This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.

Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.

Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&h) for each page to:

Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418

Bro. Bruce's commentary for the book of Genesis is
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for COMMENTARY ON GENESIS to the address above

LEVITICUS
CHAPTER 5

1 And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity.

When a person is called upon to be a witness and give a testimony, he must "tell the truth,
the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." Anything less that the truth is a lie, and makes
the witness sin twice. First, he is lying; second, he becomes a participant in the sin
of which he was a witness.
Some people argue that one should not take an oath, but rather should affirm they will
tell the truth. This reasoning is erroneously based on their thoughts concerning what Jesus said in
Matthew 23:17-22. But what Jesus was talking about there was worthless oaths. Those oaths
omitted allegiance to God.
We should remember that Jesus willingly took an oath and answered in truth in Matthew 26:63.
The word "adjure" there means to put a person "under oath." In effect, the High Priest put Jesus
"under oath" in the Name of the "LIVING GOD."
On the same note, verse four of our text here today teaches that hasty oaths are soon a sinful
thing. If a person swears to do (or not to do) something, and then it becomes impossible or impractical,
he has sinned.

2 Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether it be a carcase of an unclean beast, or a carcase of unclean cattle, or the carcase of unclean creeping things, and if it be hidden from him; he also shall be unclean, and guilty. 3 Or if he touch the uncleanness of man, whatsoever uncleanness it be that a man shall be defiled withal, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty.

A sin is forgivable; but, just because it is forgivable that doesn't make sin excusable.
((A teacher once asked the Sunday School class, "What must we do to be forgiven?" One little boy
exclaimed, "FIRST, we gotta SIN!)) Well, we don't "gotta" sin, but we DO.
To touch an unclean (dead or diseased) body brings uncleanness which needs to be cleansed. Sometimes
this act is necessary. For instance, in the story Jesus told of the Good Samaritan. Jesus
implied that NOT touching and helping was a greater sin than to touch and help.

5 And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing: 6 And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin. 7 And if he be not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring for his trespass, which he hath committed, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, unto the LORD; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering. 8 And he shall bring them unto the priest, who shall offer that which is for the sin offering first, and wring off his head from his neck, but shall not divide it asunder: 9 And he shall sprinkle of the blood of the sin offering upon the side of the altar; and the rest of the blood shall be wrung out at the bottom of the altar: it is a sin offering. 10 And he shall offer the second for a burnt offering, according to the manner: and the priest shall make an atonement for him for his sin which he hath sinned, and it shall be forgiven him. 11 But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon: for it is a sin offering. 12 Then shall he bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it, even a memorial thereof, and burn it on the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD: it is a sin offering. 13 And the priest shall make an atonement for him as touching his sin that he hath sinned in one of these, and it shall be forgiven him: and the remnant shall be the priest's, as a meat offering.

When these afore-mentioned sins are "made known" then a trespass offering was to be made.
Notice that specific confession and contrite prayer for forgiveness is necessary with the offering.
Notice also that God outlines a plan by which ALL people could offer a trespass offering.
The rich and the poor alike had equal opportunity. There are NONE of us who do not NEED to come to God
and confess our sins and beg His forgiveness.

14 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 15 If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the LORD; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the LORD a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering: 16 And he shall make amends for the harm that he hath done in the holy thing, and shall add the fifth part thereto, and give it unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and it shall be forgiven him. 17 And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD; though he wist it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity. 18 And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his ignorance wherein he erred and wist it not, and it shall be forgiven him. 19 It is a trespass offering: he hath certainly trespassed against the LORD.

To sin in the "holy things" is a sin directly against God. ((Of course ALL sin is directly against God.))
Verses 1-13 of this chapter dealt with sins against God personally. If the trespass was known or
revealed (after it was done in ignorance), then there is a prescribed offering PLUS a 1/5 extra
offering (verse 16).
However, if the person thinks he may have sinned but isn't SURE (verse 17), then he makes an offering
without the 1/5 extra.
The lesson here applies to "sins of ignorance" which results in not being aware of God's Word.
For instance, did you know it is a sin to NOT STUDY the Word of God? (See 2Timothy 2:15; Duet. 6:4-9)
Did you know it is a sin to NOT PRAY? (See Luke 18:1; Colossians 4:2)

The trespass offering is a prelude to humility. So often we sin because of ignorance of God's Word.
And it behooves us to come before God and plead earnestly for His forgiveness.

Please continue to follow along in Bible study with us.