But the Soul that Doeth Ought Presumptuously (Numbers 15:30-31)

2022-03-17

There was a sacrificial system in place in the Old Testament “for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the LORD, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him” (Numbers 15:28).

What about the person who intentionally sins and purposefully plans it out? “But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously... the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him” (Numbers 15:30-31). An example of such a man is given immediately following this warning, and he lost his life.

King David was caught in this kind of sin when he committed adultery with Bathsheba. There was no sacrifice to cover his sin. “For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering” (Psalms 51:16). However, grace was extended to him.

This was a picture of the salvation we received in Christ. The intentional sin was forgiven because Christ died for every sin. If we are honest, we all have sinned intentionally against God at some point. There was no animal sacrifice for such things. But Jesus covered all sins.