The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 103

the sinner enters, and the moral devastation to which he is liable, and from which preservation is possible only through an offering. Learn, then, that ignorance does not of itself excuse violation of God's commands, but it permits resort to such an atonement as will procure God's forgiveness. Paul s..'\id, "I obtained mercy because I did it i!!llorantly and in unbelief." w·hereas if we sin wilfully, there is no more sacrifice for ei;s, 'l'he soul that doeth presumptuously shall be cut off fmm among the people.-S. R. A. Ver. 3.-" Let him bring for bis sin, which bt, bath sinned." The atonement for i11volu11ta,-y transgression. The Dook of Leviticus well repays careful perusal in days when there are many attempts made to lessen men't1 sense of the enormity of sin and of the necessity of a propitiatory offering. Its teachings are impressive, its pictures vivid. L SIN l)\FLlCTS AN INJURY UPON THE HOLINESS OF Goo, AND EXPOSES MAN TO PENAL c0NSEQUEKCES. 'l'he words used to denote sin imply a. turning aside from the path marked out, a deviation from rectitude. Man misses his way, goes astray like a. lost sheep. He does what he ought not to do (ver. 2), and thereby the precepts of God are slighted and God's honour is wounded. This cannot be permitted with impunity. The wrath of God, not a base but holy passion, is aroused, and ven"eance or holy indignation threatens to visit the tranRgressor. V..7e think wrongly or° our sinful acts if we minimize their awful importance, or pay regard simply to the injury done to our- sekes. This is the least part. The Supreme Being is concerned, and it is his dis- pleasure we have to fear. Sin cuts at the root of government, assails the foundations of the eternal throne. II. EVERY TRANSGRESSION IS RECOGNIZED AS SINFUL, whether arising from ignorance or wilfulness, whether an act of omission or commission. An atonement is insi~ted on even for what we deem the least flagrant derelictions. Man is so ready to extenuate his crimes, that God strips off the veil, and exposes sin in all its guiltiness, a thing to be loathed and shunned wherever met, requiring purification on our part, however accidentally we may have come in contact with it. That without intention we trod upon a venomous serpent, does not protect us from its fangs. We shall need the remedy, however the poison may have been injected. III. PE:KITENCE AND CONFESSION ARE INSUFFICIENT TO OBLITERATE THE MEMORY OF THE SIN. To regret the act and to express sorrow and to determine not to offend a.gain, are good as far as they go, but, to wipe out the stain, blood must be shed. 'fhis only can whiten the defiled robes. Sinner, behold the Lamb of God, which ta.keth away the sin of the world! 'l'o have the sin brought to your knowledge, so that you take a more adequate view of its sinfulness, to pour forth agonizing cries and floods of tears, will not obtain forgiveness, unless accompanied with the presentation to the Father of the righteousness of his Son. IV. SIN DECOMES MORE CONSPICUOUS AND FAR-REACHING WBEN COMMITTED DY THE OCCUPANTS OF A LOFTY POSITION, The high priest was the representative of the nation, and hence his offering must equal in value that presented by th_e whole congregation. So likewise the sin of a. ruler was more visible than that of a subject, and wronged God the more, and whilst a. she-goat sufficed for one of the people, for him only a he-goat was allowed. Not without reason did the apostle exhort that intercession be made "for kings, and all that are in authority." Iniquity in high .pla~es in the Chu~ch and in society causes the greatest scandal, becomes most hurtful m its effects, and 1s most offensive to . God. Doth the animal offered and the ritual observed testified to the relative enormity of transgressions by different classes. Between the sins of each order in themselves no distinction was ma.de. V. I3y 'l"HB APPOINTED VICTIM RECONCILIATION IS POSSIBLE TO ALL mADVEBTENT OFFEl-'DERS. We reserve this to the last, in order that the cheeriest aspect may be upper- most. Divest honour of its consequent responsibility we cannot, but we point to the ample provision for forgiveness afforded to comfort the prince and the peasant, the priest and the layman, the individual and the nation. Our Redcemer,_Jesus Christ, has given his life a. ransom for the many. He satisfies all claims, reconciles us unto God, so that our trespw,ses are not imputed unto us.-S. R. A. Vere. 3-12.-Rite, eBSential to an atonement. Who could stand in the tabernacle court without having imprinted on his mind the view God takoe of the guilt of 11in, and CB, IV, 1--36.] TIIE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. 59