Verse 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.
The Hebrew word translated as “soul” is “nephesh” and it means person, mind, heart, life, emotion, creature, or self. A person is made up of three components: body, soul and spirit. The soul is the mind, will and emotions. The spirit is that form which is covered by flesh. The body is the flesh and bones that cover the spirit. In the verse above, the word soul seems to be referring to a person and not to the mind, will and emotions. The Hebrew word translated as “swearing” is “alah” and it means an oath, an oath of covenant, or a curse. To bear something means to carry it or take it. So this verse seems to be saying that a person who is not swearing but who hears or witnesses the swearing has to carry the sin and is guilty even though not an active participant. The word, “swear” is throughout the Scripture. Amos 4:2 states that, “The Lord GOD hath sworn by his holiness . . .” However, Matthew 5:34 records Jesus as saying, “but I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven for it is God’s throne: Neither shalt thous swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.”
Verse 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.
Leviticus chapter eleven contains a long list of critters that are unclean. To touch these dead critters on the unclean list either purposefully or by accident still made the person guilty of the act and resulted in the person being unclean as well. Part of this prohibition given by God, and many others that will be seen in the Scripture as this study proceeds, was for health reasons. The Hebrews did not have refrigeration. They did not have the arsenal of antibiotic medicines, creams, and ointments to treat infections that are available today. They did not have indoor plumbing and running water in which to wash hands or bathe. So many of the rules given to Moses by God were for the purpose of keeping the Hebrew nation healthy and disease free.
Verse 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.
Any body fluid or waste product was considered to be unclean. Notice that the person was declared guilty and unclean upon the realization that contact had been made with something or someone declared unclean.
Application: Like contact with dead critters and body fluids caused a person to be unclean, so sin is unclean and it makes a person unclean in body, soul and spirit. A person who has sin in their life is guilty in the eyes of God. When the person realizes that there is sin and that they are guilty, repentance is imperative so that the person can be declared clean by the LORD. Forgiveness by the LORD is always available to the truly repentant person. Seek it and receive it.
Verse 4 Or if a soul swear, pronouncing with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever it be that a man shall pronounce with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty in one of these.
God does not want His people making oaths. Why? Think about it. When was the last time you heard a person “swear” to do something and then actually follow though with what they said they would do? It usually just doesn’t happen. So why swear to do something or why take an oath when chances are there will be failure to fulfill the oath or do that which was sworn to? This is sin.
“But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” Matthew 5:37
“But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.” James 5:12
Verses 5-6 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.
The Hebrew word translated as “trespass” is “asham” and it means guilt, offense, or fault. When a person was guilty of one of the sins listed above, in order to receive forgiveness from the LORD, a trespass offering needed to be brought to the priest and the priest interceded for the person. The Hebrew word translated as “atonement” is “kaphar” and it means to reconcile, to purge away, to pacify, or to appease. This writer remembers the meaning by taking the word apart: at one ment with the LORD. Being one with the LORD means that there is nothing interfering with the relationship.
Verses 7-10 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.
Jesus acknowledged in Matthew 26:11, Mark 14:7 and John 12:8 that, “ye have the poor always with you;” and that has always been true. So the LORD made sure that even the poor members of the Hebrew community could have atonement for their sins by sacrificing birds instead of the larger, more costly animals. And if a person could not afford birds, the verses below show that an offering of flour could be used instead. One has to wonder how many dishonest Hebrews tried to atone for their sins by feigning poverty and only bringing birds or flour for their sin and trespass offerings.
Application: Unfortunately, dishonesty is easily found in the Christian church. People want the comfortable, clean church building environment to bring their family for fellowship, but often they are not willing to give of their finances or time to maintain that comfortable, clean building or the manicured grounds surrounding it. The pastors’ job is not to maintain the facility, but to shepherd and feed the flock. Pastors cannot do their job if they are having to act as grounds keepers, custodians, and maintenance workers. Think about it.
Malachi 3:8 “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? in tithes and offerings.”
Verses 11-13 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.
Verses 14-19 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.
The thing to note in these verses is that any sin or trespass, whether known about or whether done in ignorance, was a trespass against the LORD and had to be paid for by the shed blood of an animal, or if very poor, paid for with flour of some kind. These sacrifices were pointing to the day when the LORD Jesus Christ would shed His blood and have His body broken by violent men so that people could have their sins and trespasses atoned for once and for all. This is why Jesus instituted the ritual of what is referred to as communion. “And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” 1 Corinthians 12:24-26