Leviticus 5:15Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

It is a serious offense to take anything that has been consecrated in honor of God (Lev. 5:14-16). Similarly, failing to keep a promise is also a significant fault, as it is written: “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; for He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed. Better not to vow than to vow and not pay” (Ecclesiastes 5:3-4). King David also wrote: “Pray and give thanks to the Lord our God” (Psalm 75:12). The sons of Eli were punished for taking sacred items and claiming them for themselves (1 Kings 2:12 ff.). How can such guilt be absolved? Or who can escape the shackles of guilt and be set free? The first step is to return what was taken, along with a penalty: “He shall add one-fifth to it.” Then he must offer the ram as a sin offering; this signifies Christ, who was effectively “purchased” by the Jewish authorities for thirty pieces of silver given to Judas Iscariot. In Christ, we find the forgiveness of offenses against God. We can also see how He redeems sins committed against others when we examine the following law of sacrifice: “This is the law of the sacrifice of obedience: it is a sacred offering; it shall be killed in the same place as the burnt offering, and its blood shall be sprinkled on the altar all around. The offerer shall bring all the fat, the tail, the fat covering the inner organs, the kidneys, and the lobe of the liver; the priest shall burn these on the altar as a burnt offering to the Lord: this is a sacrifice of obligation. All males among the priests may partake of it in a holy place, for it is a most holy thing. The law is the same for both the sin offering and the sacrifice of obligation: it belongs to the priest who makes atonement through it” (Lev. 7:1-7). Do you see that the method of cleansing is consistent in both cases? (Lev. 7:1-7) The law clearly specifies that transgressions against both God and fellow believers are purified by returning what was taken along with the sacrifice of a ram. However, in Christ, there is complete cleansing, not a partial absolution. Thus, He declared: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth in Me hath everlasting life.... and does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life” (John 6:47; 5:24). If one has received justification through faith in Christ and has escaped judgment, it follows that they have also escaped accusations, as “Who shall condemn? Who shall accuse?” (Rom. 8:33-34). Therefore, through acts that bring satisfaction to offended brothers, we find our justification securely in Christ. Likewise, Zacchaeus, the tax collector, upon being called to discipleship, vowed not only to follow Christ but also to repay fourfold for all he had defrauded (Luke 19:6-8). Those who desire to welcome Christ into their hearts through the Spirit must first cleanse themselves of impurities and offenses, presenting their souls to Him as radiant and undefiled. As the psalmist beautifully expresses, “My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready; I will sing and make melody” (Psalm 56:8). Pure wool takes colors well, but if it is mixed with impurities, the dye easily washes out. Likewise, Christ’s fellowship unites those who are holy and pure, but cannot dwell in those who are unclean: “the Holy Spirit of wisdom shall be removed from wickedness,” as stated, “and shall not dwell in a body enslaved to sin” (Prem. 1:5:4). Therefore, by extending kindness to those we have wronged and engaging in acts of love to alleviate the sorrow of our fellow believers, we free ourselves from guilt and obtain forgiveness in Christ.