Lev 5:1 | KingComments | STEP | of this chapter are a kind of intermediate form between sin offering and guilt offering. The sin offering in Leviticus 4 shows what the character of sin is, that kind of sin is contrary to the holy nature of God, and not so much what that sin consists of, what sin was committed. It also shows that the position of someone who is sinning is important. The guilt offering is more about the deed that is done and the satisfaction to the LORD against Whom the deed is done. The word ‘guilt’ means to be guilty toward someone to whom we are accountable. It is guilt we impose on ourselves when we unlawfully appropriate another's property or withhold from someone something to which he is entitled. It can be about material things, but also about immaterial things, like someone’s good name or something by which he suffers disadvantage. A “public adjuration” that someone hears is a situation in which a judge implores an accused person under oath by pronouncing the oath formula ( ; ). This places an obligation on the defendant to speak the truth. If he does not do so, and there is someone present who knows the facts, but does not tell them, then he too is guilty. So it is about someone sinning and blaming himself when he is silent, while he has to speak. An example of this can be found in Proverbs 29. It is about the henchman of a thief ( ). If the thief and he are caught, he must testify against the thief and against himself. The judge hears him under oath, which he indicates by pronouncing a curse. The henchman can remain silent because he is afraid of the thief’s revenge and is also afraid of a conviction by the judge. This makes him guilty of two sins: his help to the thief and his refusal to testify. It isn’t enough to merely not tell lies. God also requires His people to make the truth known. Even if one merely knew about a lie, he is responsible to make the truth known. If he does not tell it, he bears guilt. Therefore, it was the duty of someone who was a witness to come forward and tell the truth about the matter. Not bearing witness to the truth is a sin. We can say that the same principle applies to our testifying of Jesus Christ in Christianity. It isn’t enough that we refrain from actively denying the Lord Jesus or lying about our relationship with Him. We must also, if it is asked from us, tell the truth about Him, about everything He has made known about Himself in His Word. In a broader sense we can apply this to the responsibility we have to people who do not know the gospel. Then we are responsible for giving our testimony that we know the Lord Jesus. God can bring us into circumstances where we clearly see His hand to give a testimony of Who He is. If we then remain silent, we are guilty. We should always be ready “to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you” ( ).

‏ Leviticus 5:1

Introduction

Lev 5:1-13 of this chapter are a kind of intermediate form between sin offering and guilt offering. The sin offering in Leviticus 4 shows what the character of sin is, that kind of sin is contrary to the holy nature of God, and not so much what that sin consists of, what sin was committed. It also shows that the position of someone who is sinning is important. The guilt offering is more about the deed that is done and the satisfaction to the LORD against Whom the deed is done.

The word ‘guilt’ means to be guilty toward someone to whom we are accountable. It is guilt we impose on ourselves when we unlawfully appropriate another's property or withhold from someone something to which he is entitled. It can be about material things, but also about immaterial things, like someone’s good name or something by which he suffers disadvantage.

Guilty By Not Telling the Truth

A “public adjuration” that someone hears is a situation in which a judge implores an accused person under oath by pronouncing the oath formula (Num 5:20-21; Mt 26:63). This places an obligation on the defendant to speak the truth. If he does not do so, and there is someone present who knows the facts, but does not tell them, then he too is guilty. So it is about someone sinning and blaming himself when he is silent, while he has to speak.

An example of this can be found in Proverbs 29. It is about the henchman of a thief (Pro 29:24). If the thief and he are caught, he must testify against the thief and against himself. The judge hears him under oath, which he indicates by pronouncing a curse. The henchman can remain silent because he is afraid of the thief’s revenge and is also afraid of a conviction by the judge. This makes him guilty of two sins: his help to the thief and his refusal to testify.

It isn’t enough to merely not tell lies. God also requires His people to make the truth known. Even if one merely knew about a lie, he is responsible to make the truth known. If he does not tell it, he bears guilt. Therefore, it was the duty of someone who was a witness to come forward and tell the truth about the matter. Not bearing witness to the truth is a sin.

We can say that the same principle applies to our testifying of Jesus Christ in Christianity. It isn’t enough that we refrain from actively denying the Lord Jesus or lying about our relationship with Him. We must also, if it is asked from us, tell the truth about Him, about everything He has made known about Himself in His Word.

In a broader sense we can apply this to the responsibility we have to people who do not know the gospel. Then we are responsible for giving our testimony that we know the Lord Jesus. God can bring us into circumstances where we clearly see His hand to give a testimony of Who He is. If we then remain silent, we are guilty. We should always be ready “to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you” (1Pet 3:15).