Wed.’s Devo - Laws for Unintentional Sin

Read: Leviticus 4:1-5:19; Mark 3:7-30; Psalm 36:1-12; Proverbs 10:1-2 There were ceremonies they were to do for any sin they might commit unintentionally. Even if they didn’t realize they were sinning, they were still guilty. When they realized they had sinned, they were to lay their hand on a bull to transfer their sin to it. The bull was sacrificed and offered for their atonement. It was done according to the instructions for the sin offering. If the entire Israelite community sinned but they didn’t realize it, they were still guilty. When they realized they had sinned, the priest was to offer a bull for a sacrifice. He was to lay his hand upon the bull to transfer his sin to the bull. Its blood would be sprinkled on the curtain seven times in front of the inner curtain and blood was applied to the horns of the altar of incense. The rest of the blood would be poured around the base of the burnt altar where they did all the sacrifices. This showed that sin affects heaven and earth. If one of the leaders sinned but didn’t realize it, he was still guilty. When he realized he had sinned, he would lay his hand upon a goat’s head and it was sacrificed. Its blood was only put on the horns of the altar and the rest poured around the base of the altar. Sin on earth was atoned for. If any of the common people sinned unknowingly and then realized what they were doing was sin, they were to bring a female goat or a female sheep. They would lay their hand upon its head transferring their sin upon it and it would be killed. The blood would be put on the horns of the altar and the rest around the base of he altar. If you were called in as a witness and you refused to tell what you had seen, you would be punished. If you realized you had sinned in any way and refused to acknowledge it, it would be held against you. If you said something that you realized was not true, you must admit your guilt and correct your sin. If you could not afford the sheep or goat, you could bring a bird. If sin was done against the Lord’s property which is earth, the person must bring a guilt offering. The offering must be a ram of their choice. Restitution for what was damaged must be payed plus an additional 20%. When payment was done, you would be made right with the Lord. In Mark, Jesus saw Levi, sitting at the tax-collectors booth and told him to follow him. Levi got up immediately and became a follower, leaving his business behind. Since tax-collectors were considered the scum of the earth, Jesus took a lot of flack for having dinner at Levi’s house that evening. When Jesus was questioned about his choice of friends, he replied that it wasn’t the healthy people who need a doctor. He had come to save sinners. This flew in the face of the religious leaders since they only hung out with the ceremonially righteous. The religious leaders also questioned why Jesus’ disciples didn’t fast. Jesus explained that a person should fast while waiting for something, but that something was here. He was the “something.” Jesus disciples also broke their laws about working on the Sabbath by breaking off grain growing in the fields on the Sabbath. When the religious leaders challenged that, Jesus replied that the Sabbath was made to meet the needs of the people and not for the people to meet their requirements. I bet this made them furious! They got mad when Jesus healed the man’s deformed hand on the Sabbath. It saddened Jesus that they could be so hard in their hearts. This was the last straw for the Pharisees. They met with supporters of Herod to begin plotting Jesus’ death. Lord, may we not become so short-sighted that we miss what you are doing on the earth. Give us compassion on those you are giving compassion on and require payment to those who you are requiring payment from.