Leviticus 5

Order a Free Bible Here from - Bibles4Free.com - a - USBibleSociety.com - Ministry

Dave Burnette's Commentary

Leviticus Chapter 5

Written By: God through Inspiration

Penned By: Moses

Date Penned: (1445-1444 BC)

Overview: A Handbook for the Priests and Levites (c 1-27)

Theme: Worshipping a Holy God (c 1-17)

Message: The Trespass Offering (v 1-19)

Leviticus 5 Commentary

(5:4) Unfulfilled Promises - Have you ever sworn to do or not do something and then realized how foolish your promise was? God's people are called to keep their word, even if they make promises that are tough to keep. Jesus was warning against swearing (in the sense of making rows or oaths) when he said, "But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil" (Matthew 5:37). Our word should be enough. If we feel we have to strengthen it with an oath, something is wrong with our sincerity. The only promises we ought not to keep are promises that lead to sin. A wise and self-controlled person avoids making rash promises.

(5:5) An Attitude of Repentance - The entire system of sacrifices could not help sinners unless they brought their offerings with an attitude of repentance and a willingness to confess sin. Today, because of Christ's death on the cross, we do not have to sacrifice animals. But it is still vital to confess sin, because genuine confession shows realization of sin, awareness of God's holiness, humility before God, and willingness to turn from this sin (Psalm.51:16-17). Even Jesus' death will be of little value to us if we do not repent and follow him. It is like a vaccine for a dangerous disease--it won't help unless it enters the bloodstream.

(5:1419) The Trespass Offering - The trespass offering was a way of taking care of sin committed unintentionally. It was for those who sinned in some way against God's "holy things"-the tabernacle or the priesthood--as well as for those who unintentionally sinned against someone. In each case, a ram with no defects had to be sacrificed, and those harmed by the sin had to be compensated for their loss, plus an additional 20 percent. Even though Christ's death has made trespass offerings unnecessary for us today, we still need to make things right with those we hurt.

Dave Burnette's Life Application

Let Your Yea be Yea

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we continue in the book of Leviticus with Chapter 5 and in today's text we see a continued look with the Offerings made by the Priest to atone for the sins of Israel for a period of time until the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus-Christ who atones for all of mans sin for eternity. Today's look at the trespass (or Guilt) Offering which covers the unknowingly committed sin. My attention is drawn to verse 4 where we are warned about making promises or oaths. As Christians we are advised in the Bible to not make promises but rather let our yea be yea or our nay be nay and not swear or make an oath or contract. In making application many Christians today loose their testimony and influence to others by entering promises or contracts, only to break these promises. This brings shame to our character and ultimately our Lord. We should live humble lives looking to the Lord for our needs and not to promise to commit in situations that force Gods hand. The truth is that we don't know what the Lord has for us tomorrow so we shouldn't presume to know. Our response should be "I will try" or "If it is the Lord's will" and if others we deal with want promises, contracts, or vows we should stray away from these offers while testifying of the Lord's instruction for our lives. How about you? Do you enter into vows, contracts, or swear to do things not knowing if the Lord will allow the task to be completed. Let us learn from today's text so we wont commit sins unknowingly by making vows or oaths.

Leviticus 5

Previous Chapter | Index | Next Chapter

Leviticus 5

¹And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity.

²Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether it be a carcase of an unclean beast, or a carcase of unclean cattle, or the carcase of unclean creeping things, and if it be hidden from him; he also shall be unclean, and guilty.

³Or if he touch the uncleanness of man, whatsoever uncleanness it be that a man shall be defiled withal, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty.

⁴Or if a soul swear, pronouncing with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever it be that a man shall pronounce with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty in one of these.

⁵And 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.

¹⁴And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

¹⁵If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the LORD; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the LORD a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering.

¹⁶And he shall make amends for the harm that he hath done in the holy thing, and shall add the fifth part thereto, and give it unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and it shall be forgiven him.

¹⁷And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD; though he wist it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity.

¹⁸And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his ignorance wherein he erred and wist it not, and it shall be forgiven him.

¹⁹It is a trespass offering: he hath certainly trespassed against the LORD.

Language Translator (Click on Tab to Translate Page)

Scripture Application (Click on Box to View Application)

Bible Search (Search Bible By Word or Verse)

Take Notes on Your Bible Studies (Using our Padlet)

Listen to the Bible (By Talking Bibles)

The United States Bible Society

Try Our Free Daily Devotion Email

For Email Newsletters you can trust