Wednesday, 2nd September 2026
Rev Xi An Poon
主題經文：「他所犯的罪自己知道了，就要為所犯的罪牽一隻沒有殘疾的公山羊為供物。」——利未記 4:23
引言
讀《利未記》第四章，我最被觸動的一句話，就是：「他所犯的罪自己知道了。」
第四章開始處理「罪」的問題。
前三章講到燔祭、素祭和平安祭，讓我們看見人把自己獻給神、向神感恩，也享受與神相交的平安。可是來到第四章，神讓祂的百姓面對一個很真實的問題：
即使是一個已經屬神、敬拜神、親近神的人，仍然可能犯罪。
而第四章主要處理的是人在無知、疏忽、軟弱中「誤犯」的罪。
很特別的是，神並沒有說：「你犯了罪，就沒有路了。」
反而在人還沒有辦法靠自己解決罪的時候，神已經主動設立贖罪祭，為人預備一條回轉的道路。
這讓我非常感動。
因為即使在耶穌基督還沒有降世以前，我們已經看見神的心：祂的聖潔不容罪被忽略，但祂的恩典也不讓罪人成為無路可走的人。所以，「知道自己的罪」不一定是絕望的開始。它也可以是恩典的開始。
真正的問題不是：「我有沒有失敗過？」
而是：當神讓我知道之後，我願不願意回轉？
《利未記》第四章不是單單告訴我們「犯罪之後要獻祭」，它更一步一步帶我們看見，當罪被神光照出來以後，我們應該怎樣回應。
所以今天我們從第四章思想三個提醒：
一、知道了，就不要逃避
「他所犯的罪自己知道了……」——利未記 4:23
第四章一開始說：
「若有人在耶和華所吩咐不可行的甚麼事上誤犯了一件……」——利未記 4:2
這裏所講的，不主要是人公開、故意地反叛神，而是人在不知不覺、疏忽或軟弱中犯了罪。
這提醒我們一件很重要的事：不是所有的罪，我們一開始都看得見。有些事情我們可能已經做了很多年，覺得很正常。有些態度可能因為大家都這樣，所以我們也不覺得有問題。
有些反應甚至已經成為我們性格的一部分，以致我們會說：「我就是這樣。」
但神看的，不只是我們覺得有沒有問題，而是這件事情是否合乎祂的心意。所以第四章多次出現一個非常重要的轉折：「知道了。」
官長犯罪：「他所犯的罪自己知道了……」——利未記 4:23
普通百姓犯罪：「他所犯的罪若有人告訴了他……」——利未記 4:28
人可能原來不知道，但後來知道了。可能是神的話光照我們，可能是聖靈提醒我們，可能是環境讓我們醒悟，也可能是別人指出我們一直沒有看見的問題。
這一刻很重要。因為當神讓我們「知道」，其實就是在給我們一個機會。神的光照，不只是揭露，也是邀請。
祂不是說：「你終於被我抓到了。」祂乃是在說：「現在你知道了，回來吧。」
這就是恩典。真正危險的，不只是我們曾經犯罪。真正危險的是：神已經讓我知道，我仍然不肯回轉。
我們開始解釋，開始合理化，開始怪別人，開始說「其實不是那麼嚴重」。
但第四章提醒我們：當神讓我們知道，不要逃避。因為祂讓我們知道，是為了讓我們回轉。到了新約，這條路更加清楚：「我們若認自己的罪，神是信實的，是公義的，必要赦免我們的罪。」——約翰一書 1:9
所以今天如果神光照我們生命裏某一件事情，不要害怕。知道了，就回轉。
二、犯罪了，就要看見影響
「若受膏的祭司犯罪，使百姓陷在罪裏……」——利未記 4:3
第四章有一個非常特別的結構。
神分別提到四類人：受膏的祭司，以色列全會眾，官長，普通百姓。他們犯了罪，都需要面對，也都需要獻贖罪祭。但是所獻的祭牲和處理方式並不完全一樣。受膏祭司犯罪，要獻公牛。全會眾犯罪，也要獻公牛。官長犯罪，要獻公山羊。普通百姓則可以獻母山羊或母綿羊。這不是說普通人的罪不重要。
而是第四章讓我們看見：一個人的位置、責任和影響範圍不同，他犯罪所帶來的後果也可能不同。尤其是受膏的祭司。
經文說：「使百姓陷在罪裏。」祭司不是只代表自己。他站在神與百姓之間服事，他的生命、判斷、教導，都會影響整個群體。因此他的罪，不只是個人的事。
這一點對今天有責任、有權柄的人，是很大的提醒。父母的生命會影響兒女。牧者的生命會影響會眾。領袖的態度會影響團隊。
一個有權柄的人若長期合理化自己的問題，最後有可能連身邊的人都慢慢覺得：「這樣也沒有問題。」於是個人的問題，慢慢成為群體的文化。所以真正的認罪，不只是問：「我做錯了甚麼？」還需要問：「我所做的，影響了誰？」我的脾氣傷害了誰？我的決定使誰承受後果？我的驕傲使誰跌倒？我的疏忽是否使別人失去安全感？我的妥協有沒有使身邊的人也開始降低對神的標準？
這就是我讀第四章時一個很深的感動。我們很多時候認罪，只停留在：「主啊，我錯了，求你赦免我。」但一個更徹底的悔改，會開始看見：罪不只是我與神之間的問題，它也可能在別人的生命裏留下傷害。因此，越有權柄的人，越需要謙卑。不是因為神對領袖比較沒有恩典，而是因為神把更多的人託付在他的影響之下。
三、回轉了，就讓罪真正被處理
「祭司要為他贖罪，他必蒙赦免。」——利未記 4:26
第四章並沒有停在「知道自己錯了」。人知道以後，要帶着祭牲來到神面前。他要按手在祭牲頭上，然後宰殺。祭司要取血，按神所吩咐的方式處理。當受膏祭司或全會眾犯罪時，祭牲的血要被帶進會幕，彈在幔子前，也抹在香壇的角上；其餘的血倒在燔祭壇腳那裏。
祭牲的脂油要焚燒在壇上，而公牛其餘的部分則帶到營外焚燒。
當官長或普通百姓犯罪時，血則抹在燔祭壇的角上。
這些細節讓我們看見：罪不只是某一個行為做錯了，它會帶來真實的破壞，也需要被真實地處理。
罪會破壞人與神的相交，也會影響群體，甚至會污染整個敬拜生活。所以神不是只要人說一句：「我知道錯了。」祂要人真正面對罪。
當獻祭的人按手在祭牲頭上，再親手宰殺祭牲，他不能再把罪當成一件很輕的事。眼前有一個生命因着罪而流血。
這讓人明白：我的罪是有代價的。真正的悔改，不只是有一種內疚的感覺。也不只是說：「我承認我做過。」真正的悔改是：我承認這是罪；我不再為自己辯護；我願意轉離它；我願意承擔應有的責任；我也願意面對它所帶來的傷害。如果需要道歉，就去道歉。如果需要修補，就去修補。如果需要重新負責任，就重新負起責任。這才是一個更徹底的承認。
但是第四章最寶貴的地方，是神沒有把人停在血、死亡和罪疚裏。整章不斷出現一句話：「他必蒙赦免。」
「祭司要為他們贖罪，他們必蒙赦免。」——利未記 4:20
「祭司要為他贖罪，他必蒙赦免。」——利未記 4:26
「祭司要在耶和華面前為他贖罪，他必蒙赦免。」——利未記 4:31
到了第35節又再次說：「祭司要為他贖了罪，他必蒙赦免。」
所以第四章最後真正要我們看見的，不只是：罪很嚴重。
更加是：神已經為罪人預備赦免。
到了新約，我們更加清楚知道，舊約所有這些祭牲，都指向一個更完全的救贖。
「公牛和山羊的血，斷不能除罪。」——希伯來書 10:4
真正完全的贖罪，是耶穌基督。祂一次獻上自己，承擔我們的罪，使我們今天可以靠着祂重新回到神面前。所以我們今天不再需要牽一隻羊來到祭壇。
但神仍然在問我們：「當我讓你知道，你願意把它帶到我面前，讓我真正處理嗎？」
總結
《利未記》第四章讓我越讀越感受到，這不是一章只講審判的經文。
它其實是一章充滿恩典的經文。
因為神沒有說：「你既然犯了，就沒有希望。」祂反而為人預備一條回轉的道路。當人不知道的時候，神讓他知道。當人知道的時候，神要他回轉。當罪已經影響別人的時候，神要他正視那個影響。當人願意把罪帶到神面前的時候，神又一次一次說：「他必蒙赦免。」
所以，神的聖潔，使我們不能輕看罪。神的恩典，卻使我們不用因罪而絕望。
特別是當我們有責任、有權柄、有影響力的時候，更需要常常讓神光照我們。
不只是問：「主啊，我有沒有做錯？」
也要問：「主啊，我所做的，有沒有影響了你交託給我的人？」
真正的悔改，不只是承認自己的罪。也是願意面對罪所帶來的破壞，願意承擔，願意修補，也願意重新走回神的道路。而今天我們比舊約的以色列人更加有盼望。因為我們所倚靠的，不再是一隻公牛、一隻山羊或一隻綿羊。我們所倚靠的是耶穌基督。
所以當神今天讓我們知道自己的問題，我們不需要逃。祂讓我知道，不是因為祂不要我；祂讓我知道，正是因為祂仍然為我預備回家的路。知道了，就回轉。
自我檢核
- 今天，神有沒有讓我知道一些我過去沒有正視的問題？
- 當神光照我的時候，我是在解釋、合理化、推卸，還是願意承認並回轉？
- 我的態度、說話、決定或生命，有沒有曾經影響家人、同工、會眾或身邊的人？
- 有沒有一些事情，我不只是需要向神認罪，也需要向人道歉、修補，或重新負起責任？
- 今天當神讓我知道，我願不願意回轉？
Key Verse:
“Or if his sin which he has committed comes to his knowledge, he shall bring as his offering a kid of the goats, a male without blemish.”
— Leviticus 4:23, NKJV
Introduction
When I read Leviticus 4, one sentence touched me deeply:
“His sin which he has committed comes to his knowledge.”
Leviticus 4 begins to deal directly with the issue of sin.
The first three chapters speak about the burnt offering, the grain offering, and the peace offering. They show us people giving themselves to God, giving thanks to God, and enjoying fellowship and peace with Him.
But when we come to chapter 4, God brings His people to face a very real truth:
Even people who belong to God, worship God, and draw near to God can still sin.
Leviticus 4 mainly deals with sins committed unintentionally, through ignorance, carelessness, or weakness.
What is very special is that God does not say:
“You have sinned, so now there is no way back.”
Instead, before people could ever solve the problem of sin by themselves, God had already established the sin offering and prepared a way for people to return to Him.
This touches me deeply.
Even before Jesus Christ came into the world, we can already see the heart of God:
His holiness does not allow sin to be ignored, but His grace does not leave sinners without a way back.
So becoming aware of our sin does not have to be the beginning of despair.
It can become the beginning of grace.
The real question is not:
“Have I ever failed?”
The real question is:
When God helps me see it, am I willing to turn back?
Leviticus 4 is not simply teaching us what sacrifice to offer after sinning. It shows us step by step how we should respond when God brings our sin into the light.
So today, let us reflect on three important reminders from Leviticus 4:
- When You Know, Do Not Run Away
“His sin which he has committed comes to his knowledge…”
— Leviticus 4:23
At the beginning of this chapter, God says:
“If a person sins unintentionally against any of the commandments of the LORD in anything which ought not to be done…”
— Leviticus 4:2
The main focus here is not open and deliberate rebellion against God, but sin committed through ignorance, carelessness, or weakness.
This reminds us of something very important:
We do not always see our own sin immediately.
There may be things we have done for years and think are normal.
There may be attitudes we do not question because everyone around us behaves the same way.
There may even be reactions that have become so much a part of our personality that we simply say:
“That is just who I am.”
But God does not measure our lives only by what we think is acceptable.
He measures us by whether our lives are pleasing to Him.
That is why this chapter repeatedly shows a very important turning point:
“It comes to his knowledge.”
For a ruler:
“Or if his sin which he has committed comes to his knowledge…”
— Leviticus 4:23
For an ordinary person:
“Or if his sin which he has committed comes to his knowledge…”
— Leviticus 4:28
A person may not have seen it before, but now he sees it.
God may use His Word to bring light.
The Holy Spirit may convict us.
A situation may wake us up.
Someone may point out something we have never noticed about ourselves.
That moment is very important.
Because when God helps us to see, He is giving us an opportunity.
God’s light does not only expose us. It also invites us.
He is not saying:
“Now I have finally caught you.”
He is saying:
“Now that you see it, come back.”
That is grace.
The greatest danger is not simply that we have sinned.
The greater danger is this:
God has already helped us to see, but we still refuse to turn back.
We begin to explain ourselves.
We justify ourselves.
We blame others.
We say:
“It is not really that serious.”
But Leviticus 4 reminds us:
When God helps us to see, do not run away.
He helps us to see so that we can return.
In the New Testament, this way becomes even clearer:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
— 1 John 1:9
So if God is bringing something in our lives into the light today, we do not need to be afraid.
When you know, turn back.
⸻
- When You Sin, See the Impact
“If the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people…”
— Leviticus 4:3
Leviticus 4 has a very special structure.
God speaks about four different groups:
the anointed priest,
the whole congregation of Israel,
a ruler,
and an ordinary person.
When any of them sinned, the sin had to be faced, and a sin offering had to be brought.
But the offerings and the procedures were not exactly the same.
The anointed priest had to offer a bull.
The whole congregation also had to offer a bull.
A ruler had to offer a male goat.
An ordinary person could offer a female goat or a female lamb.
This does not mean that an ordinary person’s sin is unimportant.
Rather, Leviticus 4 shows us that:
Different positions carry different levels of responsibility and influence.
This is especially clear in the case of the anointed priest.
The verse says that his sin could bring guilt upon the people.
The priest did not represent only himself.
He served before God on behalf of the people. His life, judgment, teaching, and leadership affected the whole community.
Therefore, his sin was not only a private matter.
This is a serious reminder for anyone who carries responsibility or authority today.
A parent’s life affects the children.
A pastor’s life affects the congregation.
A leader’s attitude affects the team.
If a person in authority keeps justifying an unhealthy pattern, eventually the people around him may also begin to think:
“There is nothing wrong with this.”
Then a personal problem can slowly become part of the culture of a whole group.
So true confession does not only ask:
“What did I do wrong?”
It must also ask:
“Who has been affected by what I did?”
Who has been hurt by my temper?
Who has carried the consequences of my decisions?
Who has stumbled because of my pride?
Who has lost a sense of safety because of my carelessness?
Has my compromise caused others to lower their standard before God?
This is one of the deepest things I see in Leviticus 4.
Many times, when we confess our sin, we stop at:
“Lord, I was wrong. Please forgive me.”
But deeper repentance begins to see this:
Sin is not only a matter between me and God. It can also leave damage in the lives of others.
Therefore, the greater our authority and influence, the more humility we need.
Not because God has less grace for leaders,
but because He has entrusted more people to their influence.
⸻
- When You Turn Back, Let Sin Be Truly Dealt With
“So the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him.”
— Leviticus 4:26
Leviticus 4 does not stop with simply knowing that something is wrong.
Once the person knew, he had to bring an offering before God.
He had to lay his hand on the head of the sacrifice and then kill it.
The priest then had to take the blood and deal with it exactly as God commanded.
When the anointed priest or the whole congregation sinned, the blood was taken into the tabernacle, sprinkled before the veil, and placed on the horns of the altar of incense. The rest was poured out at the base of the altar of burnt offering.
The fat was burned on the altar, while the rest of the bull was taken outside the camp and burned.
When a ruler or an ordinary person sinned, the blood was placed on the horns of the altar of burnt offering.
These details show us something important:
Sin is not merely a wrong action. It causes real damage, and it must be truly dealt with.
Sin damages fellowship with God.
It affects relationships.
It can affect the whole community.
It can even affect the worship life of God’s people.
So God was not asking a person simply to say:
“I know I was wrong.”
He was asking the person to face sin seriously.
When the worshiper laid his hand on the animal and then killed it, sin could no longer remain abstract.
A life was now being given.
Blood was being shed.
The person had to understand:
My sin has a cost.
True repentance is not only feeling guilty.
It is also more than saying:
“I admit I did it.”
True repentance says:
I admit that this is sin.
I will stop defending myself.
I am willing to turn away from it.
I am willing to take responsibility.
I am willing to face the damage it has caused.
If an apology is needed, then apologize.
If something needs to be repaired, then repair it.
If responsibility needs to be taken again, then take it again.
That is a deeper and more complete confession.
But the most precious part of Leviticus 4 is that God does not leave the person in blood, death, and guilt.
One sentence appears again and again:
“It shall be forgiven him.”
“They shall be forgiven.”
— Leviticus 4:20
“It shall be forgiven him.”
— Leviticus 4:26
“It shall be forgiven him.”
— Leviticus 4:31
And again in verse 35:
“It shall be forgiven him.”
So the final message of Leviticus 4 is not only:
Sin is serious.
It is also:
God has prepared forgiveness for sinners.
In the New Testament, we understand even more clearly that all these sacrifices pointed forward to a greater and perfect sacrifice.
“For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.”
— Hebrews 10:4
The true and perfect sacrifice is Jesus Christ.
He offered Himself once for all, carried our sin, and made it possible for us to come back to God through Him.
So today, we no longer need to bring a bull, a goat, or a lamb to an altar.
But God still asks us:
“When I help you see your sin, will you bring it to Me and allow Me to deal with it?”
⸻
Conclusion
The more I read Leviticus 4, the more I realize that this is not merely a chapter about judgment.
It is a chapter filled with grace.
God does not say:
“You have sinned, so there is no hope for you.”
Instead, He prepares a way back.
When people do not see, God helps them to see.
When they see, He calls them to turn back.
When sin has affected others, He calls them to face that impact.
And when they bring their sin before Him, God says again and again:
“It shall be forgiven him.”
God’s holiness means that we must never treat sin lightly.
But God’s grace means that we do not need to live in despair because of sin.
Especially when we carry responsibility, authority, or influence, we need to allow God to examine us often.
We should not only ask:
“Lord, have I done something wrong?”
We should also ask:
“Lord, has what I have done affected the people You have entrusted to me?”
True repentance is not only admitting our sin.
It is also being willing to face the damage, take responsibility, make repairs, and walk again in God’s way.
And today, we have even greater hope than the Israelites under the old covenant.
Our hope is not in a bull, a goat, or a lamb.
Our hope is in Jesus Christ.
So when God helps us see something in our lives today, we do not need to run away.
He helps me to see, not because He has rejected me.
He helps me to see because He is still showing me the way home.
When you know, turn back.
Self-Check
Is God showing me something today that I have not honestly faced before?
When God brings something into the light, do I explain, justify, and blame others, or am I willing to admit it and turn back?
Have my attitudes, words, decisions, or actions affected my family, coworkers, congregation, or people around me?
Is there something for which I not only need to confess to God, but also apologize, repair, or take responsibility?
When God helps me to see today, am I willing to turn back?
Zion Bread of Life Christian Church 
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