Lev 4:17-18 | KingComments | STEP | We get a second case of sin for which a sin offering must be offered, and that is the case when the whole congregation of Israel has sinned. There is something here that is not mentioned in the case of the sin of the anointed priest, and that is that “the matter escapes the notice of the assembly”. In the Christian church sin is often not noticed because God’s Word is not read. But our ignorance of the Word of God doesn’t make us less guilty. If the opening of God’s Word opens the eyes to a sin, a sin offering must be offered. The sin offering for the sin of the whole congregation corresponds in many ways to the sin offering for the anointed priest. In both cases the fellowship of the whole people with God is broken. The way to God in the sanctuary must be cleansed by blood, as must the service at the altar of incense. The animal also needs to be burned outside the camp. The sin of the whole congregation can be applied to the situation in Corinth. There is sin there, which has defiled the entire church. God came there with His discipline ( ). They have a case of immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles ( ). Perhaps it is hidden first, as is written here in . But God makes it known ( ). We must be open to God telling us that we, as a local church, do things that in His eyes are sin. We can wrongly exclude someone from or accept someone into fellowship, that is, we wrongly maintain someone in the midst of the believers or refuse to accept someone who does belong there. In Joshua 7 we see a case where the sin of one man, Achan, is charged to the whole congregation ( ). God takes care that sin is made known and is removed from among them. On behalf of the whole people, the elders put their hands on the head of the bull ( ). Because of this, the sin of the whole people passes, as it were, to the animal and atonement can take place. Not only does the offering correspond to the offering for the anointed priest, but also the acts performed correspond to the acts performed when the anointed priest has sinned.

‏ Leviticus 4:17-18

If the Whole Congregation of Israel Has Sinned

We get a second case of sin for which a sin offering must be offered, and that is the case when the whole congregation of Israel has sinned. There is something here that is not mentioned in the case of the sin of the anointed priest, and that is that “the matter escapes the notice of the assembly”. In the Christian church sin is often not noticed because God’s Word is not read. But our ignorance of the Word of God doesn’t make us less guilty. If the opening of God’s Word opens the eyes to a sin, a sin offering must be offered.

The sin offering for the sin of the whole congregation corresponds in many ways to the sin offering for the anointed priest. In both cases the fellowship of the whole people with God is broken. The way to God in the sanctuary must be cleansed by blood, as must the service at the altar of incense. The animal also needs to be burned outside the camp.

The sin of the whole congregation can be applied to the situation in Corinth. There is sin there, which has defiled the entire church. God came there with His discipline (1Cor 11:30). They have a case of immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles (1Cor 5:1). Perhaps it is hidden first, as is written here in Lev 4:13. But God makes it known (Lev 4:14).

We must be open to God telling us that we, as a local church, do things that in His eyes are sin. We can wrongly exclude someone from or accept someone into fellowship, that is, we wrongly maintain someone in the midst of the believers or refuse to accept someone who does belong there.

In Joshua 7 we see a case where the sin of one man, Achan, is charged to the whole congregation (Jos 7:1). God takes care that sin is made known and is removed from among them.

On behalf of the whole people, the elders put their hands on the head of the bull (Lev 4:15). Because of this, the sin of the whole people passes, as it were, to the animal and atonement can take place. Not only does the offering correspond to the offering for the anointed priest, but also the acts performed correspond to the acts performed when the anointed priest has sinned.