Leviticus Chapter 5

Leviticus 5 — “Confession and Reparation: The Sin That Must Be Named and the Debt That Must Be Paid”

Leviticus 4 taught that sin pollutes and must be cleansed by blood.
Leviticus 5 now teaches that sin must also be confessed and, where possible, repaired.

This chapter teaches one central truth:

Forgiveness requires both atonement before God and truthfulness before men — a mystery fulfilled in Christ.

1. Silent Guilt

“If anyone sins… and hears the voice of adjuration and does not speak…” (Lev 5:1)

Sin includes silence when truth is required.

St Augustine writes:

“He sins not only who does evil, but who hides the truth when justice calls.”
(Sermons)

Typology:

Christ is silent before false judges,
but He speaks truth before the Father.

Our silence often protects ourselves;
His silence redeems others.

2. Uncleanness Contracted Unknowingly

(vv. 2–3)

A man may become unclean
without intending it.

St Gregory the Great teaches:

“We contract stain by contact with the world even when we do not seek it.”
(Homilies)

Typology:

Sin spreads like infection.
Christ touches the unclean
and makes them clean.

He reverses contamination.

3. Rash Oaths

(v. 4)

Words spoken carelessly
become moral burdens.

St Jerome comments:

“Speech binds the soul when it is not governed by truth.”
(Commentary)

Typology:

Adam fell by listening.
Man sins by speaking.
Christ redeems by His word:

“Father, forgive them.”

The tongue wounds;
the Word heals.

4. Awareness Brings Guilt

“When he comes to know it, he shall be guilty.” (v. 4)

Ignorance delays guilt,
but knowledge awakens responsibility.

St Augustine teaches:

“Truth reveals not only God but also our sin.”
(Confessions)

Typology:

The Law reveals sin.
Christ reveals grace.

Light first wounds,
then heals.

5. Confession Required

“He shall confess the sin which he has committed.” (v. 5)

Confession is commanded.

St Ambrose writes:

“Confession of sin is the beginning of salvation.”
(On Repentance)

Typology:

The sinner names his fault.
Christ bears the fault.

Confession transfers guilt
to the sacrifice.

6. A Lamb or Goat for Sin

(v. 6)

The sinner brings a victim
from his own flock.

St Augustine explains:

“What is offered must come from the sinner himself.”
(Sermons)

Typology:

Humanity supplies the flesh.
Christ supplies the obedience.

He is both victim and priest.

7. Provision for the Poor

(vv. 7–10)

If too poor for a lamb,
two birds may be offered.

St Gregory the Great says:

“Poverty does not exclude mercy.”
(Homilies)

Typology:

Christ becomes poor
for the poor.

Salvation is not priced
by wealth.

8. Provision for the Very Poor

(vv. 11–13)

If even birds are too costly,
fine flour is accepted.

No oil.
No incense.

Only need.

St Jerome comments:

“The poorest man brings only his misery.”
(Commentary)

Typology:

Christ accepts the sinner
who brings nothing but repentance.

Grace is not bought;
it is received.

9. The Priest Makes Atonement

(vv. 10, 13)

“The priest shall make atonement for him.”

St Augustine writes:

“The priest offers what the sinner cannot.”
(Sermons)

Typology:

Christ offers what man cannot:
perfect obedience.

He mediates forgiveness.

10. Introduction of the Guilt Offering

This chapter turns toward
reparation.

(vv. 14–16)

Sin is not only guilt before God,
but damage to holiness.

St Gregory the Great teaches:

“Justice requires not only sorrow but restoration.”
(Homilies)

Typology:

Christ restores what Adam ruined.

He does not only forgive;
He repairs.

11. “In the Holy Things of the LORD”

(v. 15)

Sacrilege is addressed.

St Jerome says:

“He sins doubly who profanes what is holy.”
(Commentary)

Typology:

Christ is the Holy One
offended by sin.

His blood heals
what was desecrated.

12. Restitution Plus a Fifth

(v. 16)

The sinner restores
and adds more.

St Augustine writes:

“God teaches that justice exceeds equality.”
(Sermons)

Typology:

Christ repays
more than was stolen.

Where sin abounded,
grace abounds more.

13. Unknown Sin Still Requires Offering

(vv. 17–19)

Even uncertain guilt
requires sacrifice.

St Gregory the Great teaches:

“We fear unknown faults because God knows them.”
(Homilies)

Typology:

Christ atones
for sins we do not remember
and faults we do not see.

Mercy covers
hidden wounds.

14. The Meaning of the Guilt Offering

This sacrifice teaches:

• sin creates debt
• guilt requires payment
• holiness requires repair
• mercy involves justice

It proclaims:

Forgiveness is not cheap.
Grace is costly.

15. Christ and the Guilt Offering

Christ fulfills Leviticus 5 as:

• the true Confessor of our sin
• the Lamb of reparation
• the Restorer of what was lost
• the Payment for sacrilege
• the Bearer of unknown guilt
• the Priest who makes atonement

“He made Himself an offering for guilt.” (Isaiah 53:10)

16. The Church and the Guilt Offering

In Christ, the Church learns:

• to confess
• to repair wrongs
• to restore what was damaged
• to seek justice with mercy

Zacchaeus fulfills this spirit:

“If I have defrauded anyone… I restore fourfold.” (Luke 19:8)

True repentance
changes behavior.

Spiritual Application

Confess sins clearly.

Repair what you have damaged.

Do not excuse hidden faults.

Trust Christ’s atonement.

Bring what you can.

Let grace do the rest.

Christ in Leviticus 5

Jesus is:

• the Lamb for sinners
• the Confessor of our guilt
• the Repairer of holiness
• the Payment for debt
• the Restorer of communion
• the Covering for hidden sin
• the Priest of mercy

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ,
true Guilt Offering and Restorer of what was lost,
You bore not only our sins
but the debt our sins created.

Teach us to confess without fear,
to repair what we have harmed,
and to trust Your sacrifice alone
for forgiveness and renewal.

Heal what we have damaged.
Cleanse what we have stained.
Restore what sin has stolen.
And make our lives a living repentance
joined to Your perfect obedience,

until the day when all debts are forgiven
and all wounds are healed
in the Kingdom of God
for ever and ever.

Amen.