I Didn't Mean to Say It

O. T. #270  "I Didn't Mean to Say It"
April 17, 2014
Leviticus 4-Part 1
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them.  Leviticus 4:2

LET IT GLOW

Aren't there times that we sin unintentionally? We do or say something we wish we had not. We don't do what we should do. Often we sin without thinking about it, that is, until we come to the end of the day and reflect upon it. (I really should say "I" instead of we.) We don't plan to say a critical word or gossip about someone. It just comes out of our (my) mouth. And there goes sin, traveling through the sound waves in the air. I can't reach out and grab it, putting it back into my mouth. It flies too fast for me to catch it. It lands on the hearer's ears and goes inside to the eardrum by the time I realize what I had said. My heart pounds. Do I ask for forgiveness? I didn't mean to say and do it.
What about the unintentional sins of the children of Israel? How did they get forgiven?

The first three of the sacrificial offerings for sin were the sweet savor offerings-the burnt, meal, and peace offerings. We talked about how Jesus fulfilled those offerings by being our sacrifice. He was the perfect sacrifice and His blood was the atonement for our sins. As the meal was cooked and offered without leaven, so Jesus was without sin. Jesus provided the peace offering, blood and body dying on the cross so we can enjoy fellowship with the Father.

Now we are ready to study about the two non-sweet savor offerings-the sin offering and the trespass offering. In contrast, the sweet savor offerings spoke of the honor of God and the non-sweet offerings emphasized the judgment of God.

The Sin Offering was:

• not a voluntary sacrifice, as the three previous ones were;
• commanded of all, priests(verses 3-12), congregation as a whole (verses 13-21), rulers (verses 22-26), and common individuals (verses 27-35);
• an atonement for the sins done in ignorance, unwittingly, unintentionally, or inadvertently-the sin of ignorance.

The Priests' Sin Offering:
The priests' sin offering must used a young bullock, bull. This perfect animal's blood was to be sprinkled seven times before the LORD, before the veil of the sanctuary (verse 6). The priest is seen as defiling the tabernacle where he served and it must be cleansed. Seven refers to completeness. All fat and the kidneys, including a lobe of the liver, were burned on the altar, like the peace offering was. The other edible parts were boiled and eaten by the males of the priestly family in the holy part of the tabernacle. The remaining skin, head, legs,entrails, etc. were carried outside the camp and deposited along with the ashes. (Falwell)

The Whole Congregation's Sin Offering:
The whole congregation's sin offering required the same animal and the same procedure as the offering for the priests' sins.

The Ruler's Sin Offering:
The ruler was ordained of God for his position and had civil authority. He might not be aware of his sin immediately. When he became aware of his sin, the ruler's sin offering was made from a male kid goat. As did the others, the ruler placed his hands on the animal's head, as identification and representation of his sin to the animal. Its blood was applied to the horns of the altar, which signified power. The power to make atonement was in the application of the blood. After the fat was burned, and the priest got his portion, it was disposed of as the priests' offering.

The Common People's Sin Offering:
The common people's sin offering due to ignorance, was made from a female goat. Its blood was applied in the same manner as that of the ruler's sin offering. The offering could be a female lamb, as verses 32-34 speak of, with the manner of its offering following the established pattern.

[Reference: Liberty Bible Commentary]

Did you notice that everyone was provided a way of sacrificing for their sins of ignorance?

Even the poorest offender could give a sin offering.

Do we realize that we sin every day, whether it be intentional or unintentional?


LET IT GROW

All of these transactions were done for the purpose of atonement, (kapar in Hebrew), was a covering over of the sin. The priest mediating was always required.

Romans 3:23 states, for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God. (NIV)

The unintentional sin was covered by the blood of the perfect animal sacrificed.

Hebrews 13:11-14 tells us, The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through His own blood. Let us, then, go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.

The typology of this practice is noted in the above verses. Jesus suffered outside the gate, on the cross, between two thieves. He was rejected by Israel as the Messiah. The whole of sin is put away as with the scapegoat on the Day of Atonement. That was the one day a year when the high priest made the offering for the nation.

2 Corinthians 5:21 states, God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

1 Peter 2:24 tells us, He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed.

Daily, I must thank Jesus for taking my place in payment for my sins.
He shows us such love, grace, and mercy!


LET IT GO

Admit that I am a sinner, in need of a Savior daily.

As Jesus to forgive me of my sins, and to cleanse me of all my unrightousness.

Thank and praise the One who knew no sin, became sin for me.

Glory to His Name, Jesus, the Christ, the son of the Living God, my Messiah and Savior!!!