Leviticus 5:5-135And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing: 6And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the Lord for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin. 7And if he be not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring for his trespass, which he hath committed, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, unto the Lord; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering. 8And he shall bring them unto the priest, who shall offer that which is for the sin offering first, and wring off his head from his neck, but shall not divide it asunder: 9And he shall sprinkle of the blood of the sin offering upon the side of the altar; and the rest of the blood shall be wrung out at the bottom of the altar: it is a sin offering. 10And he shall offer the second for a burnt offering, according to the manner: and the priest shall make an atonement for him for his sin which he hath sinned, and it shall be forgiven him. 11But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon: for it is a sin offering. 12Then shall he bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it, even a memorial thereof, and burn it on the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the Lord: it is a sin offering. 13And the priest shall make an atonement for him as touching his sin that he hath sinned in one of these, and it shall be forgiven him: and the remnant shall be the priest's, as a meat offering. (Leviticus 5:5‑13)
WHEN ONE became defiled by contact with death or uncleanness, if he feared God he would be made to feel that he was guilty of sin, and he was called on to “Confess wherein he hath sinned,” yet not in a vague or general way. Surely this is due to our carelesess before the Lord.
But there was more than that; nothing but sacrifice could remove the stain. “And he shall bring his trespass offering to the Lord for his sin which he hath sinned.” Only in this way could his guilt be cleared away. Here, as in the sin offering for one of the people, a female was sufficient, a lamb or a goat, and it was called an offering for trespass and sin. The priest should make atonement for him to clear him from his sin.
Then we have trespass against one’s neighbor, for such things are also sins against God. It is important to notice that he who sinned must make it right with his neighbor as well as bringing his trespass offering. Sometimes this is forgotten. It is most important to get right with the Lord, but this also involves the responsibility to make restitution to one’s neighbor for in whatever way he has wronged him.
Furthermore, there was to be no delay; he must straighten up with his neighbor the same day in which he made his offering to the Lord. It is a solemn thing to go on from day to day, from year to year, with seemingly no conscience about wrongs done or debts owed. Without doubt poverty of soul in many of God’s dear children is the result of carelessness in these things.
Then we have God’s tender consideration of the poor — to us the young and feeble in faith. “And if his hand be not able to bring a lamb, he shall bring to the Lord for his trespass which he hath sinned two turtledoves or two young peons; one for the sin offering, and the other for the burnt offering.”
In the third case there was God’s most gracious provision for one who could not bring even two turtle doves or two young pigeons. Here was poverty in the extreme but grace has its resource for the weakest in faith. God’s pity is shown in meeting the need of such. Such a one might bring “the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering.” There is no blood shedding here.
The fine flour is the type (Exod. 13:36) of the holy Person of the Lord Jesus. Undoubtedly this would teach us that although some dear simple souls might not lay hold of the value of the work of Christ, His blood and His death, still their trust is in Him alone as the One who can meet their soul’s need. God sees that faith in the Person of His Son and their sin is forgiven, just as He received the fine flour from the hand of the guilty Israelite. God in His grace will not shut out such from the effects of the work of Christ because of circumstances which hindered him having more knowledge. God is ever willing to save, His eye ever rested upon the blood, even though the offerer might not apprehend it.
ML-08/15/1971