Leviticus Chapter 4 Summary
Sin offering laws.
Discussion Questions for Leviticus, Chapter 4
- Leviticus 4:2 begins to describe what to do if someone sins unintentionally by doing something they should not do. How is it a sin if you didn't know you were not supposed to do it? What does this communicate about God's standard?
- Leviticus 4:3a states, "If it is the anointed priest who sins, thus bringing guilt on the people." How does one man's sin bring guilt to the people? What does this communicate about the standard to which the priest is held during the time period of the temple? Is the same standard still held for church leaders in today's church?
- Leviticus 4:6 says that the priest shall sprinkle the blood seven times. What are some other times that the number seven is mentioned in the Bible? What is its significance in the Bible? Why is the number seven significant in the sacrifice ceremony for the forgiveness of sin?
- Leviticus 4:13-14 states that if the entire assembly (nation) of Israel was to sin by doing something that was listed not to be done unintentionally, they were to offer a single bull as a sacrifice. First, what sin could be committed by an entire group of people that they would not know they shouldn't do? Second, the priest was to offer a single bull for his sin, which brings guilt to the people. Why would a group of people offer the same sacrifice as a single person would offer?
- Leviticus 4:22-23 states that if a leader commits a sin by doing something unknowingly that should not be done, similar to the priest and the entire nation of Israel, he is to offer a goat in the same manner as the offering of a bull. Romans 2:11 KJV states, “For there is no respect of persons with God.” Leviticus 4 shows respect of persons with the different sacrifices. How can this appear to be so in the scripture? How can a believer explain this to a non-believer?
- Leviticus 4:27-35 describes that if a commoner sins by doing something that shouldn't be done unknowingly, they may bring a female goat or a lamb to be sacrificed. Why would a commoner have a choice of animal to bring, while other individuals did not have a choice?
- The different types of animals that are used for sacrifice for unknown sins in Leviticus 4 lead to the question: how does the blood of Jesus shed at the cross cover the different levels of sin in a nation?
- How should the sacrifices required for unknown sins in Leviticus 4 lead us in the teaching of the Bible? What responsibility do congregations have to study and learn the Scripture? What responsibility do preachers have to teach Scripture?
- Leviticus 4 places importance on making sacrifices for sins you commit after you find out you should not do something according to the law. How does this align with the idea of guilt for doing something wrong in our society today?
- The remains of the sacrifices in Leviticus 4, after the parts (kidneys, entrails, and fat) were burned as an offering as directed by God, were to be removed from the temple and the camp to be burned in a trash pile. Why not burn the entire animal in the temple? How does this reflect God's holiness? How would the world react to this in modern times in light of the food shortages throughout the world?
Key Words/Phrase
Sin offering, v. 3.
Characters
God, Moses.
Strong Verse(s)
3
