Leviticus - Be Holy for I am Holy , Sarah Barry
THE CONFESSION OF SIN
Passage: Leviticus 5:1~13  
Key verse: 5
5 “‘If anyone sins because they do not speak up when they hear a public charge to testify(A) regarding something they have seen or learned about, they will be held responsible.(B)
2 “‘If anyone becomes aware that they are guilty—if they unwittingly touch anything ceremonially unclean (whether the carcass of an unclean animal, wild or domestic, or of any unclean creature that moves along the ground)(C) and they are unaware that they have become unclean,(D) but then they come to realize their guilt; 3 or if they touch human uncleanness(E) (anything that would make them unclean)(F) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realize their guilt; 4 or if anyone thoughtlessly takes an oath(G) to do anything, whether good or evil(H) (in any matter one might carelessly swear about) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realize their guilt— 5 when anyone becomes aware that they are guilty in any of these matters, they must confess(I) in what way they have sinned. 6 As a penalty for the sin they have committed, they must bring to the Lord a female lamb or goat(J) from the flock as a sin offering[a];(K) and the priest shall make atonement(L) for them for their sin.
7 “‘Anyone who cannot afford(M) a lamb(N) is to bring two doves or two young pigeons(O) to the Lord as a penalty for their sin—one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. 8 They are to bring them to the priest, who shall first offer the one for the sin offering. He is to wring its head from its neck,(P) not dividing it completely,(Q) 9 and is to splash(R) some of the blood of the sin offering against the side of the altar;(S) the rest of the blood must be drained out at the base of the altar.(T) It is a sin offering. 10 The priest shall then offer the other as a burnt offering in the prescribed way(U) and make atonement(V) for them for the sin they have committed, and they will be forgiven.(W)
11 “‘If, however, they cannot afford(X) two doves or two young pigeons,(Y) they are to bring as an offering for their sin a tenth of an ephah[b](Z) of the finest flour(AA) for a sin offering. They must not put olive oil or incense on it, because it is a sin offering. 12 They are to bring it to the priest, who shall take a handful of it as a memorial[c] portion(AB) and burn it on the altar(AC) on top of the food offerings presented to the Lord. It is a sin offering. 13 In this way the priest will make atonement(AD) for them for any of these sins they have committed, and they will be forgiven. The rest of the offering will belong to the priest,(AE) as in the case of the grain offering.(AF)’”
Footnotes
- Leviticus 5:6 Or purification offering; here and throughout this chapter
- Leviticus 5:11 That is, probably about 3 1/2 pounds or about 1.6 kilograms
- Leviticus 5:12 Or representative
Cross references
- Leviticus 5:1 : Pr 29:24; Mt 26:63
- Leviticus 5:1 : ver 17; S Ex 28:38; Lev 7:18; 17:16; 19:8; 20:17; 24:15; Nu 5:31; 9:13; 15:31; 19:20; 30:15
- Leviticus 5:2 : Lev 11:11, 24-40; Dt 14:8; Isa 52:11
- Leviticus 5:2 : ver 3; Lev 7:21; 11:8, 24; 13:45; Nu 19:22; Job 15:16; Ps 51:5; Isa 6:5; 64:6; Eze 36:17; Hag 2:13
- Leviticus 5:3 : Nu 19:11-16
- Leviticus 5:3 : Lev 7:20; 11:25; 14:19; 21:1; Nu 5:2; 9:6; 19:7; Eze 44:25
- Leviticus 5:4 : Nu 30:6, 8
- Leviticus 5:4 : Isa 41:23
- Leviticus 5:5 : Lev 16:21; 26:40; Nu 5:7; Jos 7:19; 1Ki 8:47; Pr 28:13
- Leviticus 5:6 : S Lev 1:10; S 4:3
- Leviticus 5:6 : S Lev 4:28
- Leviticus 5:6 : S Ex 32:30
- Leviticus 5:7 : ver 11; Lev 12:8; 14:21; 27:8
- Leviticus 5:7 : Lev 12:8; 14:22, 30
- Leviticus 5:7 : S Ge 15:9; Nu 6:10
- Leviticus 5:8 : Lev 1:15
- Leviticus 5:8 : Lev 1:17
- Leviticus 5:9 : S Ex 24:6
- Leviticus 5:9 : Lev 1:15
- Leviticus 5:9 : S Lev 4:7
- Leviticus 5:10 : Lev 1:14-17; 1Ch 15:13
- Leviticus 5:10 : S Ex 32:30
- Leviticus 5:10 : S Lev 4:26
- Leviticus 5:11 : S ver 7
- Leviticus 5:11 : S Ge 15:9
- Leviticus 5:11 : S Ex 16:36
- Leviticus 5:11 : S Lev 2:1
- Leviticus 5:12 : S Lev 2:2
- Leviticus 5:12 : Lev 2:9
- Leviticus 5:13 : S Ex 32:30
- Leviticus 5:13 : Lev 2:3
- Leviticus 5:13 : S Ex 29:41
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Source:  BibleGateway
The second sin mentioned is touching unclean things, which could inadvertently spread disease (2-3). Next in importance is breaking a promise. It is a sin because it weakens trust and reliability and damages others. (4) Especially, family members’ hearts are broken by broken promises. Have we made promises to God to spend more time in his word and prayer or to witness to and shepherd others, and not kept them? These broken promises must be confessed and repented, too.
Often people don’t realize they have sinned. But once they have, they must get right with God (6-13). The Israelites had to sacrifice a lamb or a pair of doves or pigeons, or at the least, fine flour. No oil or incense was added to the sin offering, because sin is bitter. The blood was spread on the altar to atone for sin. We must confess our sin and trust in the atoning blood of the Son Jesus to bring us forgiveness and cover our sin.
Prayer: Father, I confess my sin. Praise Jesus who shed his atoning blood for my sin!
One Word: Confess what you have done wrong and receive forgiveness through Jesus