Leviticus 5:1-6:7

Introduction

Though the terms repentance, confession and forgiveness seem simple enough, we have a way of making them complicated. Some have reduced these terms to mere lip service, a glib comment to make everything go away. Others believe it requires penance or priestly absolution; something extra to prove genuine repentance.

Leviticus lays out the procedures for the offerings, but does it give us any indication about repentance? What should it really look like?

Commentary

v 1
As the Lord introduces Moses to the guilt offerings, He begins by laying out four possible sins which would require such a sacrifice. The first could be considered a sin of omission. If a person hears a public call to testify, and they have the testimony of a witness, yet they choose to remain silent, that person becomes guilty.

v 2
Similar to the unintentional sins, a person may touch some sort of unclean carcass, whether beast or livestock or some other swarming thing, and not even realize they made contact with it. Once he realizes he made contact, he then becomes responsible to do something about his guilt.

v 3
It is also possible for a man to touch uncleanness from a man or woman. Again, if he becomes aware of this, he then becomes aware of his guilt as well.

v 4
The words that come from a a person's mouth can also acquit or condemn (Matthew 12:37). We typically only think of our words in regard to our motive. As long as we meant to be truthful, then it doesn't matter if it really comes to pass. After all, the circumstances are out of control, can God really hold us responsible? Actually, the Lord does hold us to our word (Ecclesiastes 5:1-6), so we should show humility in our speech (James 4:13-16). However, if a man does not guard his tongue (James 3:1-3) and he carelessly makes an oath which does not come to be, then he becomes guilty.

v 5
As mentioned in previous chapters, these are not merely indiscretions, but are sins which must be confessed.

v 6
The sinner is then to bring a female lamb or goat to the priest for a sin offering (see: Leviticus 4:1-35 commentary). The priest will make atonement for his sin.

v 7-10
God offers an alternative for those who cannot afford a lamb or goat. The offerer may present two turtledoves or two pigeons. One will be presented as sin offering while the other serves as a burnt offering. We see that the sacrifice is efficient, for verse ten concludes with the assurance that the sin has been forgiven.

v 11-13
Yet, if the person still cannot afford two birds (this may either speak to the frequency of this offering or to the absolute poverty of some Israelites), he is able to give a grain offering. Again, verse 13 reminds us that this offering, can be a faithful expression that results in his forgiveness.

v 14-16
Next, Moses addresses sins which violate the holy things which may be dedicated to the tabernacle. If an item has been consecrated to the tabernacle, and a man makes it unclean (by contact or use), he is then required to make restitution to the Lord. He will replace the value of the object, plus add one fifth to the value. This must be done in connection with offering a guilt offering through the priest.

v 17-18
Moses reiterates the necessity for the guilt offering. From these three verses, consider the following statements:

a person sins...

...he is still guilty and shall bear his punishment.

...for a guilt offering...

...the priest shall make atonement...

...he sinned unintentionally...

...it will be forgiven him.

It is a guilt offering; he was certainly guilty before the LORD.

Chapter 6 v 1
We are again reminded that these instructions are from the LORD, handed down through Moses.

c 6 v 2-4
We know see some specific sins, which are still against the LORD, but also take advantage of someone else. A person may cheat money from another in a variety of ways...

using someone else's deposit or security for your own gain

robbery

extortion

finding money and claiming it is your own

In any of these situations, restoration must be made.

c 6 v 5
To make restitution, the offender must offer 120% back to the victim. He must not only return that which he has taken, but he must also add 1/5 to it. He is also instructed that this must be done on the day of his sacrifice to the LORD. Jesus reminded us of this:

Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.--Matthew 5:23-24

c 6 v 6-7
As stated in verse two, the sin and unfaithfulness was against the LORD. Therefore, the offerer is responsible to bring a guilt offering to the LORD. He will give the ram to the priest, who will make atonement for him.

Exposition

The text is clearly about sin and guilt. The words appear many different times within the text. However, the text does not simply lay out violations, in the midst of the offerings, this text is giving us hope, that sins can be forgiven and atoned for. Looking at the sins against the LORD's devoted things and the sins against a brother, we see another element too.

Again, it is so easy for us to think a person would sin and would then have to bring a sacrifice, as if the actions itself were all that was looked for. Like a person simply going in to pay a traffic ticket, we see there was a penalty and as long as it is paid, all sides are happy. However, sins against the LORD are not simply restored with fines. It is a violation of the LORD and it reveals a heart that is inclined against Him. Therefore, more than a simple "sorry" is needed. The person was not able to simply bring the sacrifice to the opening of the tent, drop it off and then let the priest do the rest. No the text shows us much more.

He must confess his sin. (5:5)

He must seek to restore that which he has violated. (5:15-16; 6:4-5)

He must seek the LORD's atonement. (throughout the text)

Put simply, this is repentance. A person must not simply feel bad, for the reason for the remorse could be many things. The person must see their guilt, confess their guilt and turn from their sin and to Christ. In our era, many preach about faith, but they seem to neglect repentance. However, saving faith that the Bible describes is faith which is accompanied by repentance. When a person truly turns to the LORD it must require that they turn away from their sin. The practice of the guilt offering, along with the restitution sought with others, is evidence of a person who has repented of his sin.

Conclusion

As I mentioned, repentance is not in vogue now. Many people worry that preaching repentance will scare some people off. Others foolishly do not understand how this is not a work. However, we are not speaking of some new effort on your part, we are speaking of a change created in your heart. Many people at baptism services have made a statement similar to the following:

Before I knew Christ, I used to sin, and knew I was sinning, but it didn't really bother me. Now that I have come to Christ, I hate it when I sin.

They do not say they have ceased from sinning, but their attitude is completely different. An attitude which should evidence itself in less frequent sin, as well. But the sinner loves his sin, therefore, the message of repentance is offensive to his ears.

However, to one whom repentance has been granted from the LORD, it is not offensive, but a beautiful thing. Consider Zaccheus:

He entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus; he was a chief tax collector and he was rich. Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, and was unable because of the crowd, for he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way. When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, "Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house." And he hurried and came down and received Him gladly. When they saw it, they all {began} to grumble, saying, "He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner." Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much." And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham.--Luke 19:1-9

So often we miss the beauty of this story because we only focus on the fact that Zaccheus was a short man. However, we see from his profession that his life was made up of the violations found in Leviticus 6:1-5. He cheated, he lied, he extorted, all so he could line his pockets. He encounters Jesus. It is a joyous encounter and during his time with Jesus, he promises to give back to those he robbed. Not simply offering the 120% payment, but a 400% payment! This shows he did not have a heart of drudgery, but instead was filled with joy.

You see, the guilt offering was not simply a fine the person was to pay to earn forgiveness. Forgiveness cannot be earned, it must be granted. The man was not even capable of performing the sacrifice himself, but had to depend on the priest to make atonement for him (a direct projection to the fact that Jesus Christ alone is our only means of atonement). The offerer did not provide his ram to earn himself salvation but offered it in response to the fact that salvation was possible! Then, having seen that the LORD is more desirable than his sin, he quickly turns from it and also seeks to restore any relationship with a person that may have been severed.

The beauty of repentance is not what we turn from, it's Who we turn to. Martin Luther understood that the Christian life is life of continual repentance, this was the message of the first of his 95 thesis. Their is great joy found in this. For God grants the repentance to us. God makes restoration possible. And God always forgives the one who forsakes his sin for the sake of Christ.

We must live lives of repentance. We should not do so as drudgery, but as a witness, we should show repentance to be a great joy of ours. What a praise that God would allow us to see our sin, see His beauty and grant us that we would turn from the sin to Him!!! Then, when a dying world notices this hope within us, we should not shrink away from repentance or try a less offensive way to speak of their sin. We should cry out to them to repent of their sin and cry out to God that He might grant it to them.

For our guilt can be forgiven and restoration can be found.

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.--2 Corinthians 5:21