Leviticus 4:5

The tabernacle area had a tent (sometimes called the “Tent of Meeting”; (see study note on 1:1). The tent was at the west end of the courtyard. Inside the tent, an inner curtain separated the first room, the Holy Place, from the second, the Most Holy Place. The Most Holy Place contained the ark of the Covenant (or Testimony) and represented God's throne room (Exodus 26:31–33; see study note on Leviticus 1:1).

The priests would sprinkle the animal's blood in front of the curtain (Leviticus 4:6, 17). They would also apply it to the horns of the incense altar (4:7, 18). This would atone for the anointed priest or the entire congregation. This action showed the seriousness of the offenses that needed atonement (compare 4:25, 30–35).

These verses describe two types of sin offerings:

1. The offering for the sin of the high priest (Leviticus 4:3, 20) and the entire Israelite community (4:13).

2. The offering for one of Israel’s leaders (4:22) and any common person (4:27).

The first type required a bull, a large and expensive animal. It was not eaten (6:30) but completely burned (4:12, 21). The priests presented some of its blood in the Holy Place (4:6–7, 17–18).

The second type required a smaller animal. This was a male goat for a leader or a female sheep or goat for a common person. The priest ate part of the common person’s offering (6:24–29). The priest would present the blood at the bronze altar in the courtyard (4:25, 30).

This distinction highlights the responsibilities of leaders. The offering was the same for the priest and the entire community. But the leader’s offering was more than that of a common person.

The New Testament also emphasizes the responsibility of religious leaders. God will judge those who teach and those who serve as religious leaders more strictly than their followers (James 3:1; Matthew 23:1–33; Luke 20:47).

The sin offering is called khatta’t in Hebrew, from the root khata’. It means "to lack, fall short, miss, fail." The people made this offering when they unintentionally violated specific commands of God (see also Numbers 15:22–29). The purpose of this offering was to repair a loss or fix a failure (for example, Leviticus 5:1–4).

Although all Christians sin, God will forgive us if we confess them (Galatians 6:1; 1 John 1:8–9). Yet, the Scripture warns against sinning "defiantly" or "deliberately" (Numbers 15:30–31; Hebrews 10:26–29; 6:4–6).