The sin offering (Lv 4:1-35) was offered for the sin as the name implies. Yet what is sin? God defined it this way: doing any of the things the LORD commanded not to be done (Lv 4:1).
Yet, Scripture tells us this type of offering was performed for a sin of ignorance. It could be offered for the entire congregation, or for the ruler, or for the common people. If offering for an individual, it had to be a male or female lamb or goat, and it had to be accompanied by a burnt offering. Again, this shows the reason we desire God to act, because we are devoted to him.
What does “a sin of ignorance” mean? This means this sacrifice was for an unknown sin, that is, committing something at the time and not realizing it was a sin. This sacrifice could not be made for a willful sin. There was no sacrifice for a willful sin.
Forgiveness of willful sin did occur, and we have examples of that in Scripture, but there was a requirement that the individual be truly repentant. For example, King David was forgiven for his sin with Bathsheba (2Sa 12:13). It would seem only a truly repentant heart was needed and likely, the offering on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) covered willful sin of those truly repentant.
This offering required the fat, liver, & kidneys of the animal to be sacrificed. Again, this is showing one is offering their very essence to God. The remainder of the animal was taken outside the camp (or city) and burned to ashes if it was for a priest or the congregation as a whole. If performed for an individual sin, the flesh of the animal was given to the priests for their consumption. There were several sins mentioned that would be forgiven (Lv 5:2-4): realizing one unknowingly touched something unclean, or someone thoughtlessly took an oath. They had to confess their specific sin (Lv 5:5). This meant this sacrifice could not be done “just in case.” One had to know the sin they committed, even though at the time it was committed, they were unaware of the severeness of their actions. Yet, as soon as they knew their actions were sinful or they violated the Mosaic Law in some way, they were to make this offering for this specific sin.
There was also something unusual about this type of offering that was not true for any of the other offerings. Whatever touched the flesh of the sacrifice became holy or dedicated to the service of God. Therefore, special precautions had to be made for this sacrifice to ensure it did not accidentally touch something it should not touch.
Ignorance is not bliss! And was not allowed to be used as an excuse for sin. We are still held accountable for our sin even if we don’t know we are sinning. Once we become aware, we are to seek forgiveness immediately—just like the Israelites were expected to do.
Sin results in defilement. God stated there were sins which Israel committed which were said to defile the people, the land, and even the dwelling place of God. These were such things as sexual immorality (Lv 18:24-30), bloodshed (Nu 35:29-34), occult practices (Lv 19:31; 20:6), infant sacrifice (Lv 20:1-5), divorce (Jr 3:1), and false worship (Jr 16:18).
The sin offering was necessary to restore one’s broken relationship with God. Just as touching the sin offering made whatever it touched holy, Christ as our sin offering declares us righteous, even though we did nothing to deserve it. Paul said it this way, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Ro 5:1). This sacrifice therefore represented a restoration of being able to communicate with God.
The way Jesus healed was significant. Was he going against the Mosaic Law when he touched someone to heal them? No, because only he was the only one who could touch the unclean without becoming unclean. Jesus did not become unclean when he touched those unclean. Instead, those who were unclean became clean. Why? Because he was our sin offering. Anything that touched the sin offering became holy, or clean. Their uncleanness, i.e., their sickness, was immediately healed just from Jesus’ touch. See this post: Touch of Jesus. His miracles were just another way of demonstrating how he was fulfilling the Mosaic Law.
We see how the sin offering restored the vertical relationship we have with God, but what about the relationship with those around us. Sometimes our sin, even when done in ignorance, hurts those around us and causes conflict. Was their a sacrifice for that as well? Join me next time and find out.
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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens