John Calvin Commentary Leviticus 23:29

"For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day; he shall be cut off from his people." — Leviticus 23:29 (ASV)

For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted. From this, let us learn how greatly the sacrifice of an afflicted and humbled heart pleases God, since He commands so severe a punishment to be inflicted for contempt of this ceremony.

And certainly, this would have been a proof of most flagrant indifference if, when God was inspiring people with the dread of His wrath and inviting them to tears, they were to rest in security and ease, and give themselves up to luxuries.

On this account, He declares with a terrible oath in Isaiah that He will never pardon the Jews—a people to whom the hour of repentance never came. For when He rebukingly called upon them by His prophets to hasten to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth, they, in contrast, merrily feasted and drank together, and said, Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die (Isaiah 22:12–14).

And it is no wonder, since this is the extreme height of impiety: to dull our consciences in brutal stubborn resistance and to rob God of His judicial power.

As long as the sinner is so affected and convicted by a sense of sin as to sigh anxiously for a remedy, there is some hope of his recovery. However, one who shakes off fear as well as shame is in a completely desperate state.

Now, since it was not without reason that God trained His ancient people under the Law with external elementary practices, it was an act of profane and intolerable carelessness to omit what was so necessary. It showed even greater hardness of heart to despise it purposely, as it were, so that no one should wonder at the severity of the punishment.

In Numbers 29, the number of the victims is stated, but I pass over this point, as it does not require explanation.