Leviticus 5

Leviticus 5:1-6

Concerns the trespass-offering. 1. A variety of cases of trespass, ver. 1—19. 2. The trespass-offerings, (1.) Of the flock, ver. 5, 6. (2.) Of fowls, ver. 7—10. (3.) Of flour, ver. 11—13. but chiefly a ram without blemish, ver. 15, 16, 18, 19.

1. AND if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity. 2. Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether it be a carcade of an unclean beast, or a carcade of unclean castle, or the carcade of unclean creeping things, and if it be hidden from him, he also shall be unclean and guilty. 3. Or if he touch the uncleaners of man, whichever uncleaners is he that a man shall be defiled withal, and it be hid from him, when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty. 4. Or if a soul swear, pronouncing with his lips to do evil, or to do good; whatsoever it be that a man shall pronounce with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing. 5. And he shall bring his trespass-offering unto the LORD for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a fin-offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin.

These instances of trespass are mentioned. 1. Concealing the truth, when adjured by the judges. In all cases of an oath, we must speak the whole truth, as well as nothing but the truth: to hide it, is as criminal as to add to it. 2. Contrasting ceremonial uncleaners, v. 2, 3, and not washing according to law before he comes unto the tabernacle. When it comes to his knowledge, he must confess his sin, and bring his offering. Note, When God’s spirit awakens the consciences, we begin to see ourselves guilty, where we never suspected harm. 3. Rarely swearing, either to do what is unlawful or impracticable. Though a rash vow may be better broken than kept, yet, like a two-edged sword, it cuts both ways. No member needs stricter government than the tongue.

An offering in these cases must be brought, accompanied with humble and particular confession of the sin. True penitents never deal in general acknowledgments, but in difficult and particular enumeration of their sins. Then the priest made the atonement, and the sin was pardoned. Though our repentance be not the cause of our acceptance, but Christ’s blood alone, yet they are inseparable: true faith produces ever true penitence.

7. And if he be not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring for his trespass which he hath committed, two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, unto the LORD, one for a fin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering. 8. And he shall bring them unto the priest, who shall offer that which is for the fin-offering first, and ‘wring’ off his head from his neck, but shall not divide it afunder. 9. And he shall sprinkle of the blood of the fin-offering upon the side of the altar; and the rest of the blood shall be wrung out at the bottom of the altar: it is a fin-offering. 10. And he shall offer the second for a burnt-offering, according to the manner: and the priest shall make an atonement for him, for his sin which he hath sinned, and it shall be forgiven him. 11. ¶ But if he be not able to bring two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons; then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a fin-offering: he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincene thereon: for it is a fin-offering. 12. Then shall he bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it, ’even a memorial thereof, and burn it on the altar,’ according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD: it is a fin-offering. 13. And the priest shall make an atonement for him, as touching his sin that he hath sinned in one of these, and it shall be forgiven him: and the remnant shall be the priest’s, as a meat-offering.

Leviticus 5:7-13

As many needed the atonement, who through poverty were unable to afford a lamb, for them a pair of turtles or pigeons were accepted, or the still cheaper offering of some fine flour. Note, Poverty is to bar to heaven.

If two pigeons or doves were offered, one served for a fin-offering, and was killed first; the other was a burnt-offering. Atonement must first be made; then thanksgiving is pleading and dutiful. If flour was offered, it must be without oil or frankincense. Note, Sin must be as unfavory to the soul, as this offering was on the altar.

v. Chap. xiii. 10.

14. ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 15. “If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the LORD, then he shall bring for his trespass unto the LORD a ram without blemish out of the stocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass-offering. 16. And he shall make amends for the harm that he hath done in the holy thing, and shall add the fifth part thereto, and give it unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass-offering, and it shall be forgiven him. 17. ¶ And ‘if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD; ’though he will it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity. 18. And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the stock, with thy estimation for a trespass-offering, unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him, concerning his ignorance wherein he erred and will it not; and it shall be forgiven him. 19. It is a trespass-offering: he hath certainly trespassed against the LORD.

Leviticus 5:14-19

As sacrilege is a very heinous sin, a more costly atonement is enjoined for it. Whoever through ignorance with-held the tytless or offerings due to the sanctuary, or any holy things dedicated to God, when he found it out, must bring a ram for an offering, and the whole value of the thing in money, and a fifth part over. Or if he but suspected a mistake, he was to chuck the safer side, and make the oblation and full restitution. Note, (1.) Men think it is no sin to cheat God’s minders of their lawful dues; but if sins of this kind, even when committed through ignorance, needed such an atonement, what will be the punishment of designed fraud? (2.) To make restitution for injustice, is a very mortifying exercise; but there can be no hope of pardon, whilst the wages of unrighteousness is kept back.