Leviticus 4:1-5:13

Ever played that game, "One of these things is not like the other"?  Did you notice which paragraph/passage it was here?  Tucked between paragraphs of "If X sins unintentionally, comes to know of it, and confesses his sin, then he shall offer..." there is a portion that actually gets a little more specific.  I was struck with that among any unintentional breaking of the law by priest, leader, congregation, or common person, there are instructions for uncleanness.  Why, might I ask, is that?  Why are instructions for becoming unclean by touching an animal carcass, human uncleanness (I particularly thought of bodily fluids and excrement here), and various ways to make oneself, well, unclean included among the offerings of unintentional sin?  It rather drives home the point that sin makes us unclean, doesn't it?  That is essentially what it does.  I still think of the Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) explanation for sin: anything you think, say or do that does not please God.  Sin is anything that does not please God, and sin is what makes us unclean, unrighteous, unholy.  If you even break the smallest part of the Law, you are guilty of breaking the entirety of it.  That included touching foulness and carcasses and offal, etc., even if it was necessary.  After all, didn't the priests have to cleanse themselves after burning the carcasses of the offerings?  It seems like such a little and simple thing, but the gravity of it is real.  We are all unclean because of our sin.  Thankfully, Christ came to fulfill the Law: we are now made clean by His blood, not an animal's, and His cleansing is permanent.  Praise be to God!