Did you know leaders give a different sacrifice for sin than a follower? Leviticus 1-4

Leviticus 4:22 (NASBStr)

‘When a leader sins and unintentionally does any one of all the things which the Lord his God has commanded not to be done, and he becomes guilty,

Leviticus 4:27 (NASBStr)

‘Now if anyone of the common people sins unintentionally in doing any of the things which the Lord has commanded not to be done, and becomes guilty,

God is not speaking to Moses from the Tent of the Meeting (the Tabernacle).   God is laying out for them the necessary sacrifices that the people need to make.  There is no question that the people will sin.   There is no doubt in their guilt in their sin.  There is only instruction on how the sin is atoned for.   God introduces for them "substitutionary atonement."   These animals and this grain was to become the sacrifice that would substitute for them and give God justice.   In the above two verses we have both a common theme and, yet, a distinct difference worth noting.   The common theme is obvious, anyone who sins, leadership or follower-ship, is required to offer a sacrifice for their guilt.  No one is exempt from the need of substitutionary atonement.   No one is guilt free.   The all "become guilty" before a holy God.    We sometimes think that God is asleep and does not notice our sin or sinning.   Yet, in this passage we see that He not only notices, He has a requirement for it.    Yet, that is the distinct difference.   If we were to go on and read further, note the type of sacrifice each are to offer:

Leviticus 4:23 (NASBStr)

(Speaking to the leaders): ... if his sin which he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring for his offering a goat, a male without defect.

Leviticus 4:28 (NASBStr)

(Speaking to the followers): ... if his sin which he has committed is made known to him, then he shall bring for his offering a goat, a female without defect, for his sin which he has committed.

In one there is to be a "male" goat provided and in the other a "female" is provided.  It is generally thought that the male of the heard is more valuable, although the distinction could be argued.   However, it can't be denied God made a distinction in their offering because God makes a distinction in their position.  That is the only claim we have for sure.  Whether the male or female goat is more valuable is irrelevant.   The fact that God has a different sacrifice for each does impress on us that God holds leaders to different standards than He does followers, yet, we all are held to the same standard for sin.    Although we each are to offer a sacrifice for sin, leadership and follower-ship are held to a different standard of what type of sacrifice.   Perhaps the take-a-way here is what Jesus taught later in the Gospels that, "to whom much is given, much is required." (Luke 12:48 ... "From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.").   God makes no distinction about sin and guilt.  He does, however, draw a difference of responsibility toward that sin.   IF we are in leadership we have a responsibility greater than the whole.   Yet, we are never above the whole and still required to pay for our sin.