Numbers 15:27-31

That provides the introduction. Then, beginning in verse 3, Moses begins to list categories of individuals or groups. Verse 3 has to do with if the priest sins through ignorance. In verse 13, it is the whole congregation that sins through ignorance; verse 22, when a ruler has sinned and done somewhat through ignorance; in verse 27, if any one of the common people sins through ignorance. With that in mind, flip to Numbers 15 where a comparison is made.

It is obvious from these examples that the attitude and the knowledge of the sinner categorizes the acts, even though it might have been the same sin as committed by him who did it presumptuously. The sin might have been adultery; or the sin might have been murder; or the sin might have been lying. If the person did it ignorantly—not really knowing what he was doing—then there could be a sacrifice for that person. If, however, the person did it presumptuously—willfully, with full knowledge of what he did, with premeditation—there was no sacrifice for that sin.

Did the Bible categorize here, or did it not? It surely did! All sins are NOT the same. Some failures are far more serious than others. Generally, the Ten Commandments themselves are arranged in the order of the seriousness the effects of breaking them brings. The first, and by far the most serious, is to commit idolatry. If a society, a family, or an individual person does not have the true God, everything else gets out of whack to a lesser or greater degree. There is absolutely no foundation at all. Breaking it is a very serious failure.

Numbers 15:27-31

I want you to notice a contrast.

There is no forgiveness. The word translated "ignorance," which includes those sins we read in Leviticus 4 and 5, are in contrast to the word "presumptuously" that is given in verse 30 of Numbers 15, and it deserves a brief comment.

The difference between the two words is primarily one of attitude in the person committing the sin. You will notice that sometimes in chapters 4 and 5 the person, for a while, didn't even know that he did it. Then when the knowledge came that he did, then he confessed his sin and he made the offering. He was guilty.

"Presumptuously" though indicates defiance. It literally means "with a raised fist." The word "ignorance" or "ignorantly" lacks that force to indicate an error. That error may involve very serious consequences, but what was done, though involving some measure of intention to commit it, lacked the rebellious insolent defiance of a presumptuous sin.

Numbers 15:27-31

Numbers 15 spells it out most clearly. This is where intentional and unintentional sin are contrasted.

I think this helps us define what presumptuousness is. It is doing something arrogantly, rebelliously, defiantly, and intentionally. It is being headstrong and haughty to do something despite what God might say on the matter. It is taking matters into one's own hands. Remember that we saw last time that for this intentional sin there is no sacrifice. It says the guilt remains. The person is cut off, which usually in biblical language means they are killed. The person is executed, and the guilt remains. A very serious sin.

Numbers 15:28-31

I think that the conclusion is almost inescapable that the man who sinned here did so presumptuously. It was something of which he was well aware and the sin was NOT forgiven. Instead, the death penalty was carried out. Let's go on, because (in a way) the story does not stop here.

We all break the Sabbath [from time to time], but to do it presumptuously is not something that we want to do. I don't think most of us are going to do that. We will break it out of ignorance. We will break it out of weakness. But I don't think that very many of us are going to set our minds to do it, like this man apparently did.