Leviticus 4

The purpose of the sin offering is to make atonement for the worshipper’s broken relationship with God. This chapter deals with unintentional sins and the offering brought when made aware of them. The variations in the offering depend on the worshipper’s position in the congregation (for example, a priest is different than a common person).

Of all the offerings that foreshadow Jesus, this is perhaps the easiest to recognize. Jesus is our sin offering! He gave Himself for OUR sin.

Isaiah 53:10 (WEB) “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him. He has caused him to suffer. When you make his soul an offering for sin, he will see his offspring. He will prolong his days and the LORD’s pleasure will prosper in his hand.”

Matthew 20:28 (WEB) “even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 (WEB) “For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Hebrews 7:26-27 (WEB) “For such a high priest was fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; who doesn’t need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices daily, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. For he did this once for all, when he offered up himself.”

Thought for the day: When the worshipper realized their sin, they repented by bringing an offering. Although the eternal penalty for our sins is taken away when we believe in Jesus, our day-to-day relationship with God is still affected by our sin. We need to bring an “offering” of confession and repentance for that!

1 John 1:9 (WEB) “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”