Bible Commentary

Leviticus 4:3-12

The Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 4:3-12

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

The high priest's burnt offering.

The difference between the high priest's offering and that for the whole congregation on the one hand, and the offering for an offending ruler or any of the common people on the other, lay in the sprinkling of the blood of the victim seven times before the Lord, before the vail of the sanctuary. This betokened the purifying by this sacrifice of the public worship of the people as distinguished from their private and individual life. The different modes of sprinkling the blood marked successive degrees of consecration, from the altar of burnt offering without to the vail in the sanctuary, which especially represented Jehovah's presence. The high priest was an embodiment of the people's sanctity as a worshipping people. The great truth taught is the necessity of connecting together worship with the revelation of Divine righteousness and grace. The only true religion is that which rests on the twofold basis—God's provided atonement for sin; man's faith and obedience towards God.

SHOW THAT THERE IS "INIQUITY IN OUR HOLY THINGS." This was recognized by the Apostle Paul at Athens. "Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you." The want of true knowledge renders the worship unacceptable. But not ignorance only; indifference, heedlessness, the superstition which proceeds from a corrupt heart, the falsehood which has grown up from the root of sin in human nature and which the individual man may adopt from tradition without perceiving its falsity. The religious leaders of a people may be especially guilty of defiling the popular worship. The priest, by his false theology, or his corrupt ritual, or his lack of spirituality, may involve the congregation in sin. In the house of God itself there may be sinful defect of reverence, sinful disorder, sinful coldness and dullness, sinful pride and worldliness, sinful wanderings of thought and self-assertion. Our worship needs to be sprinkled with the blood of our Great Sacrifice before it can be accepted. It is especially incumbent on the religious teachers and ministers of the sanctuary that they be prominent in confessing sin, in urging the necessity of more sanctification, in exalting the merit of Christ that worship be presented through him.—R.

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commentaryMatthew Henry on Leviticus 4:1-12Burnt-offerings, meat-offerings, and peace-offerings, had been offered before the giving of the law upon mount Sinai; and in these the patriarchs had respect to sin, to make atonement for it. But the Jews were now put i…Matthew HenrycommentaryLaw of the Sin-Offering. (b. c. 1490.)LAW OF THE SIN-OFFERING. (B. C. 1490.) The laws contained in the first three chapters seem to have been delivered to Moses at one time. Here begin the statutes of another session, another day. From the throne of glory b…Matthew HenrycommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 4:1-35Atonement for the penitent, as illustrated in the sin offering. Le Leviticus 5:1-13; cf. Psalms 19:12; Galatians 6:1; 1 Timothy 1:13, etc. The offerings already considered, viz. the burnt offering, the meat offering, an…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 4:1-35EXPOSITION THE SIN OFFERING (Leviticus 4:1-35, Leviticus 5:1-13). At the time of the Mosaic legislation, burnt offerings and meat offerings were already in existence, and had existed from the time of the Fall. A beginni…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 4:1-3The sin offering for the priest. The revelations contained in the preceding chapters, and commencing with the words, "And the Lord called unto Moses," etc; appear to have been given at one diet, and now we are introduce…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 4:1-35The sin offering signifies and ceremonially effects propitiation and expiation. Its characteristic feature, therefore, is the presentation of the blood of the victim, which in this sacrifice alone (when it was offered f…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 4:1-12The sin offering viewed as typical of the Sacrifice of Calvary. This subject wilt be best considered by citing sonic of the more notable references to it contained in the Scriptures of the New Testament. I. IT IS ENVINC…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 4:3-12The case of the high priest. He is designated the priest that is anointed, in respect to which title, see notes on Leviticus 8:1-36. In case he sins in his representative character, his sin is such as to bring guilt on…Joseph S. Exell and contributors