mh_parser/vol_split/3 - Leviticus/Chapter 4.xml

<div2 id="Lev.v" n="v" next="Lev.vi" prev="Lev.iv" progress="51.86%" title="Chapter IV">
<h2 id="Lev.v-p0.1">L E V I T I C U S</h2>
<h3 id="Lev.v-p0.2">CHAP. IV.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Lev.v-p1">This chapter is concerning the sin-offering, which
was properly intended to make atonement for a sin committed through
ignorance, I. By the priest himself, <scripRef id="Lev.v-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.4.1-Lev.4.12" parsed="|Lev|4|1|4|12" passage="Le 4:1-12">ver. 1-12</scripRef>. Or, II. By the whole
congregation, <scripRef id="Lev.v-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.4.13-Lev.4.21" parsed="|Lev|4|13|4|21" passage="Le 4:13-21">ver. 13-21</scripRef>.
Or, III. By a ruler, <scripRef id="Lev.v-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Lev.4.22-Lev.4.26" parsed="|Lev|4|22|4|26" passage="Le 4:22-26">ver.
22-26</scripRef>. Or, IV. By a private person, <scripRef id="Lev.v-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Lev.4.27-Lev.4.35" parsed="|Lev|4|27|4|35" passage="Le 4:27-35">ver. 27</scripRef>, &amp;c.</p>
<scripCom id="Lev.v-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Lev.4" parsed="|Lev|4|0|0|0" passage="Le 4" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Lev.v-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Lev.4.1-Lev.4.12" parsed="|Lev|4|1|4|12" passage="Le 4:1-12" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Lev.4.1-Lev.4.12">
<h4 id="Lev.v-p1.7">Law of the Sin-Offering. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.v-p1.8">b. c.</span> 1490.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Lev.v-p2">1 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.v-p2.1">Lord</span>
spake unto Moses, saying,   2 Speak unto the children of
Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any
of the commandments of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.v-p2.2">Lord</span>
<i>concerning things</i> which ought not to be done, and shall do
against any of them:   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
<span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.v-p2.3">Lord</span> for a sin offering.   4
And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of
the congregation before the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.v-p2.4">Lord</span>;
and shall lay his hand upon the bullock's head, and kill the
bullock before the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.v-p2.5">Lord</span>.   5
And the priest that is anointed shall take of the bullock's blood,
and bring it to the tabernacle of the congregation:   6 And
the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the
blood seven times before the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.v-p2.6">Lord</span>,
before the vail of the sanctuary.   7 And the priest shall put
<i>some</i> of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet
incense before the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.v-p2.7">Lord</span>, which
<i>is</i> 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 <i>is at</i> the door of the tabernacle of the
congregation.   8 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 <i>is</i> upon the inwards,   9
And the two kidneys, and the fat that <i>is</i> upon them, which
<i>is</i> by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the
kidneys, it shall he take away,   10 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.   11 And
the skin of the bullock, and all his flesh, with his head, and with
his legs, and his inwards, and his dung,   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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.v-p3">The laws contained in the first three
chapters seem to have been delivered to Moses at one time. Here
begin the statutes of another session, another day. From the throne
of glory between the cherubim God delivered these orders. And he
enters now upon a subject more strictly new than those before.
Burnt-offerings, meat-offerings, and peace-offerings, it should
seem, had been offered before the giving of the law upon mount
Sinai; those sacrifices the patriarchs had not been altogether
unacquainted with (<scripRef id="Lev.v-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.8.20 Bible:Exod.20.24" parsed="|Gen|8|20|0|0;|Exod|20|24|0|0" passage="Ge 8:20,Ex 20:24">Gen. viii.
20; Exod. xx. 24</scripRef>), and in them they had respect to sin,
to make atonement for it, <scripRef id="Lev.v-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Job.1.5" parsed="|Job|1|5|0|0" passage="Job 1:5">Job i.
5</scripRef>. But the law being now added <i>because of
transgressions</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.v-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:Gal.3.19" parsed="|Gal|3|19|0|0" passage="Ga 3:19">Gal. iii.
19</scripRef>), and having entered, that eventually <i>the offence
might abound</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.v-p3.4" osisRef="Bible:Rom.5.20" parsed="|Rom|5|20|0|0" passage="Ro 5:20">Rom. v.
20</scripRef>), they were put into a way of making atonement for
sin more particularly by sacrifice, which was (more than any of the
ceremonial institutions) <i>a shadow of good things to come,</i>
but the substance is Christ, and that one offering of himself by
which he put away sin and <i>perfected for ever those who are
sanctified.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.v-p4">I. The general case supposed we have,
<scripRef id="Lev.v-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.4.2" parsed="|Lev|4|2|0|0" passage="Le 4:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>. Here observe, 1.
Concerning sin in general, that it is described to be against
<i>any of the commandments of the Lord;</i> for <i>sin is the
transgression of the law,</i> the divine law. The wits or wills of
men, their inventions or their injunctions, cannot make that to be
sin which the law of God has not made to be so. It is said
likewise, <i>if a soul sin,</i> for it is not sin if it be not some
way or other the soul's act; hence it is called the <i>sin of the
soul</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.v-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Mic.6.7" parsed="|Mic|6|7|0|0" passage="Mic 6:7">Mic. vi. 7</scripRef>), and
it is the soul that is injured by it, <scripRef id="Lev.v-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Prov.8.36" parsed="|Prov|8|36|0|0" passage="Pr 8:36">Prov. viii. 36</scripRef>. 2. Concerning the sins for
which those offerings were appointed. (1.) They are supposed to be
overt acts; for, had they been required to bring a sacrifice for
every sinful thought or word, the task had been endless. Atonement
was made for those in the gross, on the day of expiation, once a
year; but these are said to be done against the commandments. (2.)
They are supposed to be sins of commission, things which ought not
to be done. Omissions are sins, and must come into judgment; but
what had been omitted at one time might be done at another, and so
to obey was better than sacrifice: but a commission was past
recall. (3.) They are supposed to be sins committed through
ignorance. If they were done presumptuously, and with an avowed
contempt of the law and the Law-maker, the offender was to be cut
off, and there remained <i>no sacrifice for the sin,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.v-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:Heb.10.26-Heb.10.27 Bible:Num.15.30" parsed="|Heb|10|26|10|27;|Num|15|30|0|0" passage="Heb 10:26,27,Nu 15:30">Heb. x. 26, 27; Num. xv.
30</scripRef>. But if the offender were either ignorant of the law,
as in divers instances we may suppose many were (so numerous and
various were the prohibitions), or were surprised into the sin
unawares, the circumstances being such as made it evident that his
resolution against the sin was sincere, but that he was overtaken
in it, as the expression is (<scripRef id="Lev.v-p4.5" osisRef="Bible:Gal.6.1" parsed="|Gal|6|1|0|0" passage="Ga 6:1">Gal. vi.
1</scripRef>), in this case relief was provided by the remedial law
of the sin-offering. And the Jews say, "Those crimes only were to
be expiated by sacrifice, if committed ignorantly, for which the
criminal was to have been cut off if they had been committed
presumptuously."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.v-p5">II. The law begins with the case of the
anointed priest, that is, the high priest, provided he should sin
through ignorance; for <i>the law made men priests who had
infirmity.</i> Though his ignorance was of all others least
excusable, yet he was allowed to bring his offering. His office did
not so far excuse his offence as that it should be forgiven him
without a sacrifice; yet it did not so far aggravate it but that it
should be forgiven him when he did bring his sacrifice. If he sin
<i>according to the sin of the people</i> (so the case is put,
<scripRef id="Lev.v-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.4.3" parsed="|Lev|4|3|0|0" passage="Le 4:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>), which supposes
him in this matter to stand upon the level with other Israelites,
and to have no benefit of his clergy at all. Now the law concerning
the sin-offering for the high priest is, 1. That he must bring a
bullock without blemish for a sin-offering (<scripRef id="Lev.v-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.4.3" parsed="|Lev|4|3|0|0" passage="Le 4:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>), as valuable an offering as that
for the whole congregation (<scripRef id="Lev.v-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Lev.4.14" parsed="|Lev|4|14|0|0" passage="Le 4:14"><i>v.</i>
14</scripRef>); whereas for any other ruler, or a common person,
<i>a kid of the goats</i> should serve, <scripRef id="Lev.v-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:Lev.4.23 Bible:Lev.4.28" parsed="|Lev|4|23|0|0;|Lev|4|28|0|0" passage="Le 4:23,28"><i>v.</i> 23, 28</scripRef>. This intimated the
greatness of the guilt connected with the sin of a high priest. The
eminency of his station, and his relation both to God and to the
people, greatly aggravated his offences; see <scripRef id="Lev.v-p5.5" osisRef="Bible:Rom.2.21" parsed="|Rom|2|21|0|0" passage="Ro 2:21">Rom. ii. 21</scripRef>. 2. The hand of the offerer must
be laid upon the head of the offering (<scripRef id="Lev.v-p5.6" osisRef="Bible:Lev.4.4" parsed="|Lev|4|4|0|0" passage="Le 4:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>), with a solemn penitent confession
of the sin he had committed, putting it upon the head of the
sin-offering, <scripRef id="Lev.v-p5.7" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.21" parsed="|Lev|16|21|0|0" passage="Le 16:21"><i>ch.</i> xvi.
21</scripRef>. No remission without confession, <scripRef id="Lev.v-p5.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.32.5 Bible:Prov.28.13" parsed="|Ps|32|5|0|0;|Prov|28|13|0|0" passage="Ps 32:5,Pr 28:13">Ps. xxxii. 5; Prov. xxviii. 13</scripRef>. It
signified also a confidence in this instituted way of expiating
guilt, as a figure of something better yet to come, which they
could not stedfastly discern. He that laid his hand on the head of
the beast thereby owned that he deserved to die himself, and that
it was God's great mercy that he would please to accept the
offering of this beast to die for him. The Jewish writers
themselves say that neither the sin-offering nor the
trespass-offering made atonement, except for those that repented
and believed in their atonement. 3. The bullock must be killed, and
a great deal of solemnity there must be in disposing of the blood;
for it was <i>the blood that made atonement,</i> and <i>without
shedding of blood</i> there was <i>no remission,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.v-p5.9" osisRef="Bible:Lev.4.5-Lev.4.7" parsed="|Lev|4|5|4|7" passage="Le 4:5-7"><i>v.</i> 5-7</scripRef>. Some of the blood of
the high-priest's sin-offering was to be <i>sprinkled seven times
before the veil,</i> with an eye towards the mercy-seat, though it
was veiled: some of it was to be put upon the horns of the golden
altar, because at that altar the priest himself ministered; and
thus was signified the putting away of that pollution which from
his sins did cleave to his services. It likewise serves to
illustrate the influence which Christ's satisfaction has upon the
prevalency of his intercession. The blood of his sacrifice is put
upon the altar of his incense and sprinkled before the Lord. When
this was done the remainder of the blood was poured at the foot of
the brazen altar. By this rite, the sinner acknowledged that he
deserved to have his blood thus poured out like water. It likewise
signified the pouring out of the soul before God in true
repentance, and typified our Saviour's <i>pouring out his soul unto
death.</i> 4. The fat of the inwards was to be burnt upon the altar
of burnt-offering, <scripRef id="Lev.v-p5.10" osisRef="Bible:Lev.4.8-Lev.4.10" parsed="|Lev|4|8|4|10" passage="Le 4:8-10"><i>v.</i>
8-10</scripRef>. By this the intention of the offering and of the
atonement made by it was directed to the glory of God, who, having
been dishonoured by the sin, was thus honoured by the sacrifice. It
signified the sharp sufferings of our Lord Jesus, when he was made
sin (that is, a sin-offering) for us, especially the sorrows of his
soul and his inward agonies. It likewise teaches us, in conformity
to the death of Christ, to crucify the flesh. 5. The head and body
of the beast, skin and all, were to be carried <i>without the
camp,</i> to a certain place appointed for that purpose, and there
burnt to ashes, <scripRef id="Lev.v-p5.11" osisRef="Bible:Lev.4.11-Lev.4.12" parsed="|Lev|4|11|4|12" passage="Le 4:11,12"><i>v.</i> 11,
12</scripRef>. This was very significant, (1.) Of the duty of
repentance, which is the putting away of sin as a detestable thing,
which our soul hates. True penitents say to their idols, "Get you
hence; what have we to do any more with idols?" The sin-offering is
called <i>sin.</i> What they did to that we must do to our sins;
the body of sin must be destroyed, <scripRef id="Lev.v-p5.12" osisRef="Bible:Rom.6.6" parsed="|Rom|6|6|0|0" passage="Ro 6:6">Rom.
vi. 6</scripRef>. (2.) Of the privilege of remission. When God
pardons sin he quite abolishes it, casts it behind his back. <i>The
iniquity of Judah shall be sought for and not found.</i> The
apostle takes particular notice of this ceremony, and applies it to
Christ (<scripRef id="Lev.v-p5.13" osisRef="Bible:Heb.13.11-Heb.13.13" parsed="|Heb|13|11|13|13" passage="Heb 13:11-13">Heb. xiii.
11-13</scripRef>), who suffered without the gate, in the place of a
skull, where the ashes of dead men, as those of the altar, were
poured out.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Lev.v-p5.14" osisRef="Bible:Lev.4" parsed="|Lev|4|0|0|0" passage="Le 4" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Lev.v-p5.15" osisRef="Bible:Lev.4.13-Lev.4.21" parsed="|Lev|4|13|4|21" passage="Le 4:13-21" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Lev.4.13-Lev.4.21">
<p class="passage" id="Lev.v-p6">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 <i>somewhat against</i> any of the
commandments of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.v-p6.1">Lord</span>
<i>concerning things</i> which should not be done, and are guilty;
  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.
  15 And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands
upon the head of the bullock before the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.v-p6.2">Lord</span>: and the bullock shall be killed before the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.v-p6.3">Lord</span>.   16 And the priest that
is anointed shall bring of the bullock's blood to the tabernacle of
the congregation:   17 And the priest shall dip his finger
<i>in some</i> of the blood, and sprinkle <i>it</i> seven times
before the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.v-p6.4">Lord</span>, <i>even</i> before
the vail.   18 And he shall put <i>some</i> of the blood upon
the horns of the altar which <i>is</i> before the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.v-p6.5">Lord</span>, that <i>is</i> in the tabernacle of the
congregation, and shall pour out all the blood at the bottom of the
altar of the burnt offering, which <i>is at</i> the door of the
tabernacle of the congregation.   19 And he shall take all his
fat from him, and burn <i>it</i> upon the altar.   20 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.   21 And he
shall carry forth the bullock without the camp, and burn him as he
burned the first bullock: it <i>is</i> a sin offering for the
congregation.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.v-p7">This is the law for expiating the guilt of
a national sin, by a sin offering. If the leaders of the people,
through mistake concerning the law, caused them to err, when the
mistake was discovered an offering must be brought, that wrath
might not come upon the whole congregation. Observe, 1. It is
possible that the church may err, and that her guides may mislead
her. It is here supposed that the whole congregation may sin, and
sin through ignorance. God will always have a church on earth; but
he never said it should be infallible, or perfectly pure from
corruption on this side heaven. 2. When a sacrifice was to be
offered for the whole congregation, the elders were to lay their
hands upon the head of it (three of them at least), as
representatives of the people and agents for them. The sin we
suppose to have been some common custom, taken up and used by the
generality of the people, upon presumption of its being lawful,
which afterwards, upon search, appeared to be otherwise. In this
case the commonness of the usage received perhaps by tradition from
their fathers, and the vulgar opinion of its being lawful, would
not so far excuse them from sin but that they must bring a
sacrifice to make atonement for it. There are many bad customs and
forms of speech which are thought to have no harm in them, and yet
may bring guilt and wrath upon a land, which therefore it concerns
the elders both to reform and to intercede with God for the pardon
of, <scripRef id="Lev.v-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Joel.2.16" parsed="|Joel|2|16|0|0" passage="Joe 2:16">Joel ii. 16</scripRef>. 3. The
blood of this sin-offering, as of the former, was to be
<i>sprinkled seven times before the Lord,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.v-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.4.17" parsed="|Lev|4|17|0|0" passage="Le 4:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>. It was not to be poured out
there, but sprinkled only; for the cleansing virtue of the blood of
Christ was then and still is sufficiently signified and represented
by sprinkling, <scripRef id="Lev.v-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.52.15" parsed="|Isa|52|15|0|0" passage="Isa 52:15">Isa. lii.
15</scripRef>. It was to be sprinkled seven times. Seven is a
number of perfection, because when God had made the world in six
days he rested the seventh; so this signified the perfect
satisfaction Christ made, and the complete cleansing of the souls
of the faithful by it; see <scripRef id="Lev.v-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Heb.10.14" parsed="|Heb|10|14|0|0" passage="Heb 10:14">Heb. x.
14</scripRef>. The blood was likewise to be put upon the horns of
the incense-altar, to which there seems to be an allusion in
<scripRef id="Lev.v-p7.5" osisRef="Bible:Jer.17.1" parsed="|Jer|17|1|0|0" passage="Jer 17:1">Jer. xvii. 1</scripRef>, where the sin
of Judah is said to be <i>graven upon the horns of their
altars.</i> If they did not forsake their sins, the putting of the
blood of their sin-offerings upon the horns of their altars,
instead of taking away their guilt, did but bind it on the faster,
perpetuated the remembrance of it, and remained a witness against
them. It is likewise alluded to in <scripRef id="Lev.v-p7.6" osisRef="Bible:Rev.9.13" parsed="|Rev|9|13|0|0" passage="Re 9:13">Rev.
ix. 13</scripRef>, where a voice is heard <i>from the four horns of
the golden altar;</i> that is, an answer of peace is given to the
prayers of the saints, which are acceptable and prevalent only by
virtue of the blood of the sin-offering put upon the horns of that
altar; compare <scripRef id="Lev.v-p7.7" osisRef="Bible:Rev.8.3" parsed="|Rev|8|3|0|0" passage="Re 8:3">Rev. viii. 3</scripRef>.
4. When the offering is completed, it is said, <i>atonement is
made, and the sin shall be forgiven,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.v-p7.8" osisRef="Bible:Lev.4.20" parsed="|Lev|4|20|0|0" passage="Le 4:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>. The promise of remission is
founded upon the atonement. It is spoken here of the forgiveness of
the sin of the whole congregation, that is, the turning away of
those national judgments which the sin deserved. Note, The saving
of churches and kingdoms from ruin is owing to the satisfaction and
mediation of Christ.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Lev.v-p7.9" osisRef="Bible:Lev.4.22-Lev.4.26" parsed="|Lev|4|22|4|26" passage="Le 4:22-26" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Lev.4.22-Lev.4.26">
<p class="passage" id="Lev.v-p8">22 When a ruler hath sinned, and done
<i>somewhat</i> through ignorance <i>against</i> any of the
commandments of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.v-p8.1">Lord</span> his God
<i>concerning things</i> which should not be done, and is guilty;
  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:   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 <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.v-p8.2">Lord</span>: it
<i>is</i> a sin offering.   25 And the priest shall take of
the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put <i>it</i>
upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out
his blood at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering.   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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.v-p9">Observe here, 1. That God takes notice of
and is displeased with the sins of rulers. Those who have power to
call others to account are themselves accountable to the ruler of
rulers; for, as high as they are, there is a higher than they. This
is intimated in that the commandment transgressed is here said to
be the <i>commandment of the Lord his God,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.v-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.4.22" parsed="|Lev|4|22|0|0" passage="Le 4:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>. He is a prince to others, but
let him know the Lord is a God to him. 2. The sin of the ruler
which he committed through ignorance is supposed afterwards to come
to his knowledge (<scripRef id="Lev.v-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.4.23" parsed="|Lev|4|23|0|0" passage="Le 4:23"><i>v.</i>
23</scripRef>), which must be either by the check of his own
conscience or by the reproof of his friends, both which we should
all, even the best and greatest, not only submit to, but be
thankful for. What we have done amiss we should be very desirous to
come to the knowledge of. <i>That which I see not, teach thou me,
and show me wherein I have erred,</i> are prayers we should put up
to God every day, that though through ignorance we fall into sin we
may not through ignorance lie still in it. 3. The sin-offering for
a ruler was to be <i>a kid of the goats,</i> not a bullock, as for
the priest and the whole congregation; nor was the blood of his
sin-offering to be brought into the tabernacle, as of the other
two, but it was all bestowed upon the brazen altar (<scripRef id="Lev.v-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Lev.4.25" parsed="|Lev|4|25|0|0" passage="Le 4:25"><i>v.</i> 25</scripRef>); nor was the flesh of it
to be burnt, as that of the other two, without the camp, which
intimated that the sin of a ruler, though worse than that of a
common person, yet was not so heinous, nor of such pernicious
consequence, as the sin of the high priest, or of the whole
congregation. A kid of the goats was sufficient to be offered for a
ruler, but a bullock for a tribe, to intimate that the ruler,
though <i>major singulis—greater than each,</i> was <i>minor
universis—less than the whole.</i> It is bad when great men give
bad examples, but worse when all men follow them. 4. It is promised
that the atonement shall be accepted and the sin forgiven
(<scripRef id="Lev.v-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:Lev.4.26" parsed="|Lev|4|26|0|0" passage="Le 4:26"><i>v.</i> 26</scripRef>), that is, if
he repent and reform; for otherwise God swore concerning Eli, a
judge in Israel, that the iniquity of his house should not be
purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever, <scripRef id="Lev.v-p9.5" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.3.14" parsed="|1Sam|3|14|0|0" passage="1Sa 3:14">1 Sam. iii. 14</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Lev.v-p9.6" osisRef="Bible:Lev.4.27-Lev.4.35" parsed="|Lev|4|27|4|35" passage="Le 4:27-35" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Lev.4.27-Lev.4.35">
<p class="passage" id="Lev.v-p10">27 And if any one of the common people sin
through ignorance, while he doeth <i>somewhat against</i> any of
the commandments of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.v-p10.1">Lord</span>
<i>concerning things</i> which ought not to be done, and be guilty;
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. 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. 30 And the priest shall take of
the blood thereof with his finger, and put <i>it</i> upon the horns
of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood
thereof at the bottom of the altar. 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 <i>it</i> upon the altar
for a sweet savour unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.v-p10.2">Lord</span>;
and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and it shall be
forgiven him. 32 And if he bring a lamb for a sin offering, he
shall bring it a female without blemish. 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. 34 And
the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his
finger, and put <i>it</i> upon the horns of the altar of burnt
offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of
the altar: 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 <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.v-p10.3">Lord</span>: and the priest shall make an atonement for
his sin that he hath committed, and it shall be forgiven him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.v-p11">I. Here is the law of the sin-offering for
a common person, which differs from that for a ruler only in this,
that a private person might bring either a kid or a lamb, a ruler
only a kid; and that for a ruler must be a male, for the other a
female: in all the circumstances of the management of the offering
they agreed. Observe, 1. The case supposed: <i>If any one of the
common people sin through ignorance,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.v-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.4.27" parsed="|Lev|4|27|0|0" passage="Le 4:27"><i>v.</i> 27</scripRef>. The prophet supposes that they
were not so likely as the great men to <i>know the way of the Lord,
and the judgment of their God</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.v-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.5.4" parsed="|Jer|5|4|0|0" passage="Jer 5:4">Jer.
v. 4</scripRef>), and yet, if they sin through ignorance, they must
bring a sin-offering. Note, Even sins of ignorance need to be
atoned for by sacrifice. To be able to plead, when we are charged
with sin, that we did it ignorantly, and through the surprise of
temptation, will not bring us off if we be not interested in that
great plea, <i>Christ hath died,</i> and entitled to the benefit of
that. We have all need to pray with David (and he was a ruler) to
be cleansed from <i>secret faults,</i> the errors which we
ourselves do not understand or are not aware of, <scripRef id="Lev.v-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.19.12" parsed="|Ps|19|12|0|0" passage="Ps 19:12">Ps. xix. 12</scripRef>. 2. That the sins of ignorance
committed by a single person, a common obscure person, did require
a sacrifice; for, as the greatest are not above the censure, so the
meanest are not below the cognizance of the divine justice. None of
the common people, if offenders, were overlooked in a crowd. 3.
That a sin-offering was not only admitted, but accepted, even from
one of the common people, and an atonement made by it, <scripRef id="Lev.v-p11.4" osisRef="Bible:Lev.4.31 Bible:Lev.4.35" parsed="|Lev|4|31|0|0;|Lev|4|35|0|0" passage="Le 4:31,35"><i>v.</i> 31, 35</scripRef>. Here rich and
poor, prince and peasant, meet together; they are both alike
welcome to Christ, and to an interest in his sacrifice, upon the
same terms. See <scripRef id="Lev.v-p11.5" osisRef="Bible:Job.34.19" parsed="|Job|34|19|0|0" passage="Job 34:19">Job xxxiv.
19</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.v-p12">II. From all these laws concerning the
sin-offerings we may learn, 1. To hate sin, and to watch against
it. That is certainly a very bad thing to make atonement for which
so many innocent and useful creatures must be slain and mangled
thus. 2. To value Christ, the great and true sin-offering, whose
blood cleanses from all sin, which it was not possible that the
<i>blood of bulls and of goats should take away. Now, if any man
sin,</i> Christ is <i>the propitiation</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.v-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:1John.2.1-1John.2.2" parsed="|1John|2|1|2|2" passage="1Jo 2:1,2">1 John ii. 1, 2</scripRef>), not for Jews only, but for
Gentiles. And perhaps there was some allusion to this law
concerning sacrifices for sins of ignorance in that prayer of
Christ's, just when he was offering up himself a sacrifice,
<i>Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.</i></p>
</div></div2>