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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 4:13-21

This is the law for expiating the guilt of a national sin, by a sin offering. If the leaders of the people, through mistake concerning the law, caused them to err, when the mistake was discovered an offering must be brought, that wrath might not come upon the whole congregation. Observe, 1. It is possible that the church may err, and that her guides may mislead her. It is here supposed that the whole congregation may sin, and sin through ignorance. God will always have a church on earth; but... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 4:14

When the sin which they have sinned against it ,.... Any of the commandments of the Lord forbidding such a thing to be done: is known ; is made known to them by the priest, or any other, so that they are convinced that what has been done is wrong, though done through ignorance: then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin, and bring him before the tabernacle of the congregation ; the same offering with that of the anointed priest, he being, as Aben Ezra on the place... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 4:1-35

The 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 for the high priest or the whole congregation) was carried into the tabernacle and solemnly sprinkled before the vail which covered God's presence. I. WHEN IT WAS TO BE OFFERED . On certain solemn public occasions, and whenever the conscience of an individual... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 4:1-35

Atonement 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, and the peace offering, have respectively emphasized the ideas of personal consecration, consecrated life-work, and fellowship. Moreover, they are to be regarded as voluntary offerings, depending upon the impulse of the heart for their celebration. Special... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 4:3-27

Gradations in guilt. In Israel, as we have seen, sin was divided into the pardonable and the unpardonable—into "sins through ignorance" and sins of presumption. But this was not the only distinction. Of those which might be forgiven there were some more serious than others, demanding variety in expiation. Special regulations were given as to the sin of the "priest that is anointed" ( Leviticus 4:3 ), the "whole congregation of Israel" ( Leviticus 4:13 ), the ruler ( Leviticus 4:22 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 4:3-27

Access for all: comparison and contrast. In the statutes of the Law given in this chapter we are reminded, by comparison and by contrast, of two of the main features of the gospel of Christ. We are reminded by comparison of— I. THE ACCESS THAT WAS PERMITTED TO EVERY ISRAELITE , AND IS NOW GRANTED TO US . No single individual in the whole congregation of Israel could feel that he was forbidden to go with his offering "before the Lord," to seek forgiveness... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 4:13-14

Collective guilt unconsciously incurred. We learn from the special provision made for the "sin in ignorance" of "the whole congregation of Israel "— I. THAT , THOUGH GOD DEALS PRIMARILY WITH INDIVIDUAL SOULS , HE HAS DIRECT RELATIONS WITH COMMUNITIES . Ordinarily, constantly, God comes to the individual soul, and says, "Thou shalt" or "Thou shalt not;" "My Son," do this and live, etc. But he has his Divine dealings with societies, with secular and sacred... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 4:13-21

The case of the whole congregation. A nation may become guilty of national sin in different ways, according to its political constitution: most directly, by the action of a popular Legislature passing a decree such as that of the Athenian assembly, condemning the whole of the Mitylenean people to death (Thucyd; 3.36), or by approving an act of sacrilege ( Malachi 3:9 ); indirectly, by any complicity in or condoning of a sin done in its name by its rulers. The ritual of the sin offering is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 4:13-21

Sin offering for the congregation. The congregation of Israel sustained a twofold character, viz. a political and an ecclesiastical; for it was at once a Nation and a Church. Here we have— I. THE SIN OF A NATION . Leviticus 4:13 . 1 . The commandments of the Lord concern nations. 2 . Therefore nations may sin against him. (a) In asking a king to be like them ( 1 Samuel 8:7 , 1 Samuel 8:8 ). (b) In their idolatries ( 1 Kings 12:26-30 ; 2 Kings 21:11 ... read more

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