Leviticus 4:20
And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them.
Leviticus 4:20
The verse describes the priest carrying out the sin offering with the same method used for the sin for the congregation, and then making atonement so that the people are forgiven. The repetition shows the pattern of God’s provision: sin is addressed through precise ritual steps, culminating in forgiveness. It emphasizes the priest’s role in mediating forgiveness and the communal responsibility to be reconciled with God.
Atonement is the heart of this verse. Forgiveness is not automatic; it comes through divinely ordained means, mediated through the priest and the ritual. This points to the need for a Mediator and foreshadows the greater Mediation in Christ. forgiveness isn’t cheap; it requires obedience, sacrifice, and proper worship.
In contemporary life, this speaks to the necessity of confessing sins and seeking forgiveness through established channels—church leadership, pastoral care, and personal repentance. It reminds believers that forgiveness involves action: repentance, restitution where possible, and renewed commitment to living in line with God’s will. Practical steps: confess to God, confess to those harmed if appropriate, make amends, and pursue changed behavior.
Cross-References: Hebrews 9:22; Leviticus 4:3-5; James 5:16; 1 John 1:9