And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the Lord ,.... Respecting holy things: though he wist it not ; or did not know that he had transgressed a negative command: yet he is guilty, and shall bear the iniquity ; be chargeable with guilt, and is liable to punishment, and must make an atonement and satisfaction for it; see Luke 12:48 . read more
Verse 17 17.And if soul sin. Although the expressions seem to be general, as if he briefly confirmed what he had said before, yet it is necessary to connect them with the last sentence, or at least to restrict them to certain cases. The former exposition appears to me to be the right one; nor is there any absurdity in the repetition, to cut off all occasion for subterfuge from the disobedient. Still I do not deny that the reason which is added at the end, applies to all the modes of expiation... read more
The trespass offering differs from the sin offering in that it was not allowed to be presented until reparation had been made for the evil done by him who desired to offer it. Its special lesson to the Israelite was that satisfaction for sin is necessary for restoration to communion as well as sacrifice. ITS TYPICAL LESSON . Satisfaction implies that there is a debt due which must be paid. The debt is due to God; the debtor is man. Christ took upon himself the payment of the debt,... read more
Trespass in sacrilege. The verses now under consideration form a distinct matter of revelation, or were communicated to Moses at a separate time. This we infer from the opening words, "And the Lord spake unto Moses," comparing them with like expressions twice used already (see Le Leviticus 1:1 ; Leviticus 4:1 ). I. WILFUL SACRILEGE WAS PUNISHABLE WITH DEATH . 1 . It is fraud "in the holy things of the Lord." The treasures of the temple of whatever kind were also... read more
Unconscious sin. Is there not something here contrary to our generally received ideas respecting sin? Can a man sin "though he wast it not"? The text suggests— I. THAT WE COMMONLY CONNECT WITH OUR IDEA OF SIN THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF GUILT AT the TIME OF TRANSGRESSION . Sin is only possible to intelligent, responsible beings; it implies the power of discernment; it is usually followed by self-reproach; it seems, at first sight, to involve a consciousness ... read more
The unwitting trespass. "Though he wist it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity." I. THE ABSOLUTE PERFECTION OF THE DIVINE LAW . It must be maintained: 1 . As a revelation of the character of God. 2 . As a basis on which the moral law is placed. 3 . As a means of convincing man of sin, separating the idea of guilt from arbitrary, capricious, local, individual, emotional respects. II. THE INFINITE FULNESS OF THE DIVINE COMPASSION ... read more
Sins of commission may be atoned for by the trespass offering as well as sins of omission. read more
Though he wist it not - Ignorance of the Law, or even of the consequences of the act at the time that it was committed, was not to excuse him from the obligation to offer the sacrifice. read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 5:14-19
Hitherto in this chapter orders were given concerning those sacrifices that were both sin-offerings and trespass-offerings, for they go by both names, Lev. 5:6. Here we have the law concerning those that were properly and peculiarly trespass-offerings, which were offered to atone for trespasses done against a neighbour, those sins we commonly call trespasses. Now injuries done to another may be either in holy things or in common things; of the former we have the law in these verses; of the... read more