提要
第五章明確的告訴我們哪些情況需要獻贖愆祭。在舊約時代，一個誠實、忠信的見證人非常重要，因為審判要靠見證人的證詞，當時又不像我們今天有簽字生效的合約；如果見證人沒有說出實情，那就是罪（5：1）。另一個被判有罪的情形是在禮上不潔；即使當事人是在不知不覺中犯的，他也需要獻贖愆祭（5：2~3）。今天的信徒若不與世上「不潔」的事有所分別，也會被污染。「保守自己不沾染世俗」是基督徒靈性上的一大挑戰，也是「在父神面前，那清潔沒有玷污的虔誠」的記號（雅1：27）。當我們發現自己被世俗的事所污染，我們也必須尋求上帝的赦免和饒恕。
第三種需獻贖愆祭的情況是冒冒失失的發誓。上帝在這裡所要求的是「自制」。使徒雅各曾警告我們舌頭的力量（雅3：5~6），箴言書裡也充滿了有關話語的格言（箴10：19；13：3；15：4；21：23）。聖經清楚的教導我們必須小心言語，並且要讓我們一切所說的話都榮耀上帝。
所有的以色列人只要帶著他們的贖愆祭便都可以來接近上帝，沒有一個人例外。即使一個以色列人貧窮得獻不起兩隻雛鴿，他仍可以獻上細麵，只要他在上帝面前存正確的心，罪就可以得贖。今天也沒有任何一個人被排除在耶穌的救恩之外。
聖經告訴我們，若要贖愆生效，獻祭者必須先向上帝承認他所犯的罪；如果他不認罪，罪就不可能得贖。新約的原則與此一致：「我們若認自己的罪，上帝是是信實的、是公義的，必要赦免我們的罪，洗淨我們一切的不義。」（約壹1：9）獻贖愆祭不可加上油也不可加乳香，因為這些原料代表喜樂；一個尋求寬恕的人應為自己的罪感到憂傷。不過，當上帝赦免他的罪，憂傷就消失了。
贖愆祭和贖罪祭非常相似。它們的差別是，贖愆祭除了獻祭，還牽涉到賠償（利5：16；6：4、5），例如賠償鄰居所受的傷害（6：1~7）。在聖事上得罪上帝（5：14~19）可能是指一個人沒有獻上當納的十分之一、祭物、初熟的果子、或贖罪銀（出30：11~16）。賠償的方法是，除了原先所欠的以外，還要另加上百分之二十，並要獻一隻沒有殘疾的公綿羊為祭。以上這些過犯都必須贖罪，上帝也應許祂必定赦罪（5：18）。今天很多人宣稱跟隨基督，但卻沒有獻給上帝祂應得的分。此等信徒必須尋求上帝的寬恕。
最後是有關祭司如何獻燔祭、素祭、和贖罪祭的指示。祭司需要在各方面尊重上帝的命令，因為如果許多的儀式沒有被正確的遵守，獻祭真正的意義也就失落了。祭司要很小心自己的衣著，謹慎處理壇上的火，最重要的是維持壇上的火常常燃燒，不可熄滅。祭司是以色列人在上帝面前的代表，他們要為祭司群和以色列全會眾不斷懇求，並確保這些禱告能夠上達天庭。祭司和大祭司也不能免除為自己獻祭給上帝的義務。由於所負的責任，他們可能比任何其他普通的以色列人更需要認自己的罪、保持清潔、獻祭、及不斷的與上帝相交。不過，我們最偉大的大祭司耶穌基督完美無瑕，藉祂所獻的贖罪祭比人手所獻的更有效（來7：25∼26）。
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Overview
We are told in chapter five of specific instances when the sin offering was required. In the old covenant period, a faithful and true witness was very important, since their justice depended upon it and they had no signed contracts as we do today; it was considered a sin if the witness did not testify to the truth (5:1). Another guilty verdict was pronounced upon the one who became ceremonially unclean; even if it happened unknowingly, a sin offering was still required (5:2-3). Lack of separation from the “unclean” things of the world can likewise defile a believer today. It is a great spiritual challenge and a park of “pure and undefiled religion before God… “to keep oneself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27). When we find we have become tainted with wordily things, we also must ask forgiveness and seek atonement.
A third instance we read here that required a sin offering was when a rash and thoughtless oath was sworn. What is demanded here is self-control. The Apostle James gave a warning about the powerful instrument of the tongue (James 3:5-6) and the book of Proverbs id full of wise saying about it (Prov. 10:19; 13:3; 15:4; 21:23). It is clearly taught in the Bible that we must watch our words and let all we say be glorifying to the Lord.
Provision was made for all people to approach God with their sin offering. Nobody was excluded; the very poor Israelites who could not afford two birds were still able to bring fine flour, and with their hearts right before God, atonement would be made for their sin. Today we see that no one is excluded form the salvation available through the sacrifice of Jesus.
We learn that, before the sin offering was effectual, it had to be accompanied by the offer’s confession to God of the particular sin; if this was not done, there could be no atonement. This principle of confession for atonement is consistent with the New Covenant teaching as well: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us” (1 John 1:9). No oil or incense was to be used with the sin offering, for theses ingredients represented joy and the one asking forgiveness should be sorrowful for the sin. However, the sorrow disappears when God’s forgiveness is received.
The sin offering and the trespass or guilt offering are very similar. The difference is that the trespass offering was brought when restitution was required (5:16; 6:4, 5), like repaying a neighbor for some harm done (6:1-7). Trespassing against the Lord in regard to the holy things (5:14-19) probably means that the offender failed to give to God His rightful tithes, offerings, first fruits, or ransom money (Es. 30:11-16). The restitution was to pay back what was originally owed, along with an additional 20 percent, and the offering of an unblemished ram. Such transgressions required that atonement be made; then the Lord promised to forgive (5:18). No doubt there are many who claim to follow Christ today, yet fail to give God His share. Forgiveness must be sought by such person.
Finally, directions are given concerning the priest’s own use of the burnt, grain, and sin offerings. Respecting God’s commands in all areas of service to Him is necessary, for the true meaning of the sacrifice could be lost if the various rituals were not properly observed. Great care was to be taken of the priest’s clothing, disposing of the ashes and, very importantly, the fire on the altar was to burn continually. The priest, as the people’s representative to God, was to ensure that there were always uninterrupted appeals going up to the Lord on behalf of both the priesthood and the whole assembly of Israel. The priests and the high priest were not exempt from offering sacrifices to the Lord on their own behalf. They, probably more than any of the common people because of their responsibility, were to confess their sins, keep pure, give offerings, and remain in constant fellowship with God. However, because our great High Priest, Jesus Christ, was perfect and sinless, atonement through Him is much more effective (Heb. 7:25-26).
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