Further examples are now given to us of things that would be a trespass against the Lord, according to the law. There were ordinances about touching unclean things, which, in everyday life, we might not think very serious, but once again we are reminded that it is a defiling world and that God’s measurement of sin is not ours. We become so accustomed to the sin we see around us every day that we are liable to think very lightly of it, but sin is SIN before God and nothing less than a sacrifice appointed by God Himself can put it away from before His holy eye. How blessed to know that the work of the Lord Jesus on the cross has settled the sin question forever for all those who believe, and that, not according to our own standards, but according to God’s.
When it speaks of swearing in our chapter it does riot mean bad language or taking the Name of the Lord in vain upon our lips, as we would think of it today, but it means promising something with an oath. It is not so commonly done today, but it would show us that we should never make a promise which we are unable to keep. It is a solemn thing to give one’s word about something and then break it. Be sure you have the Lord’s mind before you make a promise, and then once you have given your word (unless the promise itself is a sin against God, see Matt. 14:99And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. (Matthew 14:9)) ask the Lord for grace to carry it out no matter how difficult it is. People think all too lightly of a promise in these days, but God looks upon a broken promise as a serious sin.
The offerings allowed for the trespass offering were smaller than the sin offering, for the more “light” one has, the more responsible he is. Nevertheless there was no passing over of sin—it must be judged. If the one who had sinned was unable to bring a lamb or a kid, or perhaps not even turtledoves, or young pigeons, then he was to bring a handful of fine flour. Undoubtedly this would teach us that although some dear simple souls might not lay hold of the value of the work of Christ, still their trust is in Him alone as the One who alone can meet their soul’s need. God then sees that faith in the person of His Son and the sinner is forgiven, just as He accepted the fine flour from the hand of a guilty Israelite and he way forgiven his trespass. How this teaches us that God is ever willing to save, we that it is riot a question in salvation, as to how much a man knows, but whether his trust is in Christ, the Person who accomplished the work Needless to say, the eye of God rested upon the blood as that which atom could put away sin, even though the offerer did not apprehend it.
Next we read of trespasses in God’s holy things. This was more serious that touching something unclean, and a ram must be offered with money to make amends for the harm that had been done. As we think of how we one, trampled God’s glory in the dust and dishonored Him so terribly, surely we are guilty in this, but in these sacrifices not only was the guilt of the sinner settled, but a fifth part was added to it. How beautifully this shows us that no only as the work of Christ settled all God’s claims against sin, but added glory has been brought to God through it. What a wonderful work was accomplished at Calvary!
ML 09/24/1950