Leviticus 4:13-2113And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the Lord concerning things which should not be done, and are guilty; 14When the sin, which they have sinned against it, is known, then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin, and bring him before the tabernacle of the congregation. 15And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock before the Lord: and the bullock shall be killed before the Lord. 16And the priest that is anointed shall bring of the bullock's blood to the tabernacle of the congregation: 17And the priest shall dip his finger in some of the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before the Lord, even before the vail. 18And he shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar which is before the Lord, that is in the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall pour out all the blood at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 19And he shall take all his fat from him, and burn it upon the altar. 20And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them. 21And he shall carry forth the bullock without the camp, and burn him as he burned the first bullock: it is a sin offering for the congregation. (Leviticus 4:13‑21)
“AND IF THE WHOLE congregation of Israel sin through ignorance,.. when the sin... is known, then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin... And the elders... shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock before the Lord; and the bullock shall be killed before the Lord.”
Here we have the case of some unjudged, collective sin among the people of God. The assembly might not know of it at the first, but the Lord would have His people exercised as to any sin of theirs when it became known. God cannot go on with sin nor bless His people when they allow it among them. As soon therefore as the sin was known (for God must bring sin to light), then a bullock must be brought for a sin offering.
We notice that the provision here is largely the same as for the priest who sinned, only it is the elders who lay their hands on the head of the victim. They, as representing the people, must realize the solemn judgment of sin as they witness the bullock slain “before the Lord.” God would have His people to see what sin is in HIS sight. Our blessed Lord Jesus has perfectly answered to God for all the sins of His own, but the remembrance of His suffering, what it cost Him to put those sins away, should keep us humble all our days.
In His spotless soul’s distress
I have learned my guiltiness;
Oh how vile my low estate
Since my ransom was so great!
Again the blood sprinkled seven times before the Lord and put upon the horns of the golden altar of incense, speaks of the infinite value of the blood of Christ before God, and the perfection of His work of atonement, so that communion can be restored. “The priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them.” v.20.
“And he shall take all his fat from him, and burn it upon the altar... And he shall carry forth the bullock without the camp, and burn him as he burned the first bullock: it is a sin offering for the congregation.” vv. 19,21.
The burning of the fat on the brazen altar tells-of the intrinsic holiness of the Lord Jesus as the victim, while at the same time we see how thoroughly He identified Himself with the sin of the congregation — a sacrifice so acceptable to God and so perfect an answer to all our need as sinners.
ML-07/25/1971