Leviticus 5:2-16
Further examples are now given to us of things that would be a trespass against the Lord according to the law. There were ordinances about touching unclean things, which, in everyday life, we might not think very serious, but once again we are reminded that it is a defiling world and that God’s measurement of sin is not ours. We become so accustomed to the sin we see around us every day that we are liable to think very lightly of it, but sin is sin before God, and nothing less than a sacrifice appointed by God Himself can put it away from before His holy eye. How blessed to know that the work of the Lord Jesus on the cross has settled the sin question forever for all those who believe, and that, not according to our own standards, but according to God’s.
Swearing
When it speaks of swearing in our chapter it does not mean bad language or taking the name of the Lord in vain upon our lips, as we would think of it today, but it means promising something with an oath. It is not so commonly done today, but it would show us that we should never make a promise which we are unable to keep. It is a solemn thing to give one’s word about something and then break it. Be sure you have the Lord’s mind before you make a promise, and then once you have given your word (unless the promise itself is a sin against God, see Matthew 14:9), ask the Lord for grace to carry it out no matter how difficult it is. People think all too lightly of a promise in these days, but God looks upon a broken promise as a serious sin.
Light and Responsibility
The offerings allowed for the trespass offering were smaller than for the sin offering, for the more “light” one has, the more responsible he is. Nevertheless there was no passing over of sin — it must be judged. If the one who has sinned was unable to bring a lamb or a kid, or perhaps not even turtledoves or young pigeons, then he was to bring a handful of fine flour. Undoubtedly this would teach us that although some dear simple souls might not lay hold of the value of the work of Christ, still their trust is in Him alone as the One who can meet their soul’s need. God then sees that faith in the person of His Son and the sinner is forgiven, just as He accepted the fine flour from the hand of a guilty Israelite and he was forgiven his trespass. How this teaches us that God is always willing to save and that it is not a question in salvation as to how much a man knows, but whether his trust is in Christ, the Person who accomplished the work. Needless to say, the eye of God rests upon the blood as that which alone could put away sin, even though the offerer did not understand it.
Added Glory for God
Next we read of trespasses in God’s holy things. This was more serious touching something unclean, and a ram must be offered with money to make amends for the harm that had been done. As we think of how we once trampled God’s glory in the dust and dishonored Him so terribly, surely we are guilty in this, but in these sacrifices not only was the guilt of the sinner settled, but a fifth part was added to it. How beautifully this shows us that not only has the work of Christ settled all God’s claims against sin, but added glory has been brought to God through it. What a wonderful work was accomplished at Calvary!
For Further Meditation
1. What does “swearing” mean in Leviticus 5:4?
2. When we’ve made a monstrous mess of a situation and someone else has to clean it up, they sometimes grumble and complain while they do the work. They might leave a little for us to finish up or do the bare minimum amount of work. How does that contrast with what Christ did when paying for our sins and adding “the fifth part” to it?
3. If you’re interested in a very extensive work on this subject, you might read the section on Leviticus from Notes on the Pentateuch: Genesis to Deuteronomy by C. H. Mackintosh. His writing tends to be wordy but warm and instructive.