Okay, so I will say that this is coming from studying Leviticus for a long time in my OT class at DTS. I have been thinking, man, people don’t appreciate this part of the Scripture, but it is so rich if you simply take some time to draw it into today’s context (contextualizing). So, this didn’t just come by looking at it, but really studying it, and I am drawing a large portion of this from a commentary that I was reading for my class. But anyway, I wanted to exegete a portion of Leviticus, let me know what you think, hope it blesses. Leviticus 4:1-5:16, if you have time, chop that up.
K, so there are several sin patterns that we see in this section of Leviticus that we, especially we who are leaders, need to heed today. Sin is detrimental, and affects our relationship with God, so we need to be aware of the different sins we tend to commit. As short and brief as possible let me break down seven things that I see throughout this section.
1. Accidental or unrecognized sins (4:1-12): “If anyone sins unintentionally in any of the Lord’s commandments about things not to be done…” (Italics mine). This is somewhat scary, but true in every moment of our lives. The definition of sin is “missing the mark.” So sin is not just, “don’t murder, or lust, or steal and other “big” stuff, and you are doing okay,” it is literally anything this misses the mark of perfection from a holy and perfect God’s standard. Dang it, so this is the type of sin we probably commit most often. Sins that we don’t even know what we are doing, or don’t even recognize it’s wrong, but we are “missing the mark” that God would have for us. This is a bad start to the rest of this blog if this one starts off so depressing!!! Yes, you are a sinner, and probably a much bigger one than you would like to think!
2. Conforming to sinners (the world) around you (4:13-21): “If the whole congregation of Israel sins unintentionally…” Romans 12:2 tells us not to be conformed to this world. Conformity happens when you are not thinking about the Lord, or are unaware of His commands. Your flesh (since it is sinful) will naturally conform to this world, like cookie dough will naturally conform to the shape of a cookie cutter if pressed in. And please believe me, this world is pressing in! Even if it is Christians that are sinning, and you happen to follow the pattern of their sin, you are in sin! You must not conform, but be transformed, or work hard at murdering your sin, and submitting to God. Conformity happens all too often because people are passive with their faith, and just follow the crowd, don’t do that, follow the Scriptures!
3. Thinking exemption because of our high status (4:22-26): “When a leader sins…” Listen leaders are held more accountable for their actions (James 3:1, Heb. 13:17, several parables, etc). Whether through reward, or through negative consequence, leaders should be extra aware of their sins. In Judges, and honestly throughout almost all of Scripture (minus rare cases obviously) whenever there is a good leader, all of the congregation follows. They are then blessed by the Lord, and experience favor. However, when there is a bad leader, Israel is in ruin, or heading that way! Leaders are not exempt from sin, they are actually held more accountable.
4. Thinking exemption because of our lowly status (4:27-35): “If any of the common people sins…” Just because you are not a “leader” doesn’t give you reign to sin any less. Hebrews 13:7 tells us to mimic our leaders. Wouldn’t this then mean that we should act like them (in holiness, not in sin) and are then responsible before God as well. God isn’t going to look at you and say, “Well okay, you weren’t as ‘important’ so I will let you off of the hook.” That just sounds ridiculous. Now, you may have deeper responsibilities, but most commands are for all people, not just leaders. Mimic the leaders, or as Paul would say, follow them, as they follow Christ (1 Co. 11:1). Greater or lesser, no excuse for sin, and you have the same responsibility, repent (turn away from) from your sin.
5. We don’t do what we know is right (5:1-3): “If anyone sins in that he hears a public adjuration to testify, and though he is a witness, whether he has seen or come to know the matter, yet does not speak, he shall bear his iniquity;” James says it straight up, “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” (James 4:17). Simple as that! That is also unfortunate, because often I know what I should do, and do the opposite.
6. Speaking foolishly quick (5:4-13): “Or if a person thoughtlessly takes an oath to do anything…” Once again, James 3 is all about taming your tongue, telling you how deeply evil it is. We are to think before we speak.
7. When we thoughtlessly trivialize what is sacred (5:14-16): “If anyone commits a breach of faith and sins unintentionally in any of the holy things of the Lord…” Simply put, when we are not thinking about God, and His greatness, holiness, power and perfection. We are probably neglecting what is sacred, and are likely missing the mark.
So, you are an awful person! Praise the Lord that is not the end. See in Leviticus it often shows the Israelites what the correct sacrifice is for sinning against the Lord, mainly what animal are they to use to atone for their sin. Well Leviticus is simply a foreshadow to something greater. The animal sacrificial system was simply to point us to two main things, the severity of our sin, and our need for a substitute. Praise be to Jesus, that he took on all of these seven categories of sins mentioned above, and became a curse, so that we might live in freedom and perfection, and enjoy the blessing of a restored relationship with the God of the universe. Simply put, we are sinners, do it often, and need to Savior, praise be to Jesus, God incarnate!
Toriano Mayo