Leviticus 4:23

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 4:22-26

Observe 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 higher than they. This is intimated in that the commandment transgressed is here said to be the commandment of the Lord his God, Lev. 4:22. He is a prince to others, but let him know the Lord is a God to him. 2. The sin of the ruler which he committed through ignorance is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 4:23

Or if his sin wherein he hath sinned come to his knowledge ,.... Or rather, "and if his sin", &c.; F13 או και Sept. "et postea", V. L. & Noldius, p. 3. No. 23. either by means of others informing him of it, or of himself calling to mind what he has done, and considering it to be a transgression of the law: he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish ; his offering was to be a "kid of the goats", a fat and a large one; because, as Baal... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 4:1-35

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 4:22-26

The 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 blood is not to be carried into the tabernacle, as in the two previous cases, but put upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering , which stood outside in the court, and, as a consequence of the blood not having been taken into the tabernacle, the flesh is not to be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 4:22-26

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... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 4:22-35

The 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 . We have: 1 . The responsibility of the ruler. 2 . The responsibility of the private person. II. THAT SIN OFFERING IS PROVIDED FOR INDIVIDUALS . 1 . It is appointed for the ruler ( Leviticus 4:22-26 ). 2 . It is... read more

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