The Guilt Offering/Trespass Offering Leviticus 5-14-19

"אשס"(asham) The Trespass Offering, Leviticus 5:14-19; 6:1-7 and Numbers 5:5-8

1. The Debate about the name: asam (asham)

A. KJV. Trespass offering

(1) misses the point, when speaking about lying, dealing fraudulently (especially in religious matters). The  , maal:

As can be seen it  means literally a trespass or invasion of another's rights. They get that word from 5:15, which is correct but.....

B. The word, asham (guilt) is more appropriate. The meaning behind asham (guilt) is reparation. Or, "to incur a liability to someone."

C. The truth is somewhere in the middle. Yes, it is a

Trespass offering since it covers the invasion of another's right, but it is also a guilt offering since any invasion of another's rights requires reparation.

D. The Western mind has a hard time grasping this concept. While the Sin Offering is concerned with expiation (atonement or covering up), the trespass offering is concerned with paying back what we owe. It just isn't enough to say we are sorry for our sin. True repentance requires reparations and not by our standards but by the standards of God.

I. Lev. 5:15 begins the list of trespasses with God Himself.

A. In the Holy Things of YHWH---sins and trespasses against God.

B. Here are some Trespasses against God in OT history.

1) Lev. 22:14-15 - eating the holy things of YHWH.

2) Lev. 10:8 - may indicated that Nahab and Abihu drank the wine of the drink offering instead of pouring it out unto God.

3) Joshua 7:1 - Achan took that which belonged to God.

4) II Chronicles 28:22; 29:6 - Even the sin of idolatry is a trespass against God.

5) Mal. 3:8 - robbing God of tithes and offerings.

2. Lev. 6: 1-7 - a list of trespasses against YHWH by dealing falsely with his neighbor.

A. In the matter of a deposit - vs. 2

B. In the matter of a bargain - falsely representing something.

C. Or of robbery - whether under legalized forms or not.

1) Removing your neighbor's landmark (Deut. 27:17)

2) Unpaid debts would fall under this category.

D. Or have oppressed his neighbor - withholding wages - taking advantage of another's station or extreme need.

E. Lost and found properties - the finder knows it isn't his.

F. Numbers 5:11-15 - adultery violates a man's rights with his wife.

3. The underlying idea of the trespass offering is that fellowship with God is broken - just as in the sin offering.

A. Such fellowship can be restored only by:

1) Sacrificial atonement is a must:

 2) Open confession of the specific sin committed.
 3) Full restitution of the property - to the satisfaction of the owner!

4) Plus - an addendum fine of 1/5 the value of the property.

B. The Trespass offering is only offered for the individual.

1) It is never offered for the whole congregation.

2) It is never offered on special feast days - as the sin offering was.

3) It was was required of the leper in his cleansing ceremonies - for he was seen as having deprived God of His proper worship and service during his exile from society. Lev. 14:24.

The Central Theme of the Trespass Offering was Restitution and Satisfaction.

1. The Selection of the sacrifice - a ram without blemish of the flock - Lev. 5:15- 18, 6:6.

A. The ram was not the most valuable sacrificial animal - that was the bullock.

B. It had to be appraised as to its value by the priest.

2. There was no variation allowed for the sacrificial animal - it always had to be a ram.

3. The Sacrifice is of the Most Holy type as in Lev. 7:1.

A. It was thus classified with the sin offering.

B. It could never be thought of as a sweet savor sacrifice.

4 . To emphasize satisfaction and reparation for all offenses as a prerequisite to forgiveness - the fine of 1/5 the value extorted must be added.

A. First- restitution of the property is required. Numbers 5:6

 B. For reparation, 1/5 the value lost to the owner is added.
 C. Even if done in ignorance or unwittingly. Lev.5:15

D. And - if it is done wittingly, deliberately planning the wrong - Lev. 6:17.

5. The Trespass offering seems to give the back ground of Lex Talionis (an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth). Matthew 5: 23-25.

6. The value of the property is determined. Deut. 17: 8-13.

A. First by the priest.

B. Take to the judge that shall be in those days.

C. Whatever damages they assess must be paid - the penalty for not paying your debt is death.

D. It is as if God Himself has handed down the sentence.

E. See also Deut. 25: 1-3; II Cor. 11:24; Matt. 18: 32-35; Lev. 24:17-23; Deut. 19: 15:21.

The Arrangement of the Law

Lev. 5:14-19 deals with a violation of the "Holy Things of the Lord."

Lev. 6:1-7 deals with any violation of human property rights.

5: 14-19..... To sin unintentionally is to sin "mistakenly or in error."

Must look at Numbers 15: 29-30

a. "To sin with a high hand" is an frontal attack on God. To be

defiant.

b. This offering is for guilt sins that are non-defiant.

c. The guilt offering is for the individual only never offered for the congregation.

e. Only a Ram¹ could be used and nothing else.

f. All property is valued at the Temple Shekel. (5:15)²

g. No distinction for rich or poor. The guilt offering has a high

standard and demands that all follow it. That is: a Ram is required even for the poor.

h. The priest has to appraise the Ram (Lev. 27:8) to insure it meets the basic requirements.

E. See outline for Violation of Holy Things, but the basic idea is respect for the property of others, yes, and most certainly the property of God.

F. Leviticus 6:1 - violations of the rights of another person.

a. The Neighbor ask you to take care of something for him.

(Livestock etc.). How did you deal with his trust? Did you eat the cows?

b. 6:2-3 Another problem, using a possession knowing it belongs to someone else! Was the product misrepresented taking advantage of the owner's knowledge?

c. Stolen Property. v.4 - Any deed by which another individual's possessions were taken (this is paying your bills), without consent is a violation of the law. Deuteronomy 27:17 says that removing your neighbors landmark qualifies for this. If we owe our neighbor money and we promise to pay him on a certain date and do not meet that date, we are keeping our neighbor's money without consent.

d. Cheating or oppressing a neighbor. Includes withholding wages owed to your neighbor for labor. See Leviticus 19: 13ff. Could even be taking advantage of the person's need in times of trouble (i.e.force them to sell cheap).

e. Finding lost property and not returning it. If an individual found something that did not belong to them, used it- abused it, lied about having it, they are guilty of a trespass. The general rule that if we find something and we do not know who it belongs to, means for sure it does not belong to us. Deuteronomy 22:1-2 demands lost property must not be ignored.

f. Restitution of the property was the final demand. This is absolute. Numbers 5:7, full restoration is required. If person is dead, must make full restoration to God. But, after restoration comes satisfaction.

g. Satisfaction involves an added amount.

Must add one/fifth of the value of property stolen, abused, destroyed. Leviticus 5:15 says that the 20% stood as a fine and was attached to the restitution. Payment must be made of the value of the Temple shekel. Payment must be made from full weight shekels³ as those used in the animal tax on the Hebrew people. In this way, the guilty had to recognize that there is no benefit what so ever from stealing or misusing someone's property. Under the law, crimes never pays.

h. There is no exception for ignorance. Because the sin was committed wittingly or unwittingly makes do difference. "If it is difficult to believe that a man could sell or use a neighbors property, lie about it when asked (No, I have not seen it) it would be just as difficult to believe there was not intent involved.

i. Restitution and satisfaction do not Atone. When restitution and satisfaction had been fully made, the guilty man was right with his/her neighbor. Now, restoration with God must be restored. That is, at the end of the process we are now ready to offer the sacrifice as repayment to God. When we cheat our brother, we also cheat God. Notice Leviticus 5:16 and 6:7. .....he will be forgiven.

j. Basis for the Trespass offering. The Trespass offering was based on what we know as Lex Talionas. Exodus 21:23. "an eye for an eye."

2. Even in the Absence of Mercy.

Deuteronomy 25:1-3 establishes punishment against a person for a Trespass even when no monetary value could be assessed. Such things as lying, abusive language or pettiness. In these cases the individual went to court and a judge or priest would hand down the verdict. The punishment may be some form of physical punishment. A person might receive 40 stripes with a whip. The law stated that no one could ever administer over 40 strips since that amounts to degrading a person. Anything beyond 40 stripes means we are after personal vengeance and not redress.

All Claims Must Be Well Proven.

Deuteronomy 19: 15-19. Every man must prove his claim.

Further Litigation by the Priest

Deuteronomy 17:8-13

This addresses litigation that sometimes arose when it was difficult for brothers to settle. Some lawsuit or some assault was involved here. The men could not settle the matter so they must go before the priest to resolve it. The judge or priest then makes inquires and vindicates one party and condemns the other. The punishment must be followed since the context of Deut. infers that all decisions were God's decisions. Anyone who rejected the court or priest was to be stoned to death.

The Ritual of the Trespass Offering.

Stage One.

First stage is about justice. It precedes acceptance of atonement. Where there is no justice, there is no atonement. Numbers 5:7, full restitution plus 20%.

Stage Two.

As in the sin offering, the second stage involved the confession of the specific trespass committed. It seems that the confession had to be publicly made. It is interesting to note that there was no laying on of hands in this sacrifice. Restitution and satisfaction take care of the guilt and there is an open and public confession.

Stage Three.

Now we slay the animal and in the sin offering. As before, there was the manifest conviction on the part of the individual that he was in agreement with God's judgment. He must kill the animal himself as a statement he was in agreement with God.

Stage Four.

In stage four, the priest sprinkled the blood on the sides of the altar of burnt offering. Remember, in the sin-offering, the blood was sprinkled on the horns of the altar. However, in this sacrifice the blood goes on the base of the altar or lower part of the altar indicating that atonement was secondary. Therefore, the sprinkling of the blood brought marginal atonement.

Stage Five.

The fat is removed from the sacrifice and placed on the altar and fumed to God. Once again, as in the sin offering, this part of the sacrifice is “sweet savor.” Restitution and Atonement had been made and the person is now back in fellowship with God.

Stage Six

The last stage of this sacrifice is the disposition of the body. Leviticus 7:7 says that the law of the Sin offering and the Trespass offering are the same. The Priest received the body and it was to be eaten inside the camp as a symbol of restored fellowship. (Leviticus 7:6)

Lessons from the Trespass offering.

1. It is possible and most likely to trespass against God when we trespass against our fellow man.

2. Otherwise, depriving Him of worship and his offerings, or any of those things that God demands is a Trespass.

3. Repentance is a major theme of this offering. He must bring forth fruits worthy of repentance, Matt. 3:8.

4. With or without a sacrifice, we are not right with God until we are right with our neighbor. We cannot be right with our neighbor and keep his money in our pocket. The Trespass offering is found in Matthew 5: 23-24.

In this case, if you have trespassed against your brother then taking care of the demands of justice must precede any atonement with God.

Then Jesus adds this in verses 25-26.

Jesus becomes Our Trespass Offering

Jesus is the person who covers all Trespasses. We are told this in Isaiah 53:13....”the Lord makes His life a guilt offering.” In verse 11 God will see His sacrifice and therewith be “satisfied.” We know from Scripture that God's law must be satisfied. (Rom. 3:21, Hebrews 2:17). Jesus then became that satisfaction. ...reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. (2^nd Cor. 5:19)

And Now you know what it really means when we say.....Jesus Paid it all.

06/24/08 11:05:47 AM Warren Roger

The Trespass Offering in the New Testament as it Relates to
Christ.

1. We are all seen as Debtors to God - Matt. 6:10-12.

2. Even if we did all that was commanded of us, we would still be unprofitable servants. Lk. 17:10.

3. See also Matthew 18:23-25; Luke 7:41-42 which sets forth the relation of the sinner to God as that of a debtor.

4. The parable of the talents is an outgrowth of the laws governing the trespass offering. Matt. 25: 14-30.

5. Isa. 53:10 promises that God shall make His soul an offering for sin.

6. Romans 3:21-27- God set forth Christ to be a propitiation for the sins that God had forgiven before time, in view of the cross as well as the sins of the present time.

7. Heb. 2:17; 1st John 2:2; 4:10; Heb. 10:14; 8: 12.

8. Jesus is the perfect TYPE for all the sacrifices of the Levitical system.

1. In the burnt offering he became our righteousness through full self consecration to God.

2. In the peace offering, He not only gives but also maintains life.

3. In the sin offering, He becomes our expiation and atonement.

4. In the meal offering - we become His first fruits to God.

5. In the Trespass offering, He is made our restitution for what we owe God.

A Review of the ritual of the Trespass Offering.

1. Stage one - Restitution and satisfaction.

2. Stage two - Public confession of the wrong done. Numbers 5:7, includes laying the hands on the head.

3. Stage three - slaying the ram by the offender Lev. 7:1.

4. Stage four - The blood is sprinkled on the side of the altar of burnt offering. Lev. 7:2.

5. Stage 5 - All the fat is removed and fumed to God on the altar of burnt offering - Lev. 3:16-17; 4:31.

6. Stage 6. - Disposition of the body of the ram.

A. Lev. 7:7 says the priest's privilege in the trespass offering is the same as the sin offering.

 B. The priest that makes atonement therewith, he shall have it.

C. To be eaten in the courtyard.