Leviticus:4

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* Verse 1-12 - Burnt-offerings , meat-offerings , and peace-offerings , had been offered before the giving of the law upon mount Sinai ; and in these the patriarchs had respect to sin , to make atonement for it . But the Jews were now put into a way of making atonement for sin , more particularly by sacrifice , as a shadow of good things to come ; yet the substance is Christ , and that one offering of himself , by which he put away sin . The sins for which the sin-offerings were appointed are supposed to be open acts . They are supposed to be sins of commission , things which ought not to have been done . Omissions are sins , and must come into judgment : yet what had been omitted at one time , might be done at another ; but a sin committed was past recall . They are supposed to be sins committed through ignorance . The law begins with the case of the anointed priest . It is evident that God never had any infallible priest in his church upon earth , when even the high priest was liable to fall into sins of ignorance . All pretensions to act without error are sure marks of Antichrist . The beast was to be carried without the camp , and there burned to ashes . This was a sign of the duty of repentance , which is the putting away sin as a detestable thing , which our soul hates . The sin-offering is called sin . What they did to that , we must do to our sins ; the body of sin must be destroyed , Romans strkjv @6:6 . The apostle applies the carrying this sacrifice without the camp to Christ , Hebrews strkjv @13:11-13 . * Verse 13-21 - If the leaders of the people , through mistake , caused them to err , an offering must be brought , that wrath might not come upon the whole congregation . When sacrifices were offered , the persons , on whose behalf they were devoted , were to lay their hands on the heads of the victims , and to confess their sins . The elders were to do so , when the sacrifices were offered for the whole congregation . The load of sin was supposed then to be borne by the guiltless animal . When the offering is completed , it is said , atonement is made , and the sin shall be forgiven . The saving of churches and kingdoms from ruin , is owing to the satisfaction and mediation of Christ . * Verse 22-26 - Those who have power to call others to account , are themselves accountable to the Ruler of rulers . The sin of the ruler , committed through ignorance , must come to his knowledge , either by the check of his own conscience , or by the reproof of his friends ; both which even the best and greatest , not only should submit to , but be thankful for . That which I see not , teach thou me , and , Show me wherein I have erred , are prayers we should put up to God every day ; that if , through ignorance , we fall into sin , we may not through ignorance abide in it . * Verse 27-35 - Here is the law of the sin-offering for a common person . To be able to plead , when charged with sin , that we did it ignorantly , and through the surprise of temptation , will not bring us off , if we have no interest in that great plea , Christ hath died . The sins of ignorance committed by a common person , needed a sacrifice ; the greatest are not above , the meanest are not below Divine justice . None , if offenders , were overlooked . Here rich and poor meet together ; they are alike sinners , and welcome to Christ . From all these laws concerning the sin-offerings , we may learn to hate sin , and to watch against it ; and to value Christ , the great and true Sin-offering , whose blood cleanses from all sin , which it was not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away . For us to err , with the Bible in our hands , is the effect of pride , sloth , and carelessness . We need to use frequent self-examination , with serious study of the Scriptures , and earnest prayer for the convincing influences of God the Holy Spirit ; that we may detect our sins of ignorance , repent , and obtain forgiveness through the blood of Christ . **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary ****

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