with God a lot in our lives? Since God is our ultimate standard, all disobedience is sin–even if it was unintentional or unknowingly committed.
The end of Exodus leaves us with the glory of the Lord filling the tabernacle. This leads us wonderfully into Leviticus as we learn the rites and sacrifices to ‘establish [Israel] as God’s holy people and to instruct her in holiness’ (NIV Study Bible).
Leviticus offers a shining example for us of the detail to which God wants us to examine our own lives today. Share on XLeviticus offers a shining example for us of the detail to which God wants us to examine our own lives today. Man must revere God through holy living, after taking the appropriate steps as a result of sin.
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Sacrifices
We think of sacrifices today in modern terms, something we do without (usually) for our own greater good. For the Israelites, a sacrifice meant they would offer up something valuable for atonement, worship, and sin, to name a few. There are 5 offerings of sacrifice Leviticus dives into right away. Similar to the tabernacle pointing to things to come, so too, the basic understanding of the different sacrifices points to the future.
Sin and Guilt Offerings
If multiple offerings were given, sin offering and guilt offerings came first because sin had to be dealt with first.
Different people gave different sin offerings:
- High priest/congregation: young bull
- Leader: male goat
- Common person: female goat or lamb
- Poor: dove or pigeon
- Very poor: Tenth of an ephah of fine flour
These represented mandatory atonement for specific unintentional sin, confessions of sin, forgiveness of sin, and cleansing from defilement.
For guilt offerings, all people were given the choice to offer a ram or a lamb.
Similar to sin offerings, these represented mandatory atonement for specific unintentional sin REQUIRING restitution, cleansing from defilement, and included making restitution and paying 20% fine.
Burnt Offering
If multiple offerings were given, burnt offerings came next. These came after the sin and guilt offerings, as it was now appropriate to commit themselves completely to God.
In general, everyone could give an unflawed bull, ram, or male bird to be wholly consumed; while the poor were also given the option of a dove or young pigeon.
These were voluntary acts of worship, atonement for unintentional sin in general, expression of devotion, commitment and complete surrender to God.
Fellowship and Grain Offerings
The fellowship (as a whole representing vow, thank, and freewill offerings; sometimes included a drink offering) and grain offerings followed the other sacrifices. After sin was addressed, committing themselves to God and His holy standards, THEN fellowship and communion could occur.
For fellowship offerings, a variety of options existed: any animal without defect from a herd or flock and a variety of breads.
These were also voluntary acts of worship, thanksgiving and fellowship, and included a communal meal.
For grain offerings, it is fairly self-explanatory (and easier to remember): grain, fine flour, olive oil, incense, baked bread (cakes or wafers), salt. These all, though, were to be made without yeast or honey.
These accompanied both burnt offerings and fellowship offerings in different capacities. They represented voluntary acts of worship, recognition of God’s goodness and provision, and devotion to God.
The structure set up here points to the relevant picture to us today that we see in the New Testament. When sin is known, we need to acknowledge it and repent, then commit to change and holy living, and finally we can enter into fellowship with the Lord.
Special considerations…
There are a couple things that I want to highlight that stand out when reading through the guidelines for proper sacrificial formalities. Before I do though, keep in mind some of the other highlights as you read Leviticus: consequences for sins, making restitution, sinning is an offense against God first then others, the specifics of how and where the sacrifices take place, the focus on holiness, the serious consequences of doing something wrong will lead to cutting that person off from the people.
First, take note that status does not inhibit anyone from becoming right with the Lord. God does not esteem the rich and desire for socially respected members to come to Him. He welcomes all, and even offers options for everyone to come with what they can afford.
All disobedience is sin…
The other notable impression is the mention of unintentional sin. In chapters 4 and 5 alone, unintentional sin is addressed in 11 verses! All disobedience is sin, and here it is clarified.
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “If anyone commits a breach of faith and sins unintentionally in any of the holy things of the Lord, he shall bring to the Lord as his compensation, a ram without blemish out of the flock, valued in silver shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, for a guilt offering. He shall also make restitution for what he has done amiss in the holy thing and shall add a fifth to it and give it to the priest. And the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering, and he shall be forgiven.
“If anyone sins, doing any of the things that by the Lord’s commandments ought not to be done, though he did not know it, then realizes his guilt, he shall bear his iniquity. He shall bring to the priest a ram without blemish out of the flock, or its equivalent, for a guilt offering, and the priest shall make atonement for him for the mistake that he made unintentionally, and he shall be forgiven. It is a guilt offering; he has indeed incurred guilt before the Lord.”
Leviticus 5:14-19, emphasis added
Make no mistake, unintentional sin is still sin. All disobedience is sin. “He has incurred guilt before the Lord.“
The same is true yet today. We sin unintentionally and need to become right with God. Our lives no longer demand a sacrificial offering, since Jesus became that for us. Now, we acknowledge, repent, and change our ways. The Holy Spirit helps us know our sin and disobedience, then we offer our repentance through our sacrifical lamb (Jesus) to live holy lives for God.
If someone shares with you an offense you unintentionally committed, recognize like the Israelites were instructed, that it is first a sin against God, then against that person. You’ll need to make yourself right first with God, then with that person.
Last Week
Exodus 35 – Leviticus 1
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Leviticus is confirmation that sin is an offense to God’s holiness. We transgress against a standard he has set. Thank you for your good work.
This is a TOUGH one isn’t it? But God is holy.