EPISODE 38 :: LEVITICUS 4 THRU 6 :: THE SIN :: BURNT :: TRESPASS OFFERINGS

LEVITICUS 4:3-4 THE PRIEST SINS

If the anointed priest sins so as to bring guilt on the people, then let him offer to the Lord a bull without defect as a sin offering for the sin he has committed. 4He shall bring the bull to the doorway of the tent of meeting before the Lord, and he shall lay his hand on the head of the bull and slay the bull before the Lord.

            I believe the important thing in these verses is to note that Christ appears here in contrast to the anointed OT priest and in this case the High Priests in the OT are mere men who unlike our Lord, are sinners or weak servants whose sins not only requires atonement by a blood sacrifice, but these priests require a successor.  They are described in Hebrews 7:28 which says, “For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.

            Christ is singularly unique as a High Priest.  Why? Because He is eternal, immortal and He has no need whatsoever for a successor.  Moses was asked to institute God’s sacrifice for the Levitical priesthood because it is weak.  Remember what Paul reminds us of in Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Many people tend to place priests, teachers and preachers on a pedestal, but they sin just as everyone else does.  In fact, the word says, “so as to bring guilt on the people or according to the sin of the people.”  This simply means that a High Priest can cause others to sin in the same way even when he does not realize what he is doing is sin.