Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Leviticus Ch.5 / 27 Ch.s
LE:5
* Concerning various trespasses. (1-13) Concerning trespasses
against the Lord. (14-19)
#1-13 The offences here noticed are, 1. A man's concealing the
truth, when he was sworn as a witness to speak the truth, the
whole truth, and nothing but the truth. If, in such a case, for
fear of offending one that has been his friend, or may be his
enemy, a man refuses to give evidence, or gives it but in part,
he shall bear his iniquity. And that is a heavy burden, which,
if some course be not taken to get it removed, will sink a man
to hell. Let all that are called at any time to be witnesses,
think of this law, and be free and open in their evidence, and
take heed of prevaricating. An oath of the Lord is a sacred
thing, not to be trifled with. 2. A man's touching any thing
that was ceremonially unclean. Though his touching the unclean
thing only made him ceremonially defiled, yet neglecting to wash
himself according to the law, was either carelessness or
contempt, and contracted moral guilt. As soon as God, by his
Spirit, convinces our consciences of any sin or duty, we must
follow the conviction, as not ashamed to own our former mistake.
3. Rash swearing, that a man will do or not do such a thing. As
if the performance of his oath afterward prove unlawful, or what
cannot be done. Wisdom and watchfulness beforehand would prevent
these difficulties. In these cases the offender must confess his
sin, and bring his offering; but the offering was not accepted,
unless accompanied with confession and humble prayer for pardon.
The confession must be particular; that he hath sinned in that
thing. Deceit lies in generals; many will own they have sinned,
for that all must own; but their sins in any one particular they
are unwilling to allow. The way to be assured of pardon, and
armed against sin for the future, is to confess the exact truth.
If any were very poor, they might bring some flour, and that
should be accepted. Thus the expense of the sin-offering was
brought lower than any other, to teach that no man's poverty
shall ever bar the way of his pardon. If the sinner brought two
doves, one was to be offered for a sin-offering, and the other
for a burnt-offering. We must first see that our peace be made
with God, and then we may expect that our services for his glory
will be accepted by him. To show the loathsomeness of sin, the
flour, when offered, must not be made grateful to the taste by
oil, or to the smell by frankincense. God, by these sacrifices,
spoke comfort to those who had offended, that they might not
despair, nor pine away in their sins. Likewise caution not to
offend any more, remembering how expensive and troublesome it
was to make atonement.
#14-19 Here are offerings to atone for trespasses against a
neighbour. If a man put to his own use unwittingly, any thing
dedicated to God, he was to bring this sacrifice. We are to be
jealous over ourselves, to ask pardon for the sin, and make
satisfaction for the wrong, which we do but suspect ourselves
guilty of. The law of God is so very broad, the occasions of sin
in this guilty of. The law of God is so very broad, the
occasions of 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. Also we should look before us 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.