And (he) called

Leviticus 4:1-26

He is to lay his hand on the goat's head and slaughter it at the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered before the LORD. It is a sin offering.

Lev. 4:24 NIV

How should a repented sinner be treated?

A sinner who repents and seeks forgiveness and justification before the Eternal is treated with a lot of respect by the Torah. When someone came to the tabernacle with a sacrifice everyone could see it. But they couldn't see, though, what the sacrifice was for; either a burnt offering or a sin offering. Since animals for sin offerings were slaughtered in the same place as burnt offerings, nobody else, other than the repented sinner and the priest knew what the sacrifice was for. Thus, the repented sinner was protected against people's gossip, as no one else knew that his offering was presented for a sin.

This teaches us that the Eternal is very careful not to put anyone to shame, especially when the person comes to Him in repentance. Instead of exposing him in public, He protects him. He not only covers his sin through the atoning power of the sacrifice, but also protects his honour through this law that we are studying in this portion.

Let's learn from our heavenly Father and do the same, never embarrassing someone who repents from a sin and never revealing others' forgiven sins.

Blessed be the Eternal for His love, His forgiveness and respect toward men!

Ketriel