The Ruler and the Common man

Leviticus 4:22-27 KJV

When a ruler hath sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD his God concerning things which should not be done, and is guilty;

Or if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish:

And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat, and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the LORD: it is a sin offering.

And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out his blood at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering.

And he shall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him.

And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty;

The passage deals with sins of ignorance. Once the sin is revealed to the offender he is to make a sacrifice.

·       The whole congregation

·       The ruler of the people

·       The common man

Each could commit such a sin.

I am most interested today in the ruler and the common man.

First I see there is a difference.

For one, they are distinguished by position. One is a ruler and the other common. It would be foolish to ignore the difference in position. God sets some as leaders and rulers.

Secondly there is a difference in sacrifice. The common man was to give a female. The ruler was to give a male. Also the common man had the choice of either kid or lamb, the ruler had no choice.

I don't think the issue here is of value. Any life, all life is valuable. I simply think the issue is of distinction.

What is more impressive to me is the similarity between the sacrifice of the ruler and commoner.

Rulers would do well to regard that, though they have a privileged position, they are still just people. They will one day give an account before God and at that time their position will not cover them but expose them all the more. “To whom much is given much shall be required.”