These sacrifices were the means under the Old Covenant by which His children living in the flesh could atone for the sins that they commit. It was to be a temporary covering to cover up those sins, to make them fit to approach God and commune with Him. When a man is filled in sin, he is not in a condition to talk to Him on a one to one basis. To this point we have covered three of the seven types of offerings that man had under the law, to approach God. These were the burnt offering; The meal or meat offering; and the peace offering.

The chapter we are covering here will look into the "the sin and trespass offerings". Israel had the first three types of sacrifice offerings before the book of Leviticus was written, but by entering them again in the book of Leviticus it allow us to formalize each of the offerings, to make it standard for all of Israel in the years that followed. Of course it was YHVH, our Heavenly Father that gave the instructions as to what would go into this book. The sacrifices and offerings in this chapter are the non-savour offerings; which is a new class of offerings.

Leviticus 4:1 "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,"

When the Lord talked to Moses in the first three chapters of Leviticus, "He called unto Moses": Here God spake unto Moses.

Leviticus 4:2 " "Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, `If a souls shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the Lord concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them:"

So this sin and trespass offering is not done on a voluntary bases as the burnt, meal offering, and peace offering, but as a requirement. So before we can talk about the sin offering, it is good to know exactly what "sin" means. In the Hebrew the word is "Chat`a", and it means; "to miss the mark; also of the feet, to stumble and fall. Hence, morally it is coming short of a standard, though not necessarily willfully. It is an act by thought, word, or deed and not a condition." All sins are not equal, and God regards different sins as one more sever than another. It is also important who the person is that committed the sin, whether it was committed in ignorance, or willfully.

This second verse deals with sin committed "through ignorance", in the Strong's Hebrew dictionary it is # 7684 "Shegagah; from, 7683; a mistake or inadvertent transgression; error, at unawares, unwittingly." # 7683; "Shagag; the prime root; to stray; deceived, err, go astray." Both of these conditions are not what we would call boastful and knowingly.

Leviticus 4:3 "If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the Lord for a sin offering."

The term "priest that is anointed" appears four times in the book of Leviticus, and this person is specifically the high priest: In the New Testament he is called the chief priest. If this High priest does sin, according to the sin of the people, he is to bring the young bullock, the largest of the sacrificial animals. This requirement is because of the high place of responsibility that he held. In the term, "without blemish" is a type that refers to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, for He was without sin and blemish.

The "sin offering" is called the "Chattath, from the Hebrew word "chat`a". Appendix 44 defines the sin offering. "This is to sin by coming short of, by missing the mark in sins of commission." Commission means that the action was on the part of the person sinning. "In the "Peal", it means to purge from such a sin, as in Psalms 51:7. In the "Olah", the blood went upward, and in the "Chattath" the blood went downward and outward, "without the camp". The Peal offering was burnt up on the altar, but in the Olah offering went down on the ground."

This form of sacrificing was set forth by God, and thus when we see the priest burning the blood and parts in one sacrifice, yet splashing it to the side and on the ground in another sacrifice offering, we see that what the priest did was according to God's instructions. The first three types of offerings that we covered in Leviticus chapters one through three were voluntary, where as the four types of offerings that we will read of in this chapter, and the next three, will be required by the person that has made the sin, and he or she has become aware of that sin. So these four are done by a command by God, that an atonement must be made for those sins.

Leviticus 4:4 "And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord; and shall lay his hand upon the bullock's head, and kill the bullock before the Lord."

First of all, this animal was not capable of sinning, so the person making the offering was to bring his bullock to the door of the tabernacle, and the priest would take the sacrificial animal into the tabernacle of the congregation of the Lord. The man making the offering to God would place his hand on the head of the animal, signifying that he is conscious of his guilt, and that guilt then would be passed from him to the animal when the animal was killed. Included in this act, is the desire to make things right before YHVH, the Heavenly Father.

Leviticus 4:5 "And the priest that is anointed shall take of the bullock's blood, and bring it into the tabernacle of the congregation."

The priest would then bring the blood of the sacrificed animal into the tabernacle of the congregation. This is different than what was done in the first three types of voluntary offerings. In the first burnt offerings the blood was simply sprinkled on the four sides of the altar of burnt offerings, which was outside the tabernacle; but here in the sin offering sacrifice the blood is to be taken into the tabernacle.

Leviticus 4:6 "And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the Lord, before the vail of the sanctuary."

There can be no atonement before the Lord without blood. You and I are not saved by the way that Christ lived, and did things, but we are saved because our Lord Jesus Christ willfully went to the cross and His blood was shed there. In the Old Covenant or Testament time, the blood was of sheep and goats, but under the New Covenant or Testament between God and man, salvation can only come through the blood of Christ. The moment that Christ died, the vail to the sanctuary was rent it two, make it possible for you and I to go directly to our Heavenly Father, in Jesus Name.

Ephesians 2:13 "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ."

In the shedding of Christ's blood, the perfect sacrifice was given by God Himself for each soul that will by faith come to Him in repentance, in Jesus name. By stating "In Jesus name" you are recognizing the fact that Jesus is the only Begotten Son of God, and that you accept the blood sacrifice through Christ's blood that was made for you personally and individually.

Ephesians 2:14, 15 "For He is our peace, Who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace."

When the Kenite Jewish leaders condemned Jesus to the cross, the nail that was driven into the hands of Christ sealed the doom of their father Satan, the destroyer. Christ's blood took down the barrier that we are reading of here in Leviticus, into the holy of holies, and allowed us to go directly in repentance to the Father, and commune with Him. Did Christ death on the cross eliminate all the law and commandments? Absolutely not; it eliminated the blood ordinances dealing with the blood of animals that are stated here in Leviticus. The law is still there and just as good as it was in Moses day, but the need for animal sacrifices became void, for in Christ all those ordinances and statutes became fulfilled for one and all times. This is the victory that we have in Christ as a Christian, for it gives you peace of mind, the freedom of guilt of sin, and the right to approach God, as a child of His.

Ephesians 2:16, 17 "And that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh."

That vail in the tabernacle separated the holy of holies from the tabernacle of the congregation where the rest of the congregation could go. The only place to commune with God was in the holy of holies, and this vail was the barrier of enmity that was split in two, and eliminated between man and God. Jesus came and preached peace to you and I through His Word, then paid the price with His own blood that those accepting His blood sacrifice could by faith be reconciled back to God. Jesus Christ is now our advocate or mediator between ourselves and YHVH, in heaven.

Leviticus 4:7 "And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the Lord, which is in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation."

The "horns of the altar" were located on each corner of the alter of sweet incense, and they represented power. This altar was located inside the sanctuary. However the blood was sprinkled on the horns of the altar, and the rest was put not on the sides of the altar, but on the ground along side of the altar. Remember that the blood from the "Chattath sacrifice" was to go downward and outward from the altar.

Leviticus 4:8 "And he shall take off from it all the fat of the bullock for the sin offering; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,"

The fat is symbolic of the most choice part of the offering, and it belonged to God. You might take the fat of the offering as giving to God the most inner part of ourselves to God.

Leviticus 4:9 "And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away,"

The flanks are the loins, and the caul is the cover over the liver are taken away.

Leviticus 4:10 "As it was taken off from the bullock of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall burn them upon the altar of the burnt offering."

We will see a different handling of the remains of the sacrificial animal than we saw when the offering was a voluntary offering.

Leviticus 4:11 "And the skin of the bullock, and all his flesh, with his head, and with his legs, and his inwards, and his dung,"

We saw in the other offerings that the skin was not offered up with any other except the sin offering. We will see in Leviticus 7 that the skin was given to the priest making the sacrifice offering, for it became a payment for doing his duties at the altar of God. However we saw in the peace offering that the skin remained with the one making the offering and bringing the sacrificial animal.

Leviticus 4:12 "Even the whole bullock shall he carry forth without the camp unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire: where the ashes are pored out shall he be burnt."

Those parts of the sacrificial animal that were not used in the sacrifice offering were considered holy by God, and therefore those parts were taken to a clean place and burned. By taking those parts to a unclean place would defile the entire offering. This word for "burnt" in the Hebrew text is different that the "burnt" used elsewhere. We see it is # 8313 in the Hebrew dictionary." Saraph; a prime root; To be set on fire, (cause to, make to) burn, kindle." In the other sacrifices where there was burning, they were done on the altar where a fire was already burning continually. The burning was burning upward, where this Saraph was lit and burning downward, thus the type of wood, straw or stubble that would cause this affect had to be used so that the smoke would cause this downward flow to happen. The intention of this sacrifice was not to ascend to YHVH in heaven, but to burn down and away from God.

This finishes the offering for the sin of the high priest, and now we go to a different type of offering. This now deals with a national sin, or a sin of the whole congregation in ignorance, then this is the sacrifice to be offered.

Leviticus 4:13 "And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the Lord concerning things which should not be done, and are guilty;"

"This Whole congregation of Israel" includes the high priest. The sin of verse 13 is the "Shagag", the sin of being deceived, and erring in imprudence. While the sin of "Shagah", is different, because it was willfully done through passion or wine. Though at the time of each of these sins were committed, it was not known that there was guilt; but once there is knowledge of the sin, then the offerings must be given in atonement.

Leviticus 4:14 "When the sin, which they have sinned against it, is known, then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin, and bring him before the tabernacle of the congregation."

The sin spoken of here is the "Chat`a", stumbling by missing the mark. The bullock, the largest of the sacrificial animals must be used in this sacrifice for that sin. It is not a voluntary situation, for it had become a matter of bringing this sin to light and correcting the problem before the entire congregation. The guilt of that sin was disposed of through this sin sacrifice.

Leviticus 4:15 "And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock before the Lord: and the bullock shall be killed before the Lord."

The sin that took place, the "Chat`a", was affecting the entire congregation, thus the leaders or elders of the congregation place their hands on the bullock, representing the fact that the entire congregation had taken part in that sin. The laying of the hands on transferred the conscience need to transfer the guilt from the people to the animal that would be slain and sacrificed.

Leviticus 4:16 "And the priest that is anointed shall bring of the bullock's blood to the tabernacle of the congregation:"

The priest would bring the blood of that bullock into the sanctuary of the tabernacle of the congregation. Anytime the blood of an offering was brought into Sanctuary, the priests were not to partake, or eat the meat from the sacrifice. However in the case of sin offerings that were of the people that were not of the priesthood, then the priests were required to partake of the meat of the sacrifice. In this way they bear the iniquity of the sins of the people.

Leviticus 4:17 "And the priest shall dip his finger in some of the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before the Lord, even before the vail."

The sprinkling of the blood seven times, was for the sin of the high priest himself. Why seven times? It was the seal of the Covenant, and the sprinkling recognized that there was a problem with the covenant, and that sin had to be loosed. This was done with the sprinkling seven times, and then it brought reconciliation of man back to God.

Leviticus 4:18 "And he shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar which is before the Lord, that is in the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall pour out all the blood at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation."

Again the horns of the altar symbolizes the power of God.

Leviticus 4:19 "And he shall take all his fat from him, and burn it upon the altar."

Of course the fate represents the inner core of the person.

Leviticus 4:20 "And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them."

The priest is to do the same in this offering as he did in the offering for the high preist. In this manner of the sacrifice, this atonement is to cover or cancel the debt of sin, and cover it over before God.

Leviticus 4:21 "And he shall carry forth the bullock without the camp, and burn him as he burned the first bullock: it is a sin offering for the congregation."

This is the same thing that was done in the prior offering, to burn the parts outside of the camp so that the smoke would not ascend upwards. Again, this is a sin offering for the sin committed by the entire congregation.

Now we move into another type of sin, the sin committed by a ruler or governmental official. This covers the sins that are committed while working in the office that hold before the public. God is given us specific commandments dealing with judges, and officials, and how they should rule, So this sacrifice is for the violation of going against those instructions of God to our leaders.

Leviticus 4:22 "When a ruler hath sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance against any of the commandments of the Lord his God concerning things which should not be done, and is guilty;"

God requires the leaders of His people to be fair, even though He does not require them to be equal. If a person is granted the right to be the leader of either government or to be a spiritual leader, He expects more of that person. God will hold that person to be more accountable at the time of judgment. In our generation, the teacher of God's Word is expected to know the Word of God and be a watchman for the times that we life in. He is to lead the people, and instruct them as to what God's Word tells us of the times we live in. When pastors and teacher of today go against the Word of God, and teach traditions that go against the Word; God will hold them accountable for the what they do, and their judgment will come first.

So when an exalted one, the leader, sins and that sin is through their ignorance, then this is the offering that he was to render. The "his God" refers to the one that God had appointed. God appointed many kings and leaders down through the generations. God appointed this one, and thus He also has the right to expect more of him.

Leviticus 4:23 "Or if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish:"

Once it was called attention to this leader, or ruler over the people, that he has committed a sin, that guilt then immediately requires the atoning sacrifice for that sin. The sacrifice would require a male kid Goat if the sinner was a ruler, but if it was one of the people that sinned, a female sacrifice could be used.

Leviticus 4:24 "And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat, and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the Lord: it is a sin offering."

The place where they kill the he goat for the sacrifice is on the north side of the altar for the sin offerings. Again, the placing the hand on the head of the goat, means that the man acknowledges that he has sinned, and that this goat will be the sacrifice for that sin.

Leviticus 4:25 "And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out his blood at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering."

Again this is the sin or trespass offering, and the blood goes down and away from the altar. The smoke from the offering is such that it will not ascend up to the Father from the altar.

Leviticus 4:26 "And he shall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him."

This closes out the offerings for the priests and rulers over the people. From here we now go into the sacrifices for the common people of the children of Israel. God will demand less of the common people than He does His priest and rulers.

Leviticus 4:27 "And if any one of the common People sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the Lord concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty;"

By the term "be guilty" means that the person acknowledges his guilt in that sin.

Leviticus 4:28 "Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned."

Remember that for a leader, priest or ruler, God required a male kid goat to be sacrificed. However here for a common person, a female without blemish can be offered for that sin.

Leviticus 4:29 "And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering."

Again, this sacrifice will be done on the north side of the altar.

Leviticus 4:30 "And the priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar."

The Horns of the altar" represent the power of the altar.

Leviticus 4:31 "And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat is taken away from off the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour unto the Lord; and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him."

We started out by saying that this next group of offerings were sin and the non-savour offerings, yet here we have an offering that is given as "a sweet savour unto the Lord". Many teachers believe that this was given to make up for the most humblest of the common people. When this offering is given unto the Lord, the sins are forgiven. this is added here because of the burning of the fat. It was not said of the sin offering of the high priest, the ruler of the congregation at large, though it is used in the burnt offerings, as we saw in Leviticus 1:9, 13.

Leviticus 4:32 "And if he bring a lamb for a sins offering, he shall bring it a female without blemish."

"And if he bring a sheep for a sins offering", because it is for a common person, it must be a female without blemish. The offering here is a "Korban" offering, meaning it is to gain admittance or attention. The ritual is the same as using the goat, but treated separately because of the fat tail.

Leviticus 4:33 "And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay it for a sin offering in the place where they kill the burnt offering."

Again by placing the hand on the head of the sacrifice animal, that person recognizes that he is truly guilty of that sin that the burnt offering is for. This offering is to be made on the north side of the altar.

Leviticus 4:34 "And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar:"

The blood is poured at the base of the alter, but even in the sin offering the blood was not taken into the sanctuary, for this will be discussed in a later chapter, where the priest will be required to eat, to bare the iniquity of the sins of the people.

Leviticus 4:35 "And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat of the lamb is taken away from the sacrifice of the peace offerings; and the priest shall burn them upon the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the Lord: and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath committed, and it shall be forgiven him."

It is a common person that is making the sacrifice for himself here, and remember that sacrifice are made every morning and evening; so "according to the offerings made by fire unto the Lord", refers to those sacrifices. This sacrifice is in addition to those sacrifices, and on top of those sacrifices. God reassures the people that when the priest makes this atonement for his sin, that it will be forgiven him.