Matthew Henry Commentary Leviticus 5:14-19

Matthew Henry Commentary

Leviticus 5:14-19

1662–1714
Presbyterian
Matthew Henry
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry Commentary

Leviticus 5:14-19

1662–1714
Presbyterian
SCRIPTURE

"And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, If any one commit a trespass, and sin unwittingly, in the holy things of Jehovah; then he shall bring his trespass-offering unto Jehovah, a ram without blemish out of the flock, according to thy estimation in silver by shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass-offering: and he shall make restitution for that which he hath done amiss in the holy thing, and shall add the fifth part thereto, and give it unto the priest; and the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the trespass-offering, and he shall be forgiven. And if any one sin, and do any of the things which Jehovah hath commanded not to be done; though he knew it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity. And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, according to thy estimation, for a trespass-offering, unto the priest; and the priest shall make atonement for him concerning the thing wherein he erred unwittingly and knew it not, and he shall be forgiven. It is a trespass-offering: he is certainly guilty before Jehovah." — Leviticus 5:14-19 (ASV)

Here are offerings to atone for trespasses against a neighbor. If a person unknowingly put to their own use anything dedicated to God, they were to bring this sacrifice. We are to be vigilant over ourselves, to ask pardon for the sin, and make satisfaction for the wrong, which we only suspect ourselves guilty of.

The law of God is so very broad, the occasions for sin in this world are so numerous, and we are so prone to evil, that we need to fear always, and to pray always, that we may be kept from sin. We should also be watchful at every step.

The true Christian daily pleads guilty before God, and seeks forgiveness through the blood of Christ. And the gospel salvation is so free that the poorest is not shut out; and so full that the most burdened conscience may find relief from it. Yet the evil of sin is so displayed as to cause every pardoned sinner to abhor and dread it.