The Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 4:13-21

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

Sin offering for the congregation.

The congregation of Israel sustained a twofold character, viz. a political and an ecclesiastical; for it was at once a Nation and a Church. Here we have—

I. THE SIN OF A NATION. Leviticus 4:13.

1. The commandments of the Lord concern nations.

2. Therefore nations may sin against him.

(a) In asking a king to be like them (1 Samuel 8:7, 1 Samuel 8:8).

(b) In their idolatries (1 Kings 12:26-30; 2 Kings 21:11).

They became demoralized by licentiousness and violence (Isaiah 1:4).

II. THE SIN OF A CHURCH.

1. The commandments of the Lord concern Churches.

2. These Churches are responsible to God.

III. THE OFFERING FOR SIN.

1. Communities are punished in this world.

(1) This is evident from the nature of the case. There is no future resurrection of communities. Disintegration to a community is its utter extinction.

2. Punishment may be averted by sacrifice.

3. There is no mercy for willful sin.

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The Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 4:1-35Leviticus 4:1-35 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe sin offering signifies and ceremonially effects propitiation and expiation. Its characteristic feature, therefore, is the presentation of the blood of the victim, which in this sacrifice alone (when it was offered f…The Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 4:1-35Leviticus 4:1-35 · The Pulpit CommentaryAtonement for the penitent, as illustrated in the sin offering. Le Leviticus 5:1-13; cf. Psalms 19:12; Galatians 6:1; 1 Timothy 1:13, etc. The offerings already considered, viz. the burnt offering, the meat offering, an…The Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 4:1-35Leviticus 4:1-35 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITION THE SIN OFFERING (Leviticus 4:1-35, Leviticus 5:1-13). At the time of the Mosaic legislation, burnt offerings and meat offerings were already in existence, and had existed from the time of the Fall. A beginni…Matthew Henry on Leviticus 4:13-21Leviticus 4:13-21 · Matthew Henry Concise CommentaryIf the leaders of the people, through mistake, caused them to err, an offering must be brought, that wrath might not come upon the whole congregation. When sacrifices were offered, the persons, on whose behalf they were…Matthew Henry on Leviticus 4:13-21Leviticus 4:13-21 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleThis is the law for expiating the guilt of a national sin, by a sin offering. If the leaders of the people, through mistake concerning the law, caused them to err, when the mistake was discovered an offering must be bro…The Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 4:13-21Leviticus 4:13-21 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe case of the whole congregation. A nation may become guilty of national sin in different ways, according to its political constitution: most directly, by the action of a popular Legislature passing a decree such as t…

commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 4:1-35Atonement for the penitent, as illustrated in the sin offering. Le Leviticus 5:1-13; cf. Psalms 19:12; Galatians 6:1; 1 Timothy 1:13, etc. The offerings already considered, viz. the burnt offering, the meat offering, an…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 4:1-35EXPOSITION THE SIN OFFERING (Leviticus 4:1-35, Leviticus 5:1-13). At the time of the Mosaic legislation, burnt offerings and meat offerings were already in existence, and had existed from the time of the Fall. A beginni…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 4:1-35The sin offering signifies and ceremonially effects propitiation and expiation. Its characteristic feature, therefore, is the presentation of the blood of the victim, which in this sacrifice alone (when it was offered f…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryMatthew Henry on Leviticus 4:13-21If the leaders of the people, through mistake, caused them to err, an offering must be brought, that wrath might not come upon the whole congregation. When sacrifices were offered, the persons, on whose behalf they were…Matthew Henry commentaryMatthew Henry on Leviticus 4:13-21This is the law for expiating the guilt of a national sin, by a sin offering. If the leaders of the people, through mistake concerning the law, caused them to err, when the mistake was discovered an offering must be bro…Matthew Henry commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 4:13-21The case of the whole congregation. A nation may become guilty of national sin in different ways, according to its political constitution: most directly, by the action of a popular Legislature passing a decree such as t…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Leviticus 4:13-21The whole congregation sinners through ignorance. The sacrifice is very similar to the high priest's. The ruling thought in both cases is that of sin attaching to those who represent the covenant of God. The people, whe…Joseph S. Exell and contributors