Lev 4:27-31 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Lev 4:27-35: 4:27-35 The common people, who had less responsibility than a priest or leader, were permitted the lesser offering of a female sheep or goat. A greater position brings greater responsibility (cp. Amos 3:2 ; Matt 25:14-30 ; Jas 3:1 ). Thematic note: Community Identity In modern Western society, the individual is considered to be the primary social entity. In Israel, by contrast, an individual’s identity and significance were determined by his or her membership in the community. All Israelites were expected to partake of the common identity of the community as the “children of Israel” and to embody the characteristics that marked the whole. In the Old Testament, the people are often referred to or addressed in the singular, emphasizing their oneness. The Decalogue (Exod 20:2-17 ) and the blessing of Aaron (Num 6:24-26 ), for example, are given in the singular. The individual could often represent the group, and the group could be referred to as an individual. Nehemiah, for example, asks forgiveness for the sins that caused the exile to Babylon as though he had been one of those transgressors (“we have sinned,” Neh 1:6-7 ). Nehemiah was governor of Judea from 445 to 433 BC , about 140 years after the destruction of Jerusalem (586 BC ), so he did not participate in the sins leading to the Exile. Yet in his prayer, he identifies with his people in their sinfulness. In this same way, the high priest could represent the entire people on the Day of Atonement (see Lev 16 ). Because the individual Israelite was so strongly identified with the community, the sin of the individual would become the sin of the community if not addressed (see Lev 4:3-21 ; 20:1-5 ). In like manner, the Christian community is described as the “body of Christ” (1 Cor 12:27 ; Eph 4:12 ). The members partake of Christ’s identity through the Holy Spirit. That is, as the body of Christ they manifest Christ’s life in their lives, and as a unified whole they reveal him to the world. Paul exhorts the Galatians to share the burdens of others (Gal 6:2 ) and so to model Christ’s example (Matt 11:28-30 ). Passages for Further Study Exod 20:5-6 , 8-10 ; Lev 4:3-21 ; 20:1-5 ; Josh 7:1-26 ; Neh 1:6-7 ; 1 Cor 12:12-27 ; Gal 6:2 ; Eph 4:11-13

Summary for Lev 4:27-35: 4:27-35 ^a The common people, who had less responsibility than a priest or leader, were permitted the lesser offering of a female sheep or goat. A greater position brings greater responsibility (cp. Amos 3:2 ^b; Matt 25:14-30 ^c; Jas 3:1 ^d).

Thematic note: Community Identity
In modern Western society, the individual is considered to be the primary social entity. In Israel, by contrast, an individual’s identity and significance were determined by his or her membership in the community. All Israelites were expected to partake of the common identity of the community as the “children of Israel” and to embody the characteristics that marked the whole.
In the Old Testament, the people are often referred to or addressed in the singular, emphasizing their oneness. The Decalogue (Exod 20:2-17 ^e) and the blessing of Aaron (Num 6:24-26 ^f), for example, are given in the singular. The individual could often represent the group, and the group could be referred to as an individual. Nehemiah, for example, asks forgiveness for the sins that caused the exile to Babylon as though he had been one of those transgressors (“we have sinned,” Neh 1:6-7 ^g). Nehemiah was governor of Judea from 445 to 433 BC, about 140 years after the destruction of Jerusalem (586 BC), so he did not participate in the sins leading to the Exile. Yet in his prayer, he identifies with his people in their sinfulness. In this same way, the high priest could represent the entire people on the Day of Atonement (see Lev 16 ^h). Because the individual Israelite was so strongly identified with the community, the sin of the individual would become the sin of the community if not addressed (see Lev 4:3-21 ⁱ; 20:1-5 ^j).
In like manner, the Christian community is described as the “body of Christ” (1 Cor 12:27 ^k; Eph 4:12 ^l). The members partake of Christ’s identity through the Holy Spirit. That is, as the body of Christ they manifest Christ’s life in their lives, and as a unified whole they reveal him to the world. Paul exhorts the Galatians to share the burdens of others (Gal 6:2 ^m) and so to model Christ’s example (Matt 11:28-30 ⁿ).

Passages for Further Study
Exod 20:5-6 ^o, 8-10 ^p; Lev 4:3-21 ^q; 20:1-5 ^r; Josh 7:1-26 ^s; Neh 1:6-7 ^t; 1 Cor 12:12-27 ^u; Gal 6:2 ^v; Eph 4:11-13 ^w