The Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 4:22-26

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

A ruler can sin through ignorance, and requires atonement.

I. OFFICIAL POSITION IS MORAL RESPONSIBILITY. Whether the office be inherited or appointed, the ruler is in a special relation to God and to the people. He must jealously guard his office, and the mere exalted he is, the more he should preserve a conscience void of offense towards God and towards man.

II. THE RULER SHOULD SET THE EXAMPLE of respecting the requirements of God's Law. If the people see their natural leaders and official superiors confessing sin and seeking atonement, religious reverence and obedience will spread through all classes. Fearful curse of wicked rulers. Those in high positions should search their lives and hearts, lest, by their neglect, or ignorance, or sin of any kind, they bring Divine displeasure on the people.

III. The sacrifice is not the same for the ruler as for the man. An OFFICIAL POSITION IS NOT TO HIDE AN INDIVIDUAL AND PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY. Too often sins are committed in office, of which men would be ashamed if their own names were connected with them. We may distinguish the official from the personal, but we must remember that God requires both to be pure and holy.—R.

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The Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 4:1-35Leviticus 4:1-35 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe 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…The Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 4:1-35Leviticus 4:1-35 · The Pulpit CommentaryAtonement 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…The Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 4:1-35Leviticus 4:1-35 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITION 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…Matthew Henry on Leviticus 4:22-26Leviticus 4:22-26 · Matthew Henry Concise CommentaryThose who have power to call others to account, are themselves accountable to the Ruler of rulers. The sin of the ruler, committed through ignorance, must come to his knowledge, either by the check of his own conscience…Matthew Henry on Leviticus 4:22-26Leviticus 4:22-26 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleObserve here, 1. That God takes notice of and is displeased with the sins of rulers. Those who have power to call others to account are themselves accountable to the ruler of rulers; for, as high as they are, there is a…The Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 4:22-26Leviticus 4:22-26 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe case of a ruler or nobleman. The clause, Or if his sin … come to his knowledge, should be rather translated, If perhaps his sin come to his knowledge. He is to offer a kid of the goats, or rather a he-goat. The bloo…

commentaryThe 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 contributors commentaryThe 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 contributors commentaryThe 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 contributors commentaryMatthew Henry on Leviticus 4:22-26Those who have power to call others to account, are themselves accountable to the Ruler of rulers. The sin of the ruler, committed through ignorance, must come to his knowledge, either by the check of his own conscience…Matthew Henry commentaryMatthew Henry on Leviticus 4:22-26Observe here, 1. That God takes notice of and is displeased with the sins of rulers. Those who have power to call others to account are themselves accountable to the ruler of rulers; for, as high as they are, there is a…Matthew Henry commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 4:22-26The case of a ruler or nobleman. The clause, Or if his sin … come to his knowledge, should be rather translated, If perhaps his sin come to his knowledge. He is to offer a kid of the goats, or rather a he-goat. The bloo…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 4:22-35The sin offering of the rider and of any of the people. As in the preceding paragraph we have lessons from the relation of sin offering to communities, here we are reminded— I. THAT INDIVIDUALS ARE RESPONSIBLE TO GOD. W…Joseph S. Exell and contributors