Fulfilled: Jesus’ sacrifice atones for all unintentional sins.
Fulfilled by Jesus’ death (“Father forgive them, FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO.”). He met demands of the law and died in the place of sinners to atone their sin.
Lev. 4:1-35 – Instructions: For priest, people, ruler, common person
| Sinning Party | Anointed Priest (4:3-12) | Whole Congregation (4:13-21) | Ruler (4:22-26) | Common Person (4:27-35) |
| Requirements Note: Jesus fulfills all roles: Matt. 26:7–head anointed; Jn. 11:51–priest declares Jesus’ death to be for whole nation; Mt. 27:28–Soldiers hail Him as a king (mockingly); Is. 53:2-3–He was treated as common man (especially in the manner of His death) | Note: When anointed priest sins, it brings guilt on all the people (Lev. 4:3) Priest brings unblemished young bull to door of tabernacle a. priest’s hands on head b. priest kills bull Notes: “unblemished” = Jesus’ sinlessness (1 Pet. 1:19) “young” = at prime of life, as Jesus was when He died ~33 years of age. “bull” = a bull is male (as Jesus was) and a choice animal in comparison to goats and lambs, showing the power/authority of the high priest (and fulfilled in Jesus–consider Psalm 22:12, where Jesus’ death is prophesied, and it is compared with bulls surrounding someone). “door of tabernacle” = All sacrifices begin outside the tabernacle, and only the high priest/entire congregation’s sacrifices go into the tabernacle. “the priest’s hands” = In the life of Jesus, it was not the high priest directly, but his soldiers who laid hands on Jesus (Jn. 18:22). “hands” = 2 hands, showing that both the priest’s sins and those of the people’s are imputed to the bull. Priest takes some blood inside tabernacle a. sprinkle 7x in front of veil b. put on horns of incense altar Priest pours remaining blood at base of burnt offering altar, at door of tabernacle a. Burn fat area at burnt offering altar b. The whole bull burned outside camp: clean place, where ashes are poured out Notes: “at burnt offering altar” = Like peace offering (see 4:10). “ashes are poured out” = The requirement to burn animal outside camp is only for anointed priest/whole congregation. Fulfilled in Jesus’ death in Golgotha, outside Jerusalem (He. 13:11-12). Actual location of ash heap is uncertain, but North of Jerusalem (see New Amer. Comm. on Leviticus, p. 111); Golgotha was Northwest of Jerusalem. Golgotha means, “place of the skull” (Mt. 27:33), place of remains (like ashes) of dead men. Thus, burning of animal skin is fulfilled in crucifixion of Christ (a problem with this interpretation is that Jesus did not die in Jerusalem, but animals of the sin offering did. Maybe He “died” in some sense when He was scourged and cursed, though not physically, similar to Adam and Eve “dying” the day they ate the fruit, but not physically). | Whole congregation brings unblemished young bull to door of tabernacle a. elders lay hands on head b. bull killed Priest takes some blood inside tabernacle a. sprinkle 7x in front of veil b. put on horns of incense altar Priest pours remaining blood at base of burnt offering altar, at door of tabernacle Priest burns fat area at burnt offering altar Note: As a result of this process, the people are atoned and forgiven their sins (4:20) The whole bull burned outside camp: clean place, where ashes are poured out | Ruler brings unblemished male goat a. ruler lays hand on head b. ruler kills goat on N. side of burnt offering altar, outside the tent Notes: “ruler” = In life of Jesus, it was not Pilate who touched Jesus (cf. Matt. 27:24), but his soldiers (Mt. 27:27ff). “hand” = singular (see 4:24), same as that of the common person (4:29, 33)… “North side of burnt offering” = Literally, “where they kill the burnt offering,” (compare 4:24 and 1:3), same place as that of the common person (4:29, 33) Priest puts some blood on horns of burnt offering altar Priest pours remaining blood at base of burnt offering altar, at door of tabernacle Priest burns fat area at burnt offering altar Note: As a result of this process, the ruler is atoned and forgiven his sins (4:26) | Person brings unblemished female goat or lamb a. person lays hand on head b. person kills animal on N. side of burnt offering altar, outside the tent Notes: “person lays hand on head” = It was not Jesus’ disciples, but Mary who touched and anointed his head and feet (Mt. 26:6-13; Jn. 12:1-8). “head” = At the sacrifice of Jesus, when no one was laying hands directly on Jesus’ head, He bowed his own head to die (Jn. 19:30). This is remarkable because the last action of a victim of crucifixion is to turn their head upwards and gasp for breath, but by turning his head downwards, it shows that Jesus willingly laid down His life (Jn. 10:18). When no one else was able to lay hands on His head (as you had to do for a sin offering), He, in a sense, laid hands on His own head on behalf of all. Priest puts some blood on horns of burnt offering altar Priest pours remaining blood at base of burnt offering altar, at door of tabernacle Priest burns fat area at burnt offering altar Note: As a result of this process, the common person is atoned and forgiven his sins (4:31) |
Lev. 5:1-13 – sins requiring sin offering:
- withholds truth (a. eyewitness, b. hearing something secondhand)
- Touches uncleanness: a) wild animal – unbelievers (dogs), b) livestock – hypocrites (pigs), c) swarming things – spiritual forces (Beelzebub/ Prince of the Air), d) human – common sinfulness
- Hasty promises (a. to do evil, b. to do good)
Remedy:
- v.5 – (1) confession: a) word when used of God: praise, b) word when used of man: confession
- v.6 – (2) sin offering: lamb
- vv.7-10 – or 2 doves/pigeons (a. sin offering, b. burnt offering)
- vv.11-13 – or 1/10 ephah fine flour: no oil, memorial portion burned (cf. Lev. 2:16), priest eats remainder (cf. Lev. 2:10) — minister is nourished by sinner atoned
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