But if they will confess their iniquity and that of their fathers in the unfaithfulness that they practiced against Me, by which they have also walked in hostility toward Me-- But if they will confess their iniquityConfession is a key theme in the Bible, representing acknowledgment of sin and a turning point towards repentance. In the context of Leviticus, confession is a necessary step for the Israelites to restore their covenant relationship with God. This concept is echoed in 1 John 1:9, where confession leads to forgiveness and cleansing. The Hebrew word for "confess" implies a public admission, indicating the seriousness of the act. and that of their fathers
This phrase highlights the generational aspect of sin and its consequences. The Israelites are called to recognize not only their own sins but also those of their ancestors. This reflects the biblical principle of corporate responsibility, seen in passages like Exodus 20:5, where the iniquity of the fathers affects subsequent generations. It underscores the importance of breaking the cycle of sin through confession and repentance. in the unfaithfulness that they practiced against Me
Unfaithfulness here refers to the Israelites' breach of their covenant with God, often through idolatry and disobedience. This mirrors the spiritual adultery described in the prophets, such as Hosea, where Israel's relationship with God is likened to a marriage. The term "practiced" suggests a habitual pattern of behavior, emphasizing the need for a sincere return to faithfulness. by which they have also walked in hostility toward Me—
Walking in hostility indicates a deliberate and ongoing opposition to God's will. This phrase suggests a lifestyle characterized by rebellion, akin to the "walking" imagery used in Psalm 1:1 to describe one's life path. Hostility towards God is a serious charge, as it implies enmity with the Creator, a theme also found in James 4:4, where friendship with the world is equated with enmity against God. This underscores the need for reconciliation through confession and repentance. Persons / Places / Events 1. IsraelitesThe primary audience of Leviticus, the Israelites are God's chosen people, who are given laws and commandments to follow. 2. MosesThe prophet and leader through whom God delivers His laws and instructions to the Israelites. 3. God (Yahweh)The covenant-keeping God who establishes a relationship with the Israelites and sets forth conditions for blessings and curses. 4. The WildernessThe setting where the Israelites receive the laws, including Leviticus, during their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. 5. Confession and RepentanceThe act of acknowledging sin and turning back to God, which is central to the restoration process described in this verse. Teaching Points The Importance of ConfessionConfession is a crucial step in restoring our relationship with God. It involves acknowledging our sins and the sins of our forefathers, recognizing the impact of generational disobedience. Understanding IniquityThe Hebrew word for iniquity, (avon), implies a deep moral failing or perversity. Recognizing the weight of our iniquity is essential for genuine repentance. Generational AccountabilityThis verse highlights the concept of generational sin, reminding us that our actions can have lasting effects on future generations. It calls us to break cycles of sin through confession and repentance. Walking in Hostility Against GodThe phrase "walked in hostility" suggests a deliberate and ongoing rebellion against God. True repentance requires a change in direction, moving from hostility to harmony with God's will. The Promise of RestorationGod's willingness to forgive and restore is a testament to His mercy and grace. Confession opens the door to healing and renewed fellowship with God. Bible Study Questions 1. What does it mean to confess both personal and ancestral iniquity, and how can this practice impact our spiritual lives today? 2. How does the concept of generational sin in Leviticus 26:40 relate to the idea of breaking negative cycles in our own families? 3. In what ways can we identify if we are "walking in hostility" against God, and what steps can we take to realign ourselves with His will? 4. How do the themes of confession and repentance in Leviticus 26:40 connect with New Testament teachings on forgiveness and restoration? 5. Reflect on a time when confession led to a significant change in your life. How can this experience encourage others in their journey of repentance? Connections to Other Scriptures 1 John 1:9This New Testament verse emphasizes the importance of confessing sins to receive forgiveness, echoing the call for confession in Leviticus 26:40. 2 Chronicles 7:14This verse highlights the theme of repentance and turning back to God, promising healing and restoration for those who humble themselves and pray. Daniel 9:4-19Daniel's prayer of confession for his people reflects the principles found in Leviticus 26:40, acknowledging collective sin and seeking God's mercy. Nehemiah 1:6-7Nehemiah's confession of the sins of Israel parallels the call for acknowledging both personal and ancestral iniquity. Psalm 32:5David's acknowledgment of sin and God's forgiveness aligns with the promise of restoration upon confession in Leviticus 26:40. People Egyptians, Isaac, Israelites, Jacob, MosesPlaces Mount SinaiTopics Acting, Committed, Confess, Confessed, Contrary, Fathers, Forefathers, Grief, Hearts, Hostility, Iniquity, Me-, Opposition, Sins, Treachery, Trespass, Trespassed, Unfaithful, Unfaithfulness, Untrue, Walked, Walking, WhereinDictionary of Bible Themes Leviticus 26:40 5969 treachery Leviticus 26:27-42 6702 peace, destruction Leviticus 26:40-42 6029 sin, forgiveness
6624 confession, of sin
6628 conversion, God's demand
8840 unfaithfulness, to God Leviticus 26:40-46 1349 covenant, at Sinai
7216 exile, in Assyria Library Emancipated Slaves
I am the Lord your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be their bondmen; and I have broken the bands of your yoke, and made you go upright.'--LEV. xxvi. 13. The history of Israel is a parable and a prophecy as well as a history. The great central word of the New Testament has been drawn from it, viz. 'redemption,' i.e. a buying out of bondage. The Hebrew slaves in Egypt were 'delivered.' The deliverance made them a nation. God acquired them for Himself, and …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureLii. Trust in God.
15th Sunday after Trinity. S. Matt. vi. 31. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness." INTRODUCTION.--We read in ancient Roman history that a general named Aemilius Paulus was appointed to the Roman army in a time of war and great apprehension. He found in the army a sad condition of affairs, there were more officers than fighting men, and all these officers wanted to have their advice taken, and the war conducted in accordance with their several opinions. Then Aemilius Paulus …
S. Baring-Gould—The Village Pulpit, Volume II. Trinity to Advent A Reformer's Schooling
'The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, 2. That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. 3. And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture a survey of the third and closing discourse of the prophet
We shall now, in conclusion, give a survey of the third and closing discourse of the prophet. After an introduction in vi. 1, 2, where the mountains serve only to give greater solemnity to the scene (in the fundamental passages Deut. xxxii. 1, and in Is. 1, 2, "heaven and earth" are mentioned for the same purposes, inasmuch as they are the most venerable parts of creation; "contend with the mountains" by taking them in and applying to [Pg 522] them as hearers), the prophet reminds the people of …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Repentance
Then has God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.' Acts 11: 18. Repentance seems to be a bitter pill to take, but it is to purge out the bad humour of sin. By some Antinomian spirits it is cried down as a legal doctrine; but Christ himself preached it. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent,' &c. Matt 4: 17. In his last farewell, when he was ascending to heaven, he commanded that Repentance should be preached in his name.' Luke 24: 47. Repentance is a pure gospel grace. …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments The Second Commandment
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am o jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of then that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.' Exod 20: 4-6. I. Thou shalt not …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments Covenanting Provided for in the Everlasting Covenant.
The duty of Covenanting is founded on the law of nature; but it also stands among the arrangements of Divine mercy made from everlasting. The promulgation of the law, enjoining it on man in innocence as a duty, was due to God's necessary dominion over the creatures of his power. The revelation of it as a service obligatory on men in a state of sin, arose from his unmerited grace. In the one display, we contemplate the authority of the righteous moral Governor of the universe; in the other, we see …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
or, Gospel Light Fetched out of the Temple at Jerusalem, to Let us More Easily into the Glory of New Testament Truths. 'Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Isreal;--shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out hereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof.'--Ezekiel 43:10, 11 London: Printed for, and sold by George Larkin, at the Two Swans without Bishopgate, …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 Appendix ix. List of Old Testament Passages Messianically Applied in Ancient Rabbinic Writings
THE following list contains the passages in the Old Testament applied to the Messiah or to Messianic times in the most ancient Jewish writings. They amount in all to 456, thus distributed: 75 from the Pentateuch, 243 from the Prophets, and 138 from the Hagiorgrapha, and supported by more than 558 separate quotations from Rabbinic writings. Despite all labour care, it can scarcely be hoped that the list is quite complete, although, it is hoped, no important passage has been omitted. The Rabbinic references …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah The Mercy of God
The next attribute is God's goodness or mercy. Mercy is the result and effect of God's goodness. Psa 33:5. So then this is the next attribute, God's goodness or mercy. The most learned of the heathens thought they gave their god Jupiter two golden characters when they styled him good and great. Both these meet in God, goodness and greatness, majesty and mercy. God is essentially good in himself and relatively good to us. They are both put together in Psa 119:98. Thou art good, and doest good.' This …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity Leviticus
The emphasis which modern criticism has very properly laid on the prophetic books and the prophetic element generally in the Old Testament, has had the effect of somewhat diverting popular attention from the priestly contributions to the literature and religion of Israel. From this neglect Leviticus has suffered most. Yet for many reasons it is worthy of close attention; it is the deliberate expression of the priestly mind of Israel at its best, and it thus forms a welcome foil to the unattractive …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Leviticus 26:40 NIVLeviticus 26:40 NLTLeviticus 26:40 ESVLeviticus 26:40 NASBLeviticus 26:40 KJV
Leviticus 26:40 Commentaries
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