“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.”
Leviticus 4:20 is part of a passage that describes the sin offering for the anointed priest when he unintentionally commits a sin, leading to guilt upon the congregation of Israel. In this verse, the focus is on the process of atonement and forgiveness through the sacrifice of a bullock.
To understand the context, it’s important to know that the book of Leviticus is primarily concerned with the laws and regulations given by God to the Israelites through Moses. It provides detailed instructions on various aspects of religious rituals, sacrifices, and ceremonial cleanliness.
In this specific verse, the sin offering for the priest is outlined. The passage specifies that the priest is to treat the bullock in the same manner as the previous sin offering. The previous sin offering mentioned in Leviticus 4:16-18 describes the ritual of sprinkling the bullock’s blood before the veil of the sanctuary and putting some blood on the horns of the altar of sweet incense.
The purpose of this sin offering is to make atonement for the priest and the congregation, seeking forgiveness for their unintentional sins. The word “atonement” refers to the process of reconciliation between God and humankind. The sin offering was an important part of the Israelites’ religious practice, emphasizing the need for repentance and the acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
In this particular case, the offering of the bullock and the actions performed by the priest, as described earlier in the chapter, would result in forgiveness for the transgressions committed. The atoning sacrifice represented the shedding of blood, which symbolized the payment for sins and the restoration of the relationship between the people and God.
For Christians, the sin offerings described in Leviticus foreshadowed the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. Jesus, often referred to as the Lamb of God, fulfilled the role of the perfect sacrifice, offering himself as the atoning sacrifice for the sins of humanity. Through faith in Jesus and His sacrifice, Christians believe that they receive forgiveness and reconciliation with God.
In summary, Leviticus 4:20 highlights the process of atonement and forgiveness through the sin offering for the priest and the congregation. It underscores the importance of acknowledging and seeking reconciliation for unintentional sins, demonstrating the need for repentance and the desire to restore the relationship with God.
