Leviticus 4:17-35
We notice that collective worship was interrupted by the sin of the whole congregation (as it was by the sin of a priest) and so the blood had to be sprinkled before the veil in the holy place seven times. So perfect is the work of Christ that the moment sin is dealt with according to the Word of God, collective worship is perfectly restored. Then the blood must also be sprinkled on the horns of the altar of incense, showing that it is only through a deep realization of the awfulness of sin, and of the infinite value of the blood of Christ, that collective communion is restored. When a case of sin arises in an assembly, let us remember that each individual in the assembly should be exercised about it. Just as in the case of Achan’s sin, we read, “Israel hath sinned,” and again, “all Israel stoned him with stones” (Joshua 7:11, 25). Such things are not to be just the concern of two or three, but of the whole assembly, when sin is in their midst.
Sin of a Ruler
Next we come to the sin of a ruler. It is a serious thing to be a leader; or to have a position of influence among the people of God, for we are reminded in James, “My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.” One who takes the place of a leader acquires a certain amount of influence, and if he sins, it is more serious than those who do not have such a place. The ruler therefore was to bring a male goat for his sin offering. We notice, however, that in the case of a ruler, as in the case of the common people who sinned, the blood was only sprinkled on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and not on the altar of incense, nor before the veil, because collective communion and worship are not broken (though they are hindered) by such individual sin. Personal communion and worship is broken, however, and that is why the blood must be put on the horns of the altar of burnt offering. Nor was the body of the animal in this case burned outside the camp because the blood was not brought into the tabernacle in this case. We find, however, that the priest ate the flesh of it in the holy place, and how this reminds us of the Lord Jesus, our Great High Priest, who made our guilt His own and met our individual need when He bore our sins on Calvary. He is also concerned on our behalf even now, as our Great High Priest above, though He settled our account forever at the cross, Oh that we, too (for now every believer is a priest), felt the sins of others according to God, and were more concerned to intercede for other failing believers according to His heart. Only the Lord Jesus — our Great High Priest — could bear sin’s penalty, but we can have His thoughts and interests on our hearts even here.
Nothing Passed Over
The offering for the sins of one of the common people was the same, as to its order, as the sin of a ruler, except that a female animal would be accepted. This reminds us once again that we are responsible according to our place and privilege before God, but let us remember whether our privileges be few or many, sin is sin before God, and nothing is passed over. The moment, however, that the sacrifice appointed by God had been offered, the sin was forgiven, and as we now rest upon the infinite value of the precious blood of Christ, our souls have peace.
For Further Meditation
1. How did the sacrifice for one of the common people differ from the sacrifice for a ruler?
2. A misunderstanding of grace suggests that sin isn’t very important to us since Christ has died to take away the sins of the believer. How do these offerings show that sin must be treated as a very serious thing by a believer?
3. When we have accepted what God has said about sin and about us as sinners, then we are more ready to accept His deliverance. If you’ve been thinking along these lines, you might benefit from the booklet Freedom From Sin: What Is It? by G. Cutting.