Leviticus 6:1-7

UNINTENTIONAL TRESPASS AGAINST MAN 6:1-7
TEXT 6:1-7

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And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

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If any one sin, and commit a trespass against Jehovah, and deal falsely with his neighbor in a matter of deposit, or of bargain, or of robbery, or have oppressed his neighbor,

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or have found that which was lost, and deal falsely therein, and swear to a lie; in any of all these things that a man doeth, sinning therein;

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then it shall be, if he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took by robbery, or the thing which he hath gotten by oppression, or the deposit which was committed to him or the lost thing which he found,

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or anything about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in full, and shall add the fifth part more thereto: unto him to whom it appertaineth shall he give it, in the day of his being found guilty.

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And he shall bring his trespass-offering unto Jehovah, a ram without blemish out of the flock, according to thy estimation, for a trespass-offering, unto the priest:

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and the priest shall make atonement for him before Jehovah; and he shall be forgiven concerning whatsoever he doeth so as to be guilty thereby.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 6:1-7

104.

Mark how every sin and trespass is first against God before it is against our neighbor. Define the difference between a deposit and a bargain or a pledge.

105.

The basic sin under these lesser sins is what?

106.

List six possible sins against man here mentioned.

107.

How can we call these unintentional trespasses?

108.

In each case two or three acts are always the samewhat are they?

109.

Where is the worshipper to obtain the ram?

PARAPHRASE 6:1-7

And the Lord said to Moses, If anyone sins against Me by refusing to return a deposit on something borrowed or rented, or by refusing to return something entrusted to him, or by robbery, or by oppressing his neighbor, or by finding a lost article and lying about it, swearing that he doesn-'t have it, on the day he is found guilty of any such sin, he shall restore what he took, adding a twenty percent fine, and give it to the one he has harmed; and on the same day he shall bring his guilt offering to the Tabernacle. His guilt offering shall be a ram without defect, and must be worth whatever value you demand. He shall bring it to the priest, and the priest shall make atonement for him before the Lord, and he shall be forgiven.

COMMENT 6:1-7

Leviticus 6:1 The sins against God would be against the first table of the ten commandments. We are now to consider those against man, or the second table of the law. We need to notice that each time this little phrase (And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,) appears we have a change in subjects.

Leviticus 6:2-3 How sadly easy it is to defraud our friends. Here are a list of those circumstances where temptations lurk. The first relates to the trust our friends put in us. We accept from them an amount of moneya field to till, a store to manage, or any one of many other articles or responsibilities. He trusts usshall we betray his trust? It has been done, Even in the small items such as a tool, or a book, or any other stuff. One is reminded of the golden rule as he reads the regulations for the use of those items which belong to another. What if we loaned something to our neighbor and he refused to admit he had received it? If we gave him money to keep and he used it for himself? If our friend left our machinery out in the weather to rust? Such thoughtlessness, such neglect, such greed will not go unnoticed by God (Cf. 2 Kings 6:5; Exodus 22:7).

But there, is another aspect of this law: the above activity was in private. There are those acts or transactions in public, which not openly unlawful are yet selfish. How many business transactions classify here? What kind of concern do we have for the rights of others as compared to our own? Do we without conscience cheat the government or the local police force? (Cf. Proverbs 20:14)

When we have an advantage with our neighbor we must not use it to satisfy our own selfishness; such was the case with Naboth's vineyard (Cf. 1 Kings 21:2). The word used in Leviticus 6:3 hath deceived his neighbor refers to a situation where oppression is used. How much secret terror has been employed by how many deceitful selfish people? Present day work laws are all a result of the violation of God's law. We are glad for fair work laws, but they would be unnecessary if we obeyed Leviticus. Read Deuteronomy 23:24-25 for another form of violating this law.

Finders keepers simply does not apply. We need but put ourselves in the place of our neighbor to imagine the anxiety and concern he has over that which is lost. To lie about what we have found and keep it is but another form of stealing. It is good for us to get this look into the attitudes that God wanted to prevail in the camp of Israel; it is far from the hard, even cruel attitude we Usually associate with keeping the law.

Leviticus 6:4-5 The guilt must be established and admittedeither by a free admission on the part of the offender or by a verdict from a trial (Cf. Exodus 22:7-9). Once this is done then restitution must be made in each case cited above. But there is more20% of the principal must be added to the principals:

God is exceedingly jealous for the rights of every man, but he is equally interested in an acknowledgement of His own righta double tithe is given, even though the person defrauded receives the gift it is none-the less done because God directed it.

Andrew Bonar has such a meaningful expression on this total concept as it relates to our Lord. When men are happy themselves, they take no thought of others-' misery. When at ease, they disregard the pain of others. Some even relieve distress out of subtle selfishness, seeking thereby to be free to indulge themselves with less compunction. Not so the Lord. The Eternal Son comes forth from the bosom of the Blessed, and, for the sake of the vilest, dives into the depths of misery. -He restored what He took not away,-' and -delivered him that without cause was His enemy.-' And in proportion as we feel much love to Him, we feel love to our brother also. (1 John 4:20)

Leviticus 6:6-7 As wrong as these sins appear, they are not classified as presumptuous sins. How very gracious of God; but this is indeed the very best way to lead people out of sin: to establish guilt and offer free forgiveness. None go to the hiding place who fear no storm. The stream flows by unheeded when the traveler on its banks is not thirsty. The whole will not use the physician. Only sense of sin renders Jesus precious to the soul. (Ibid.)

FACT QUESTIONS 6:1-7

136.

The laws of the first table of the law refer to possible sins against whom? This section refers to sins against whom?

137.

It is amazingly easy to defraud our neighbor. Show how and why.

138.

How does the golden rule relate here?

139.

We can sin publicly and yet be involved in the unintentional trespass. Explain how.

140.

What is involved in the use of the word deceived as used with our neighbor?

141.

Finders keepers simply is not right. Why?

142.

Keeping the law in the camp of Israel was not the rigid law-keeping attitude we usually associate with it. Explain.

143.

What is the real underlying purpose in returning the principal plus 20%?

144.

How was the principle applied to our Lord?

145.

Show how wise and gracious God was in not classifying these as presumptuous sins.