“A person guilty of any of these things is to confess in what manner he sinned. and bring his guilt offering to Adonai for the sin he committed; it is to be a female from the flock, either a lamb or a goat, as a sin offering; and the cohen will make atonement for him in regard to his sin”-Leviticus 5:5
The more I read Leviticus, the more I see one Christian concept after another being totally blown apart into smithereens.
For example, it is common for Christians to accuse the ancient Jews of “mechanical legalism” for following the sacrificial system.
However, take a good look at Leviticus 5:5.
In this verse, we are introduced to a fundamental part of the sacrificial system overlooked by most gentile folk.
I’m talking about “CONFESSION”.
In fact, the FIRST STEP that needed to be taken when seeking forgiveness for sins in the sacrificial system was to CONFESS that you had sinned or trespassed against the Lord.
All throughout the Torah, we will find passage after passage making it clear that one had to have a repentant and contrite heart in order for the animal sacrifices to work.
For sure, we do encounter some loathsome characters in the Bible who went through all the required rituals but inside their hearts were anything but repentant.
But wouldn’t you say the same phenomenon exists today in our modern churches and synagogues?
How many so-called professing believers just go through the outward motions but inwardly their hearts are far away from God?
How many people just go to church to socialize rather than out of a heartfelt desire to learn His Word and hear His voice?
True confession with a sincere heart has ALWAYS been a central requirement of the Lord’s justice system.
Moving on, in verse 6, we are told that for each of the first four cases of unintentional “Sins of Omission” presented to us in Leviticus 5, a HATTA-AT sacrifice consisting of a female sheep or goat is to be offered up.
Again, a female animal was considered to be of lesser value than a male animal of the same kind and thus this indicated a lower degree of seriousness in terms of the trespass committed.
From verses 7 to 13, the tone changes.
In these verses, we are presented with a list of animals that may be used as substitutes if the worshipper was not financially able to bring the prescribed female sheep or goat for his HATTA-AT sacrifice.
If the worshipper was unable to provide a lamb, then two pigeons or doves were acceptable.
And if the worshipper was so hard up that he couldn’t even afford birds, then two quarts of semolina (usually translated as “fine flour”) would suffice.
Now I don’t know if you caught this minor detail but recall that when a grain offering was normally offered up, the expensive combination of olive oil and frankincense was to be added.
However, this requirement is waived here in consideration of the poor worshipper’s destitute condition.
We are presented with a sliding scale of sorts based on not only which class a person belonged to but how much he could afford.
Having said that, understand that this sliding scale system ONLY APPLIED TO THE HATTA-AT or Purification Offering.
Now there is an important God-principle being set up here that we should not overlook.
Regardless of social status or economic condition, NO ONE IS EXEMPT FROM PAYING A RANSOM FOR HIS TRESPASSES OR SINS.
Even the poorest and most destitute person did not get by without providing a sacrificial offering, even if it was just some semolina.
But, now, with the advent of Yeshua, the sliding scale no longer applies.
The offering of Yeshua’s blood is the fixed and unchangeable price for all, whether rich or poor, young or old, Gentile or Jew.
And I would also say the principle applies to the Law of God as well.
The Law which tells us how we are to live our lives AFTER we are saved, the same rulings and principles apply to all, whether rich or poor, young or old, or Gentile or Jew.
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