Leviticus 5 Applied to Christ and the Believer

Leviticus Ch 5:14-6:7 Exegesis: The Guilt offering.

Hebrew Asham - in earlier literature denotes a gift by which with restitution one ,made amends.

Here it is plainly prescribed for offences involving the misappropriation of the property of another: Sacred dues and personal property.

5:14-17: Guilt offering for breach of faith in the Holy things.

5:14 The LORD said to Moses:

5:15 "When a person commits a violation and sins unintentionally in regard to any of the LORD's holy things, he is to bring to the LORD as a penalty a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value in silver, according to the sanctuary shekel. It is a guilt offering.

"violation"

Literally: a breach of faith. A technical expression in Ezekiel and P for breaking faith with God.

"sin unintentionally"

The cases listed in 6:2ff hardly come into this category.

"in the holy things of the Lord"

I.e. the prescribed offerings, tithes, etc.

"sanctuary shekel"

The Phoenician shekel of 224 grains. Normal shekels weighed a little less, 215-220 grains.

Noth: Thinks the Hebrew here can mean that the offender can bring in the monetary value of the ram, not the ram itself, especially in later times.

5:16 He must make restitution for what he has failed to do in regard to the holy things, add a fifth of the value to that and give it all to the priest, who will make atonement for him with the ram as a guilt offering, and he will be forgiven.

v17-19 appear to be a later insertion. The logical connection goes from 5:16 to 6:1.

v17-19 is for someone who has committed a fraud, or thinks he has and is not sure. It is for the devout man in case he has defrauded anybody.

5:17 "If a person sins and does what is forbidden in any of the LORD's commands, even though he does not know it, he is guilty and will be held responsible.

5:18 He is to bring to the priest as a guilt offering a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value. In this way the priest will make atonement for him for the wrong he has committed unintentionally, and he will be forgiven.

5:19 It is a guilt offering; he has been guilty of wrongdoing against the LORD."

6:1-7 Guilt offering for Breaches of trust towards members of the community.

c/f Exod 20:1-14.

6:1 The LORD said to Moses:

6:2 "If anyone sins and is unfaithful to the LORD by deceiving his neighbour about something entrusted to him or left in his care or stolen, or if he cheats him,

"neighbour"

A fellow member of the theocratic community.

Hebrew: 'amit = close associate.

6:3 or if he finds lost property and lies about it, or if he swears falsely, or if he commits any such sin that people may do-

6:4 when he thus sins and becomes guilty, he must return what he has stolen or taken by extortion, or what was entrusted to him, or the lost property he found,

"when he thus sins and becomes guilty"

Literally - in the day of his guilt, i.e. when he makes voluntary acknowledgement of his guilt

6:5 or whatever it was he swore falsely about. He must make restitution in full, add a fifth of the value to it and give it all to the owner on the day he presents his guilt offering.

6:6 And as a penalty he must bring to the priest, that is, to the LORD, his guilt offering, a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value.

6:7 In this way the priest will make atonement for him before the LORD, and he will be forgiven for any of these things he did that made him guilty."

7:1-10 The Ritual of the guilt Offering.

Differs from the sin offering in that:

(1) The victim does not vary with the rank of the offender.

(2) The manipulation of the blood - it is sprinkled, as in the older offerings.

7:1 "`These are the regulations for the guilt offering, which is most holy:

7:2 The guilt offering is to be slaughtered in the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered, and its blood is to be sprinkled against the altar on all sides.

7:3 All its fat shall be offered: the fat tail and the fat that covers the inner parts,

7:4 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the covering of the liver, which is to be removed with the kidneys.

7:5 The priest shall burn them on the altar as an offering made to the LORD by fire. It is a guilt offering.

7:6 Any male in a priest's family may eat it, but it must be eaten in a holy place; it is most holy.

7:7 "`The same law applies to both the sin offering and the guilt offering: They belong to the priest who makes atonement with them.

7:8 The priest who offers a burnt offering for anyone may keep its hide for himself.

7:9 Every grain offering baked in an oven or cooked in a pan or on a griddle belongs to the priest who offers it,

7:10 and every grain offering, whether mixed with oil or dry, belongs equally to all the sons of Aaron.

Leviticus Ch 5:14-6:7 Exegesis: The Guilt/Trespass offering.

Title: - Hebrew Asham.

(i) In earlier literature denotes a gift by which, with restitution, one made amends.

(ii) Here it is plainly prescribed for offences involving the misappropriation of the property of another: Sacred dues and personal property.

While every trespass is a sin, not every sin is a trespass. The sins this is prescribed for are those that are a trespass, the rights of another have been infringed. The rights of God or man in respect of ownership.

Thus sin is seen in this offering as a DEBT.

Sin is a debt to God; we owe him every moment of every day. He is not an easy creditor.

The offering was offered not because of what the offerer was but because of what he had done. Thus we never see any particular person as a sinner in this passage; the act of wrong is stressed.

Expiation must be made, as it is a sin, and as far as possible satisfaction - plenary reparation of the wrong in that it is a trespass.

Differences From the Other Offerings:

Shows the unique aspect of Christ's work as depicted in the Guilt Offering.

(A) C/f Sin Offering.

See previous study.

In part, it is a form of sin offering but there are a differences:

(1) The victim does not vary with the rank of the offender.

GO - offering is the same for all. A ram of the flock. Valuable.

(2) The manipulation of the blood - it is sprinkled, as in the older offerings.

(3) Sin off = idea of atonement by sacrifice regarded as an expiation of guilt.

Guilt off = atonement under the aspect of satisfaction and reparation for the wrong committed. The idea of expiation falls into the background; hence the blood is only applied to the brazen altar.

(4) Guilt offering is always to do with individuals, not the community.

(5) There is still a category of ignorant sin - but only WRT Holy things - Not WRT neighbours. Our conscience is more aware of our neighbour's rights than of God's standards.

5:17,18.19.

The standard by which we judge sin is not our awareness but the truth of God

We do not set the standard of cleanliness by asking a swine, nor should we set the standard of truth by the views of those who are in some way ignorant.

(6) The formal confession of such sin was particularly enjoined.

(7) Unlike all other offerings it had to be appraised by the priest. v15.

(i) The offerer's own view of the offering was not good enough but God's as represented by the priest.

(ii) Its value was not to fall below a certain level, i.e. two shekels of full weight. The standard of valuation must be God's not man's.

(B) C/f Sweet savour offerings.

The view of Christ's work here is expiatory.

In the sweet savour offerings we see the perfections of Christ, not his suffering for sin.

Here we do not see an emphasis on his perfections, but we see the odiousness of sin.

Three characteristics of the Trespass offering:

(1) A Sacrifice For Sins.

Sheep and rams were often used in paying debt in the east, especially tribute.

Some writers think the Hebrew here can mean that the offender can bring in the monetary value of the ram, not the ram itself. Especially in later times this may have been the practise.

(2) Full Restitution to the Offended Party.

To emphasize that full satisfaction and reparation for all offences is with God, for the universal and unalterable condition of forgiveness it was ordered that restitution to be made.

The value of the trespass was paid in shekels, plus a fifth more.

In the sin offering we see nothing of money. Life is still given, thus God is satisfied, but there is also a payment of restitution, a repayment of the evil we have done to others.

The thought is not that the trespass is punished but that the injured party is repaid the wrong.

(3) The Fifth Part:

1/5 added for hirage. It would overbalance any advantage that the original trespass would have had.

1/5 emphasizes that trespass is sin and sin has the nature of a debt.

Debt is debt and cannot be abrogated by bankruptcy laws. We are taught here to repay our debts and thus is not determined by our present ability to repay. There is no bankrupt law in the Kingdom of heaven.

Law of first mention:

The first mention of any spiritual or typical concept in the Bible lays out the basic eternal spiritual principles involved in that concept.

Genesis 41: Joseph and 1/5 of grain of Egypt:

It was an acknowledgement that all had been forfeited to Joseph through misery, thus speaks typically of an acknowledgement that the person paying it had lost and forfeited that from which the fifth is offered, it was a witness and testimony that the whole has been yielded up as a debt and was the right and property of him to whom the fifth was rendered.

Key ideas:

(1) The part speaks of, or represents, the whole.

(2) There is a strong element of debt, the whole is owed.

(3) The part thus REDEEMED the whole.

(4) In response the Creditor gave freedom, GRACE is seen.

5, in scripture, regularly speaks of redemption, grace.

Typical teaching:

(1) Christ our trespass offering:

Isaiah 53:8.

(i) The ram was chosen from the flock, i.e. Israel.

(ii) The restitution, Christ not only covers our sins exactly but more than atones, not only the debt of our sins but the effects are covered.

(2) The Nature of Confession:

God can forgive all manner of trespass, but he cannot pass over a single jot or tittle. Thus he cannot forgive all. His holiness is perfect: thus he cannot pass over anything. He cannot sanction iniquity, but he can blot it out.

God has been perfectly satisfied for all our sin at Calvary, we do not need to plead forgiveness, but he also knows that there are moral elements to sin. God does not require any more propitiation, but by confession our conscience is cleared, the sense of relationship is restored, the darkness dispersed.

Confession involves self-judgement, asking for general forgiveness does not. God wants us to realise the hatefulness of sin, confession does this. 

All sin leaves a residual effect in us, a spiritual bondage that Satan can use against us. The Guilt offering talks of how we can deal with this.

Galatians 6:7 - God will forgive us whatever we do in this life, but we cannot take it lightly as whatever we do has effects which we still have to bear the consequences of.

There is a difference between just praying for forgiveness and confessing sins. Confession of sin is not just praying; there are ethical actions which flow out of confession that do not belong to prayer.

In particular here we are taught that true repentance involves the righting of the wrongs we have done as far as we are able. Receiving forgiveness from God does not wipe the slate clean as far as the human side of our offences is concerned.  Sin, as trespass, has a two-fold effect:

(i) Offends God.

(ii) Offends our Neighbour.

Thus confession must also be twofold, to God and to the offended neighbour.

The trespass offering teaches us that the claims which arise out of our human relations must not be disregarded.

(3) Symbolism: Restoration.

In the case of sin, where no injury was done to another, a sin offering would be enough, but where there is injured parties they must be reconciled also. Otherwise they are still at a loss, the wrong and the injury would still remain.

Here we learn that confession is not simply saying sorry, but there needs to be a restoration of the relationship back to the point it was before the offence began, thus restitution is necessary in the case of material offence.

Salvation is by grace alone: Are we then to do nothing?

The law of the offering sends the trespasser back to the one whom he has wronged.

The injurer is forgiven and the injured becomes a gainer.

If we are to receive forgiveness by grace then there are claims of practical holiness.

It is vain to talk of resting in the blood of the trespass offering while the principle and fifth are not forthcoming.

Some sins cannot be paid for:

Leviticus 26:40.

E.g. David and Bathsheba - 15 judgements came on him for that, he lost nearly all his sons. He was judged in this life because of it. The same can be true of us if there is no possibility for restitution in this life.

(4) 1/5 more:

Four Thoughts:

(a) By receiving back the sum plus a fifth the loser became a winner.

Both God and man are wronged by trespass have each received as much again from (man in) Christ through the trespass offering.

"How much more..."

Christ as God and Man reverses the wrong of sin.

God through man's sin was a loser, but through Christ the sin debt has been repaid.

Man also was a loser. Christ for man as offerer must offer to injured party, i.e. God, the value of the original injury, plus 20%.

In Christ both God and man have received back more than they lost. Grace did much more abound.

God has not merely received back that which he lost...he has gained more from redemption than he ever lost by the fall.

The wrong has not only been atoned for but an eternal advantage has been gained by the cross.

This is a stupendous truth: God is a gainer by the work of Calvary.

Man also can say: I have not merely received back all that was lost, but much more besides.

(b) It suggests also that God has a claim on us which he did not have before:

Before the fall man's claim was justice, now it is grace.

Before the fall God's claim was fellowship, now it is a surrendered life.

These claims Christ never refuses.

(c) Grace not only cuts up sin by the roots but transforms the sinner from a curse into a blessing. The principle of confession and restitution involves a character change in the sinner.

The fifth = redemption, grace.

It meets our need as sinners in DEED.

1/5 == the church. That which is taken out of the whole.

The 1/5 is taken out of the whole with Joseph, but here is above the whole. Suggests that the church is not only a representative portion of humanity but because of the work of Christ is above the whole. We shall reign on earth.

The Varieties in the Grades of Offering:

Teach differences as to how we can appreciate Christ as a sin offering.

(1) 5:14-17: Guilt offering for breach of faith in the Holy things.

(2) 5:17-19: Appear to be a later insertion. The logical connection goes from 5:16 to 6:1.

It is for someone who has committed a fraud, or thinks he has and is not sure. It is for the devout man in case he has defrauded anybody.

(3) 6:1-7: Guilt offering for Breaches of trust towards members of the community.

(4) 7:1-10 The Ritual of the guilt Offering.

Thus less variety than in any other offering: Only two.

(i) Trespasses against God

(ii) Trespasses against our neighbour.

First grade: A life is laid down and restitution made with a fifth added.

Lower class: The fifth is unseen.

How true in the experience of Christians - we take time to see the "more than" of grace.

When it is a sin against the Lord the offering is first then the restitution. When it is a sin against a neighbour the order is reversed. c/f Matt 5:23,24. The forgiveness of God in human sin depends on our making it right with the injured party.

Notes:

5:15.

"violation"

Literally: a breach of faith. A technical expression in Ezekiel and P for breaking faith with God.

"sin unintentionally"

The cases listed in 6:2ff hardly come into this category.

or, "through ignorance"

Only applies to the "Things of the Lord". We cannot tell a lie or steal from our neighbour in ignorance. These are all plain acts of evil to the most insensitive conscience.

"ignorance"

We cannot rely on our conscience - God alone can tell us what suits him or what befits his holy presence.

"in the holy things of the Lord"

I.e. the prescribed offerings, tithes, etc.

"sanctuary shekel"

The Phoenician shekel of 224 grains. Normal shekels weighed a little less, 215-220 grains.

6:2.

"neighbour"

A fellow member of the theocratic community.

Hebrew: 'amit = close associate.

"against the Lord"

It was also a wrong done to a neighbour yet the Lord looked on it as a wrong done to himself.

2 Samuel 12:13.

6:4.

"when he thus sins and becomes guilty"

Literally - in the day of his guilt. i.e. when he makes voluntary acknowledgement of his guilt

Offerer's work:

Confession in that trespass. Personal particular confession of a specific sin committed.

He must obtain forgiveness and make restitution.

The Priest's work:

Sprinkling Blood.

God's Portion:

All that was burned.

Rump and internal fat.

Priest's Portion:

Remainder.

Offerer's Portion:

Nothing. He had no merits.

The Trespasses:

(1) Concealing truth:

Withholding evidence when it is demanded in the name of justice makes one a participant in the crime.

E.g Sin of Achan - his family died with him as they must have known he too things from the ruins of Jericho.

(2) Defilement:

We need to shun every form of impurity - book, conversation, acquaintance.

(3) Swearing rashly:

Not swearing under oath but is related to making promises, contracts, vows.

The verse is not concerned with the good or the evil but with the oath. We should not make promises in the name of the Lord unless we are determined to keep them. Matthew 5:33-37.

E.g. Genesis 28:20-22 c/f 31:13 - a vow - God did not forget.

Judges 11:29-40.

Numbers 30:2-4.

(4) Dishonesty in holy things:

Some things God claims as his - tithes and offerings, worship, the sabbath.

(5) Ignorance:

Why are we ignorant? Is the claim of ignorance just? Much of what we claim to be ignorance is in fact wilful, thus is sin. God has given us a Bible, if we refuse to read it we are guilty.

Needless forgetfulness is also sin. It is not ignorance but the sin of ignorance.

(6) Failure in our trust:

Things given to us too look after and later return: Loans, borrowed but unreturned.

We are to be responsible and every commitment of life is important, it is a matter of honesty.

(7) Unfairness in partnership:

Hebrew word means bargain, partnership, fellowship.

Dishonesty in social relationships, e.g. taxes unpaid, fraud.

(8) Taking by violence:

Not limited to open assault.

Strong people who insist on having their own way or exercising their own authority, irrespective of whether or not others are hurt or offended This is taking another man's personality from him by violence.

Violence = any unjust or unwarranted exertion of force, or power, as against rights, laws ,etc.

(9) Deception:

To obtain under false pretenses.

Breaking promises.

(10) Keeping things found:

“Finders keepers, losers weepers” is not Christian. We are to do all that is in our power to return things to those who lost.