Praise the Lord Jesus Christ, please study this chapter and then answer all 84 questions at the end of this chapter.

Leviticus Chapter 4

Leviticus 4:1 “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,”

The laws contained in the first three chapters, seem to have been delivered to Moses at one time. Here begin the laws of another day, which God delivered from between the cherubim.

It is important to remember that the people had been so frightened by the voice of God, that they had asked Moses to talk to God for them. We see here, that Moses is receiving the message from God for the people, as well as for himself.

Leviticus 4:2 “Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD [concerning things] which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them:”

“Ignorance”: The intended meaning is to stray into a sinful situation, but not necessarily to be taken completely by surprise (Num. 15:30-31), illustrates the defiant attitude of intentional sin.

“Not to be done … against any”: Sins of commission.

This statement tells us a great deal about sin. What you and I classify as sin, is not the only sin. God has a much higher standard about sin. Sins of ignorance happen many times with a brand new Christian. One of the things that quickly comes to mind in the discussion of sin is the Ten Commandments. When Jesus was speaking to the young man who wanted to know what he must do to be saved, the young man said he had kept the Ten Commandments from his youth. Jesus was pleased with the response, but He said, one thing you lack. You can easily see that just keeping the Ten Commandments is not enough. God looks upon the heart. Man must operate with a clear conscience and a pure heart. Jesus also said, if you look upon a woman to lust, you have committed adultery in your heart. With God (not man), just the desire in your heart to sin is sin. We will see over 600 ordinances in these next lessons. It is not humanly possible to keep up with all of them on a daily basis; and yet, if one is not properly done, it is sin. Somehow, there had to be a way out of all this, and that is what this lesson is all about.

Leviticus 4:3 “If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering.”

“Priest that is anointed” (see Exodus 29:29 and Lev. 16:32), which defined this person as the High-Priest.

“According to the sin of the people”: Only the High-Priest, due to his representative position, was capable of this type of guilt infusion. For example, Achan had brought about the defeat of Israel when he held back the spoils, but the entire nation was not executed, as was his family (compare Joshua 7:22-26).

We see in this, that the priest was a flesh and blood human being and he made mistakes too. This is not just any priest, this is speaking of the high priest, because it says the priest that was anointed. This appears that he might have even been bringing a message to the people that would cause them to sin. At any rate, his sin was associated with their sin (sin according to the sin of the people). A minister who sins, not only hurts himself, but the whole congregation. If you notice the offerings as we go along, you will note that the offering the anointed priest made was of greater value than the others. Jesus explains this very well when He said the following from Luke.

Luke 12:48 “But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few [stripes]. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.”

You see, the priest should know better than the people, so his offering should be more. We look at the statement (young bullock without blemish), so casually. This was serious business. This bullock must be the very best of the herd. This must be a male animal, it must not have any broken bones, it must be young enough not to have been with a cow. We could go on and on, because everything about this animal had to be perfect. This bullock was a shadow type of Jesus Christ’s body.

Leviticus 4:4 “And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD; and shall lay his hand upon the bullock’s head, and kill the bullock before the LORD.”

As the bullock of the burnt offering (see notes on Lev 1:3).

“And shall lay his hand on the bullock’s head”: The Targum of Jonathan says his right hand (see notes on Lev. 1:4).

“And kill the bullock before the Lord”: At the door of the tabernacle. That is, in the court, as Gersom observes. All this is typical of the imputation of sin to Christ, and of his death.

The only place of forgiveness for sin, is before the LORD, so he killed the animal before the LORD. Here again, we see the sin transferred to the bullock when he laid his hand upon the head of the animal. This, of course, is a type and shadow of Jesus, the head of the body of Christ, taking the sin of all who would believe upon His body on the cross. We could say that our sin was on His head. Sin must die. The bullock was killed, the body of Jesus also died. The wages of sin is death. Death of the substitute in both cases paid the price for the sinner. The difference, we have mentioned so many times, is that the animal’s blood could not do away with sin, it could only cover it. Jesus’ blood abolished sin, for all who will believe.

1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

Leviticus 4:5 “And the priest that is anointed shall take of the bullock’s blood, and bring it to the tabernacle of the congregation:”

Let out and received into a basin. This he did himself, and not another, for he offered for himself, and the blood was to make atonement for him.

“And bring it to the tabernacle of the congregation”: Out of the court where the bullock was slain, into the holy place, where were the vail that divided between the Holy of Holies, and the altar of sweet incense, after mentioned. He actually went into the Holy Place.

As we said, the priest that is anointed is the high priest. Only the high priest must dare go into the Holiest place.

Leviticus 4:6 “And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the LORD, before the veil of the sanctuary.”

“Seven times”: The number of completion or perfection, indicating the nature of God’s forgiveness (Psalm 103:12).

“The veil of the sanctuary”: The veil marked the entry into the very presence of God in the Holy of Holies.

The number 7, as we have mentioned before, means spiritually complete. This sprinkling of the blood seven times then, shows that the blood is the reconciling factor, and the work is complete in it. This veil of course, is the veil which separates the holy place and the Holy of Holies. Inside the veil is a type and shadow of heaven and the throne of God.

Leviticus 4:7 “And the priest shall put [some] of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD, which [is] in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which [is at] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.”

“Altar of sweet incense” (see Exodus 30:1-10). This altar was in the tabernacle proper before the veil. It was so close to the ark that Hebrews speaks of it as actually being in the Holy of Holies (Heb. 9:4). This altar was also sprinkled with blood on the Day of Atonement (Exodus 30:10).

“Altar of the burnt offering”: The altar in the courtyard on which blood was normally splashed.

To put the blood on the horns of the altar, symbolized that the power is in the blood. We know that all through these studies we have recognized that the symbolic meaning of the horns is strength and power. The smoke that rises from the altar of incense is symbolic of the prayers of the saints. The power of the prayers that we send heavenward is in the shed blood of the LORD JESUS CHRIST. When we pray, we are to pray in His name and by the power of His blood. The remainder of the blood was poured out at the foot of the bronze altar where the burnt offering was made. This blood would be absorbed by the earth. Jesus shed His blood for the whole earth.

Leviticus 4:8-10 “And he shall take off from it all the fat of the bullock for the sin offering; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that [is] upon the inwards,” “And the two kidneys, and the fat that [is] upon them, which [is] by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away,” “As it was taken off from the bullock of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall burn them upon the altar of the burnt offering.”

When the priest had killed the bullock, and sprinkled and poured the blood, as before commanded. He then cut up the bullock, and took out its inwards, and put them in a vessel. And salted them, and strewed them on the fires, and burnt them. And the fat of them, as he did with the sacrifice of the peace offerings. So that what is here said, and in the two next verses. (Lev. 4:9), is the same with what is ordered concerning them in (Lev. 3:3; see notes on 3:3; 3:4; 3:5). Jarchi and Gersom both observe that they agree, that as one brings peace into the world, so does the other.

I dare not separate these 3 verses. They are so tied together in the type and shadow they show us of Jesus. I have said so many times, that the body of Jesus was just a house for Jesus while He was on this earth dealing with mankind. The Spirit within that body was God. The Word of God took on the form of flesh and dwelt among us. He was Immanuel (God with us). The body was as all men who walked the earth. That is why He was born of woman; so that He might relate to all of us who are in flesh. Jesus took on the form of flesh that He might purchase His creation with His blood. To truly understand what I am saying here we must read John chapter one over and over. I will quote a few Scriptures that prove beyond a shadow of doubt that we are His creation.

John 1:1-3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” “The same was in the beginning with God.” “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

It was important for Him to take on the flesh, that He might be tempted in all areas we are tempted in, and yet He was without sin.

Notice in the verses from Leviticus above, that it was not the inner being that God was displeased with. You see, that which was inside the flesh of Jesus never stopped pleasing God. When Jesus took on the sin of the world, He took the sin upon His body, not into His body. The body of Jesus Christ died upon the cross, not the Spirit within that body. Jesus commanded His Spirit to leave the body and go to the throne of God.

Luke 23:46 “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”

You see, just as the offering of the bullock was divided here, so was the body and Spirit of Jesus at death. The bullock’s insides are burned as a sweet smelling savor to God in the tabernacle, and the body is carried outside the city wall to be burned. There is a separation of the Spirit and body of Jesus here at the crucifixion. God turned away from the sin on Jesus’ body; He did not turn His head from His Son within that body. On Him was laid the iniquities of us all.

In the previous lesson, we have been looking at the sin offering. This is a very important offering. The flesh offered in this offering is a shadow of the flesh of Jesus Christ. We noted in the last lesson, how Jesus took the sin of all the world upon His body on the cross at Calvary. Though His flesh became sin, that sin might die on the cross, the Spirit within that body was God the Son.

Leviticus 4:11 “And the skin of the bullock, and all his flesh, with his head, and with his legs, and his inwards, and his dung,”

“Dung”: This term identifies the major internal organs of an animal, including the intestines’ waste content.

Leviticus 4:12 “Even the whole bullock shall he carry forth without the camp unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire: where the ashes are poured out shall he be burnt.”

“Carry forth without the camp”: This was a symbolic gesture of removing the sign from the people (compare Heb. 11:11-13 in reference to Christ).

The act of carrying “forth without the camp unto a clean place” and then being burned with “fire” seems to distinguish it from the burnt offering. Both were holy, but their meaning might have been confused. One symbolized dedication, the other expiation. Both were acceptable to God. “Three examples of offenses that required a sin offering are given (in 5:1-13). The first is that of one who withholds evidence by failing to “utter it”. He had to “confess that he hath sinned” and then make appropriate restitution (6:5). The second offense involved contact with either unclean animals or persons (compare chapter 11). The third example was one in which someone pronounced aloud (“with his lips”), any kind of rash oath, perhaps without realizing fully the implications of what was being said. The combination of “evil … good”, is an ancient expression denoting totality. Hence the phrase could be translated “a rash oath to do anything at all” (compare 5:1-7).

We must remember here, that this is the sin offering. This animal’s flesh is accursed, because it took the sin on its body.

Galatians 3:13 “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that hangeth on a tree:”

The flesh of the Lord Jesus Christ took upon it the curse that belonged to us. This flesh which represented the sin of the whole world, must die. It is strange that all the time it was accursed it was also holy. The flesh of Jesus was holy, yet He took our curse upon His body, that we might receive His righteousness.

1 Peter 2:24 “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

Verses 13-21: Sacrifices for the sin of the congregation were to follow essentially the same procedure as that for the sin of priests (4:3-12).

Leviticus 4:13 “And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done [somewhat against] any of the commandments of the LORD [concerning things] which should not be done, and are guilty;”

The sin offering was not a voluntary sacrifice, as were the three sweet savor oblations in chapters 1-3. This offering was required of all: priests (verses 3-12), the congregation as a whole (verses 13-21), rulers (verses 22-26), and common individuals (verses 27-35). It made atonement for sins done “through ignorance” (bishgagah) or unintentionally or inadvertently. A sin of this type may result from two causes: negligence or ignorance. Either the perpetrator knows the law but unintentionally violates it, as in the case of accidental homicide (Num. 35:22-28; Deut. 19:4-10; Joshua 20:2-6, 9); or he acts without knowing he had done wrong. Some illustrations of these sins would be: (Gen. 20:9; Abimelech’s complaint to Abraham). And (Num. 22:34); Balaam: “I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me”. In opposition to these sins are those committed with a “high hand” (Num. 15:30), for which there is no atonement by any means of sacrifice (Heb. 10:28).

Leviticus 4:14 “When the sin, which they have sinned against it, is known, then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin, and bring him before the tabernacle of the congregation.”

Any of the commandments of the Lord forbidding such a thing to be done.

“Is known”: Is made known to them by the priest, or any other, so that they are convinced that what has been done is wrong, though done through ignorance.

“Then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin, and bring him before the tabernacle of the congregation”: The same offering with that of the anointed priest, he being, as Aben Ezra on the place observes, equal to all Israel.

The first thing we must note here, is that the offering for sin for the whole congregation is no more than the offering just the priest had to offer for his sin. This tells me again, how much more severe is the punishment for those who sin with full knowledge.

I believe a message that we must see in this pertains to our day as well. We have allowed materialism to become a god for us. Our people are not speaking up against the filth that is on the television and in the movie houses. Many things are being done in the name of art and are being accepted by Christians, even inside the church. We could say then, that we are sinning by omission. We should stand up against these things, if we are to be found not guilty in God’s sight. The very same things that God found wrong in Leviticus are still wrong in His sight. Have we forgotten that we serve a holy God? We must repent; as a country and as believers in Christ.

2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

America, and most of the known world, have wandered away from God. Come back to Him now while there is still time. Read your Bible, and find out what God’s plan for your life is. So much is being done in the church today in the name of art. Re-examine your stand on these things. Judgement begins in the house of God.

1 Peter 4:17 “For the time [is come] that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if [it] first [begin] at us, what shall the end [be] of them that obey not the gospel of God?”

Are we showing enough respect for a holy God?

Leviticus 4:15 “And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock before the LORD: and the bullock shall be killed before the LORD.”

These must be two at least, some say three, and some say five; the more generally received notion is, that they were three of the Sanhedrim; though the Targum of Jonathan makes them to be the twelve rulers of the twelve tribes.

“And the bullock shall be killed before the Lord”: In the court near the altar of burnt offering, either by a priest, or Levite, or by a butcher, as the above Targum expresses it.

These elders here, are twelve men who have been chosen to represent the whole group. Twelve, you remember from a previous lesson is the number which represents the whole; such as the 12 apostles. They were all to lay their hands upon the head of the bullock, thereby transferring the sins of all the people on the bullock.

Leviticus 4:16 “And the priest that is anointed shall bring of the bullock’s blood to the tabernacle of the congregation:”

That is, the chief priest, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan explain it.

“To the tabernacle of the congregation”: As he brought the blood of his own bullock (Lev. 4:5). From there to the (Lev. 4:16), an account is given of the same rites to be observed in the sin offering, for the congregation, as for the anointed priest (see notes on Lev. 4:6; 4:7; 4:12).

We have mentioned before, that the priest that is anointed, is the high priest in authority at present.

Leviticus 4:17 “And the priest shall dip his finger [in some] of the blood, and sprinkle [it] seven times before the LORD, [even] before the veil.”

“And sprinkle it”: It was not to be poured out there, but sprinkled only. For the cleansing virtue of the blood of Christ was sufficiently represented by sprinkling. It was sprinkled seven times. This signified the perfect satisfaction Christ made, and the complete cleansing of our souls thereby.

Leviticus 4:18 “And he shall put [some] of the blood upon the horns of the altar which [is] before the LORD, that [is] in the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall pour out all the blood at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which [is at] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.”

The priest then took the blood into the holy place, where, after dipping his finger in it seven times, he sprinkled the drops seven times before the veil. This done, he returned to the court of the priests, and ascending the altar, put some portion upon its horns; then he poured it out at the foot of the altar.

We touched on all of this when we dealt with the sin offering for the priest. We see that the offering for sin does not vary. We will touch again on one or two points here. The high priest first offered for himself, but then he offers for the congregation. Remember 7 means spiritually complete. We also know that the symbolic meaning of putting the blood on the horns is (power in the blood). The blood being poured out at the foot of the altar shows this blood is for all the earth, for whosoever will accept it as their sacrifice.

Leviticus 4:19 “And he shall take all his fat from him, and burn [it] upon the altar.”

The fat was the only part of the animal which was offered on the altar; for the carcass, with its appurtenances and internal organs, were carried without the camp, into the place where the ashes were deposited, and there consumed with fire.

This fat being burned, made a sweet savor to God. We remember this represents the fact that Jesus glorified the Father in the crucifixion. Jesus was obedient to the Father even unto death.

Leviticus 4:20-21 “And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them.” “And he shall carry forth the bullock without the camp, and burn him as he burned the first bullock: it [is] a sin offering for the congregation.”

Let us never forget, that this sin offering, is a type and shadow of what Jesus did for us on the cross. (One for all), had been taught even in the Old Testament. We will see from the following Scripture that the Jews had been taught from the beginning, that one should die for all.

John 11:49-50 “And one of them, [named] Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,” “Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.”

Just as in the Scripture, one should die that the whole congregation might live. We know that the Jews gave several reasons why Jesus was not to be crucified inside the city wall, but the real reason, which they were apparently unaware of, was the fact that He was the sin offering and had to fulfill every aspect of that offering.

We have been looking at the sin offering in the last few lessons. We saw that the sin offering for the priest was the same offering as the offering for the whole church. In this lesson, we will look at the sin offering of a ruler, and the sin offering of the common people. We could relate this to our governors, mayors, senators, representatives, or even the president. We will find that their offering is different. Perhaps this is because the ruler affects the lives of all the people he represents. A good ruler will carry out the will of God, while he is in office. We find most politicians not seeking God’s will, but the will of those who put him in office. Little do they realize that the powers that be, are there because God put them there, not the people.

Verses 22-26: These are sacrifices for the sin of a ruler. The blood of the sacrifice was not sprinkled in the Holy Place, as for the priest or congregation (4:6, 17), but only on the altar of burnt offering.

Leviticus 4:22 “When a ruler hath sinned, and done [somewhat] through ignorance [against] any of the commandments of the LORD his God [concerning things] which should not be done, and is guilty;”

Or “prince”, the “nasi”. One that is lifted up above others in honor, power, and authority, or that bears the weight of government. The word comes from one which signifies to lift up, or to bear. It may be understood of a governor of a family, or of a tribe, as Aben Ezra observes. And so in the Talmud it is said, it means the prince of a tribe, such as Nachson the son of Amminadab, prince of the tribe of Judah. Maimonides says a king is designed, over whom none has power. And so Gersom on the place, who observes, that David the king is called a prince (Ezek. 34:24).

“And done somewhat through ignorance against any of the commandments of the Lord his God”: The phrase, “his God”, is here added, and is not used neither of the anointed priest, nor of the congregation, nor of one of the common people. Only of the prince, to show, that though he is above others, God is above him, and he is accountable to him. He is his God, of whom he is, and by whom he rules. Wherefore if he breaks any of his commandments, though ignorantly, he must bring a sacrifice for it.

“Concerning things which should not be done, and is guilty”: Of transgressing negative precepts, which are as binding on him as others.

In this verse above, we see that this ruler believed in God; (the Lord his God). We must also see that this is not a deliberate sin, but a sin through ignorance. The third thing we must see is that he really did sin and he is guilty.

Leviticus 4:23 “Or if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish:”

Or rather, “and if his sin”, etc. Either by means of others informing him of it, or of himself calling to mind what he has done, and considering it to be a transgression of the law.

“He shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish”: His offering was to be a “kid of the goats”. A fat and a large one; because, as Baal Hatturim observes, he ate fat things every day. And to distinguish it from the offering of one of the common people; and “without blemish”; as all sacrifices were, that they might be typical of the offering of Christ without spot.

When I see a goat, it reminds me of the separation of the sheep and goats in heaven. Perhaps the offering of this goat here tells us that the ruler is a ruler in worldly things, not so much the spiritual things. He is possibly not of the sheepfold. The sheep follow the great Shepherd Jesus Christ. This above is a male goat which has horns. The horns, of course denote strength. A goat’s horns would denote world power. We see that possibly, this is a sin against the world and not of the congregation.

Leviticus 4:24 “And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat, and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the LORD: it [is] a sin offering.”

His right hand, as the Targum of Jonathan (see notes on Lev. 1:4).

“And kill it”: Not the prince, but the priest after mentioned, or the butcher, as the same Targum. That is, the priest shall kill it; for it was not lawful for any out of that office to kill the beast.

“In the place where they kill the burnt offering before the Lord”: In the court on the north side of the altar (see Lev. 1:11).

“It is a sin offering”: An offering for his sin of ignorance, or “sin”. So Christ our offering is said to be (2 Cor. 5:21).

We see that the goat is to be killed just inside the tabernacle of the congregation at the bronze altar. This ruler, even though he rules in things of the world, is still answerable to God for the way he governs. There is no one on this earth, who does not have to answer to a higher power. The most powerful king in all the world has to answer to God for his actions. This sin offering then is possibly, for his sins in regard to the way he governs.

Leviticus 4:25 “And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put [it] upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out his blood at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering.”

With the finger of his right hand, as the Talmudists observe, and Gersom on the place. The priest first received the blood into a basin or ministering vessel, and then dipped the finger of his right hand into it, that next the thumb.

“And put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering”: The four horns of it. In this there was a difference between the sacrifice of the anointed priest and of the congregation, and this of the ruler. The blood of the former was put upon the horns of the altar of incense, this upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering.

“And shall pour out his blood at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering”: The South bottom of it. The order of the priest’s proceeding in putting the blood was different from that used in putting it on the horns of the altar of incense. Here he first put the blood upon the southeast horn, then upon the northeast, next upon the northwest, and then upon the southwest. And upon the bottom of that horn where he finished, he poured the remainder of the blood, which was the southern bottom.

One of the most apparent differences in this offering is that the blood is not carried into the presence of God, as the other 2 were. I see in this, that this is a worldly matter, not a heavenly matter. We see in the other offerings that the blood was taken to the veil of separation and sprinkled 7 times before the Lord. This was to make mankind able to go into the presence of the Father. This is not done in this instance. The blood is applied to the horns where the burnt offering is made. This then, would indicate that this offering is for the outer court.

Blood on the horns indicates the power of this ruler, in dealing with the people, is ordained of God. This was not for man to go to heaven, but had to do with this earth. I cannot help but think that this has to do with the thousand year reign of Jesus Christ on the earth. He will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords, here on the earth for 1000 years.

Revelation 17:14 “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him [are] called, and chosen, and faithful.”

Revelation 19:16 And he hath on [his] vesture and on his thigh a name written,” KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Revelation 20:6 “Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”

Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin. We see the blood not only applied on the horns of the altar, but poured out at the base of the altar on the ground. We still see the substitute of the goat’s blood for the sin of the ruler. Jesus shed His blood for the whole earth. We see this in the blood being poured out at the foot of the altar and being absorbed in the earth. Horns denote strength, and we see by this that the strength here is from God.

Leviticus 4:26 “And he shall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him.”

Of burnt offering, that is, the priest shall do it.

“As the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings (see Lev. 3:3).

“And the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin”: In a typical way, directing to the great sacrifice of Christ, which is the only real atonement and propitiation for sin. The Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions, render, “the priest shall pray for him”: for the pardon of his sin.

“And it shall be forgiven him”: Not for the prayers of the priest, nor for the sacrifice offered up, but for the sake of Christ. The antitype of such sacrifices, and when faith was exercised on him. Or the meaning is, he shall not be punished for it.

This fat burned, is a sweet savor to God. We see that this offering is accepted by God. We know that this offering does not open the veil into the most Holy Place, as in the other offering. It appears that this offering is for blessings of this earth, since the blood was not sprinkled 7 times before the veil. God accepts this offering and the one who offered is forgiven. Blessings from God can be two-fold. The right hand blessing was always a spiritual blessing and was really a promise of eternal life in heaven. The left hand blessing was a blessing for the earth. The patriarchs blessed their children and grandchildren in this manner. Possibly, the two sons of Abraham, Isaac and Ishmael, were the best example of this. Isaac was known as the son of the spirit and Ishmael was the son of the flesh. Both were blessed, but Isaac’s blessing was for all generations of believers in the Spirit. Ishmael’s blessings were just for the earth.

Leviticus 4:27 “And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth [somewhat against] any of the commandments of the LORD [concerning things] which ought not to be done, and be guilty;”

Or, “if one soul of the people of the earth”. That is, a single person, and so is distinguished from the congregation, one of the common sort of people. However, is neither a high priest, nor a prince, or king, but either a common priest, or Levite, or Israelite. No man is free from sin; all sorts of persons, of all ranks and degrees. High and low, rich and poor, men in office, civil or ecclesiastical, or in whatsoever state of life, are liable to sin. And do sin continually, either ignorantly or willingly. And Christ is a sacrifice for all sins and for all sorts of sinners.

“Whilst he doeth somewhat”: etc. (see notes on Lev. 4:2; 4:13; 4:22).

Common in the Scripture above means country, earth, grounds, world, or wilderness. This seems strange, but it gives meaning to this Scripture. The people mentioned in the Scripture above then would be earthly people. They are Israelites however, since these are Israel’s descendants who left Egypt headed for the Promised Land. We might think of these, in our day, of people who say they are Christians, but really are not interested in God’s purpose for life. They are caught up in the world so much that their belief in Christ is secondary to them. They would not find it necessary to study God’s Word, or to get personally involved in His work. It would be really easy for them to sin without knowing they were sinning, since they had not studied the Bible very much.

Leviticus 4:28 “Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned.”

So that he is convinced that he has sinned.

“Then he shall bring his offering”: To the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to the priest there:

“A kid of the goats”: A young goat.

“A female without blemish”: And so inferior to the offering of the ruler or prince. For the characters of men are aggravations of their sins, and sacrifices were to be in some measure answerable to them, and suitable to their circumstances.

“For the sin which he hath sinned”: To atone for it in a typical way.

Notice in these sin offerings, how the priest was required to bring the most offering. Then notice the congregation, who knew the will of God was required to bring the next best offering. The ruler brought a lesser gift than the priest, and now the common people brought an even lesser offering. The ruler’s offering had to be more, because his sin affected more people than just the common people. A female animal had less strength than a male animal, and would therefore be correct to bring in this instance, since the ruler was stronger than the common people. Regardless of how poor a person was; he still must bring an offering to the Lord. The shedding of blood was required for a sin offering always. Even though this goat is a female, the shed blood of this animal cleansing from sin still shadowed the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not necessary for a shadow to be the exact same as the one it shadowed. It must just remind us of the one being shadowed. Notice also that even this lesser offering must be without blemish.

Leviticus 4:29 “And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering.”

His right hand, as the Targum of Jonathan. Not the priest that shall offer it, but the man that has sinned, that brings it, thereby confessing his sin, and transferring it to the sacrifice.

“And slay the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering”: That is, on the north side of the altar.

We see one more time, the transfer of the sin to the animal, by the laying of the hand upon its head. The shed blood is the price to be paid for the sin of the person.

Leviticus 4:30 “And the priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger, and put [it] upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar.”

So that all the preceding actions, the bringing the offering, the putting the hand upon the head of it, and slaying it, were done by the man that sinned. Of this and what follows here and in the next verse (Leviticus 4:31; see notes on Lev. 4:25; 4:26).

This is the same as the offering for the ruler. The power is in the blood.

Leviticus 4:31 “And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat is taken away from off the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall burn [it] upon the altar for a sweet savor unto the LORD; and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him.”

(See notes on Lev. 4:25-26).

This offering again, is the same as the offering for the ruler. God accepts this fat burned as a sweet savor to God.

Leviticus 4:32 “And if he bring a lamb for a sin offering, he shall bring it a female without blemish.”

As he might if he would. The Jews observe, that in all places a lamb is put before a goat, as being more excellent in its kind. But here it is mentioned after, which shows, they say, that they are equally alike.

“He shall bring it a female without blemish”: Typical of Christ the Lamb of God, without spot and without blemish (1 Peter 1:19).

This again, is just showing that these common people were not required to bring as valuable a gift as was required for the ruler. We also can look and see that there were fewer restrictions on the common people, than on the ruler. To rule requires self-denial and a stricter way of life than for the common people.

Leviticus 4:33 “And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay it for a sin offering in the place where they kill the burnt offering.”

On the head of the lamb, as on the head of the goat. Even his right hand, as the above Targum, as before.

“And slay it for a sin offering, in the place where they kill the burnt offering”: For if it was not slain for a sin offering, but for something else. Or on any other account, as for a burnt offering, it was not right.

Leviticus 4:34 “And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put [it] upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar:”

(See notes on Leviticus 4:25-26).

Leviticus 4:35 “And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat of the lamb is taken away from the sacrifice of the peace offerings; and the priest shall burn them upon the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD: and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath committed, and it shall be forgiven him.”

(See notes on Leviticus 4:25-26).

In each of these verses about the offerings of the common people, the offering is the same, except a female goat or sheep could be offered, whereas for the ruler, it must be a male goat. We do not see instructions in this to take the animal outside of town to burn the meat, as we did in the case of the congregation’s and the priest’s offering.

Leviticus 4: Questions