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Leviticus 4:1-5:19

In this section of Leviticus we have laid out for us the specific sacrifices required under different circumstances for unintentional sin.

Sad to say, but today, most people make light of sin. We shouldn’t.

As we read through the Old Testament Law we see the sacrifices necessary for our sin to be forgiven, the price was paid by the innocent, their blood was shed to the point of death – ultimately symbolizing the eternal blood of Jesus Christ (Acts 20:28; Revelation 1:5).

You may have noticed for the first time in the Bible the word “unintentionally” – found 5 times in this section.

Warren Wiersbe points out an important principle on this, “The sin offering was for unintentional sins of ignorance and not for deliberate sins of disobedience. For deliberate sins, God made no provision for a sacrifice (Numbers 15:30–31). All the offender could do was plead the mercy of God (Psalm 51:16–17).”

In other words there was no promised provision for sins committed volitionally, there was only a guarantee of grace for sins committed accidentally. It’s one thing to stumble into sin, it’s quite another thing to go in with eyes wide open. Although we now know, as New Testament Christians, that Jesus has made a way to wash away all of our sins, may we not take that grace lightly, but rather let it be used to keep us from presumptuous sins (Psalm 19:13).

If the anointed priest sinned, his offering was equivalent to the offering required for the whole congregation – both called for a young bull to be killed. To whom much is given, much more is required (Luke 12:48).

If a ruler sinned it was different than if a common person sinned, for leaders are to be examples, called us to be blameless (1 Timothy 3:1-13).

God is a holy God whose commandments are intended to protect His people from harmful behavior, so He lays down the Law. Leviticus 5:1 is an example of what we might call a “sin of silence.” Even the mere touch of something unclean was forbidden (Leviticus 5:2-3). Every thought and every idle word was to be holy (Leviticus 5:4).

Warren Wiersbe, “Sometimes we commit sin by keeping quiet (v. 1), or we may cover up (vv. 2–3) or speak out (v. 4). Our sins may be unintentional, and we may be ignorant of them; but once we know about them, we must come to God for cleansing. Sin is not “deliberate disobedience to a known law.” If we disobey God, we are guilty whether we realize it or not.”

God writes to us that we may not sin, but if we do, He provides a way to be forgiven (see 1 John 2:1). If a person was poor and couldn’t sacrifice a lamb or a kid of the goat, they could bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, and if a person couldn’t afford that, God allowed them to bring two quarts of flour – that no one (rich or poor) would be excluded from fellowship with Him.

Leviticus 5:15 speaks to those who sin in ministry, “in regard to the holy things of the Lord.” This is sin under special circumstances – as we’ve seen, God holds such people to higher standards, especially in the practice of the “priesthood.” It’s heartbreaking and harmful when ministers fall – as we read in:

Leviticus 5:16a (NKJV) “And he shall make restitution for the harm that he has done in regard to the holy thing…”

We will later read in:

Leviticus 10:3a (NKJV) “And Moses said to Aaron, ‘This is what the LORD spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified.’’” 

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Mark 2:13-3:6

The Jews considered men like Levi (a.k.a. Matthew), as the worst of the worst. They were Jews who had sold out to the Roman Government and who gouged their fellow countrymen with exorbitant taxes. The religious leaders of the day would NEVER have included tax-collectors to be a part of their company, but Jesus shows us the heart of God. Jesus not only befriends Matthew, He calls him to follow Him, and eventually serve in the ministry. Matthew wisely chose to follow Christ and he would eventually be the writer of the first book chronicled in the New Testament, the Gospel of Matthew. Wow!

May we never lose a burden for the lost. The religious leaders criticized Jesus sharply for eating with such sinners, but Jesus reminded them, and us, that these are the very people we’re called to help. May God give us wisdom in reaching out as He did.

The Pharisees were very critical of Christ – they were offended at His choice of company, how His disciples didn’t fast, and His neglect of the Sabbath (according to their standards). I sigh as I try so hard – not to be like them, legalistic Pharisees, old, unusable wineskins, dividing men and defying God in their petty unbiblical man-made rules and regulations. Are we sure and certain that all our rules are right and standards are Scriptural?

Fasting is a very personal thing; we must fast as God leads us (see also Matthew 6:16-18).

In their attempt to keep the Sabbath (that one commandment), they created “100 more” commandments! Imagine reaching a point in refusing to feed the hungry a little bit of grain, or refusing to mend the broken on a certain day! How far we can drift – even with good intentions!

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Psalm 36:1-12

There is no awe or fear of God in the eyes of the wicked (Psalm 36:1). And yet, God is so good! His mercy, His faithfulness, His righteousness, His judgments, and His lovingkindness are mentioned.

Psalm 36:7–8 (NKJV) “How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. 8 They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.”

Imagine that…drinking from the rivers of God’s pleasures! May we never forget – no, not for a day, we were created to exalt God and enjoy Him forever – my pleasures should be found in Him!

Is that the case for me?

May we take in His bountiful blessings, and trust Him to deal with those who come against us.

David prays:

Psalm 36:10–11 (NKJV) “Oh, continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You, and Your righteousness to the upright in heart. 11 Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked drive me away.”

Let’s let God deal with our enemies, stay upright in heart, and enjoy His lovingkindness lavished upon us!

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Proverbs 10:1-2

Proverbs 10:1 (NKJV) “The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is the grief of his mother.”

In Hebrew poetry this is referred to as Antithetical Parallelism – where a contrast is expressed. Here the contrast is between a wise son and a foolish son.

We haven’t seen his name since chapter 1 verse 1, but here we see Solomon once again identified as the author of the Proverbs, a man who at one time was endowed with wisdom from above.

We read first of all, about children and parents, of course, moms are (generally-speaking), more sensitive, but I think what’s stated here can be the case for either parent, and it’s applicable to both daughters and sons, that a wise child, makes his or her parents glad, but a foolish child brings great grief.

I can’t help but think of a couple of applicable passages:

3 John 1:4 (NKJV) “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”

Genesis 26:34-35 (NKJV) “When Esau was forty years old, he took as wives Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite. And they were a grief of mind to Isaac and Rebekah.”

I don’t believe this is merely a statement of fact. It’s a word to children to be wise…and bless their parents. It’s also a word to parents, let’s do our best to raise our children in the ways of the Lord

Proverbs 10:2 (NKJV) “Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death.“

In the book of Proverbs we will see repeatedly, the contrast between the wicked and the righteous.

On Proverbs 10:2 David Guzik said, “Being right with God brings a benefit that money can’t buy.”

Treasures of wickedness may specifically refer to money unlawfully earned, but whether the wealth is lawful or not, no amount of money can deliver from death or buy a ticket to heaven. Only Jesus delivers us from death (John 11:25-27; 1 Corinthians 15:26; Hebrews 2:14).

If you have any questions or comments on today’s reading, or you’d like to share something the Lord showed you, feel free to leave a reply below. I’d love to hear from you as we grow forward in 2021.