Leviticus 17:4

And bringeth it not vnto the doore of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, to offer an offering vnto the Lord before the Tabernacle of the Lord, blood shall be imputed vnto that man; he hath shed blood, and that man shall be cut off from among his people: Leviticus 17:4 (KJV)

Leviticus 17 contains various regulations regarding the proper handling of blood and the sanctity of life. In this passage God instructs the Israelites on the proper procedure for offering sacrifices and the consequences for disobedience. The chapter deals primarily with the sanctity of blood and the prohibition against offering sacrifices outside the prescribed system. It emphasizes the importance of bringing sacrifices to the designated place of worship, the tabernacle (and later the temple in Jerusalem), which was the central place of worship designated by God.

The significance of bringing offerings to the tabernacle is made clear: if someone fails to bring their offering to the door of the tabernacle to present it before the Lord, blood shall be imputed to that person because he has shed blood. Offering a sacrifice anywhere other than the tabernacle was tantamount to shedding blood, a serious offence. Shedding blood is often associated with taking a life; here it refers to a violation of the prescribed system of worship. Failure to bring the sacrifice indicated a disregard for God’s commandments and disrupted the proper order established for worship.

Consequences are severe. The passage states that the person who fails to bring his offering to the tabernacle shall be “cut off from among his people.” This phrase indicates excommunication or separation from the community of Israel, underscoring the seriousness of the offence and the need for obedience to God’s instructions.

Overall, Leviticus 17:4 emphasizes the importance of following God’s prescribed system of worship. By requiring offerings to be brought to the tabernacle, God established order, obedience, and reverence in the act of sacrifice. Disregarding this commandment was considered a severe offence, resulting in the offender being cut off from the community. It serves as a reminder, both to the Israelites and to us today, of the significance of obedience in worship and the importance of following God’s instructions.