Leviticus 5:14-19

f. TRESPASS OFFERING 5:146:7

(1)

ITS OCCASION

(a)

UNINTENTIONAL TRESPASS IN THE THINGS OF GOD Leviticus 5:14-19

(b)

UNINTENTIONAL TRESPASS AGAINST MAN Leviticus 6:1-7

(2)

ITS VICTIMA RAM Leviticus 5:15; Leviticus 5:18

(3)

ITS RITUAL

(a)

PRESENTATION OF THE RAM TO PRIEST Leviticus 5:15; Leviticus 6:6-7

(b)

MAKE RESTITUTION, PLUS AN ADDED FIFTH, TO THE PARTY WRONGED Leviticus 5:16; Leviticus 6:4-5

(c)

THE PRIEST OFFERS THE SACRIFICE TO MAKE ATONEMENT FOR HIM Leviticus 5:18; Leviticus 7:6-7

TRESPASS IN THINGS OF GOD 5:14-19
TEXT 5:14-19

14

And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

15

If any one commit a trespass, and sin unwittingly, in the holy things of Jehovah; then he shall bring his trespass-offering unto Jehovah, a ram without blemish out of the flock, according to thy estimation in silver by shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass-offering:

16

and he shall make restitution for that which he hath done amiss in the holy thing, and shall add the fifth part thereto, and give it unto the priest; and the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the trespass-offering, and he shall be forgiven.

17

And if any one sin, and do any of the things which Jehovah hath commanded not to be done; though he knew it not, yet he is guilty, and shall bear his iniquity.

18

And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, according to thy estimation, for a trespass-offering, unto the priest; and the priest shall make atonement for him concerning the thing wherein he erred unwittingly and knew it not, and he shall be forgiven.

19

It is a trespass-offering: he is certainly guilty before Jehovah.

THE TRESPASS OFFERING

5:14-6:7

The Occasions:

The Ritual Of The Trespass Offering:

Purpose: AtonementAcceptance.

6. Tabernacle building - showing boards, bars, sockets, pillars, and the two rooms

7. Tabernacle building showing its four coverings and the hanging across the front.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 5:14-19

96.

How is the word soul used in reference to man?

97.

Just what is the difference in the sin and the trespass?

98.

What is meant by the holy things of the Lord?

99.

Why a ram for a sacrifice?

100.

How do shekels of silver relate to the ram? Who decides on how much the ram is worth ?

101.

Try to imagine a specific case of a trespass in the holy things of the Lord, then imagine how restitution would be made. Discuss.

102.

Even if we cannot remember sinning against our neighbor and he should accuse us of a sin, what should we do?

103.

Notice in Leviticus 5:19 that after a discussion of a violation against the law it is said that such was against the Lord. Discuss the relationship.

PARAPHRASE 5:14-19

And the Lord said to Moses, If anyone sins by unintentionally defiling what is holy, then he shall bring a ram without defect, worth whatever fine you charge against him, as his guilt offering to the Lord. And he shall make restitution for the holy thing he has spoiled, or the tithe omitted, by paying for the loss, plus a twenty percent penalty; he shall bring it to the priest, and the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering, and he shall be forgiven. Anyone who disobeys some law of God without realizing it is guilty anyway, and must bring his sacrifice of a value determined by Moses. This sacrifice shall be a ram without blemish taken to the priest as a guilt offering; with it the priest shall make atonement for him, so that he will be forgiven for whatever it is he has done without realizing it. It must be offered as a guilt offering, for he is certainly guilty before the Lord.

COMMENT 5:14-19

Leviticus 5:14 We need to do our very best to define exactly what is involved in the trespass; and therefore understand the meaning of the trespass offering. We like best the thought that the sin offering related to public acts (at least as a general rule); trespass offerings relate to personal or private acts of sin. From the oft used phrase unwittingly or unintentional in both cases, it would seem that God knows that man is never ready to admit his guilt. Whether we intended it or not we are guilty and must have the sacrifice to be forgiven. Including all excuses and rationalizations you are yet undone and guilty before God! The term soul refers to the whole manhis aliveness. We sin with the man inside but we involve the man outside and the total man (soul) is responsible!

Leviticus 5:15 Sin in the holy things of the Lord remind us of the question of Malachi, Will a man rob God? and then the hurt and surprised reply of Israelwherein have we robbed thee. In this very expression we have a good example of the trespass here involved. God answers through the prophet, In tithes and offerings have you robbed me. We could enter into an endless argument as to why they failed to tithe. God will have no such argument. You have sinned in the holy things of Godget a ram for a trespass offering!

Ecclesiastes 5:6 offers another good example of a trespass involving worship. A man enters the assembly of worshippers. He wishes to be well thought of by those present so he makes a faith promise. In the day of Moses such a vow or promise must include a portion for the priest. When the priest asks for his portion the man denies he made such a promise. This is an obvious sin against God and must be repented of and forgiven.

It is not clear in the text just who sets the price on the value of the ram. Evidently the priest establishes the cost according to the shekel value of the sanctuary. It is easy to see that an unscrupulous priest could rob the offenders.
There are some points of comparison and contrast we need to keep before us: (1) the blood of the trespass offering is dashed against the sides of the altar of burnt offering and not placed upon the horns. We infer that the sin-offering was of a more public type and must be held up in view of all, but not the trespass offering. (2) A ram was substituted by God for Isaac as Abraham obeyed Godso here the ram is a substitute for the trespasses of all Israel and is a fitting type of our great substitute who became sin for us. (3) We need to remember that our Lord is not only typified in the sacrifices but by the priest who waits upon the altar. Because He eternally and continually ministers in the upper Holy Place for us we remain free from all condemnation. What peace such a thought provides for us! (4) According to the estimate of the sanctuary above how much was our Ram worth? Was He adequate? Yea, more than adequate. God is not only pleased to accept Him on our behalf, but well pleased to do so.

Leviticus 5:16 We need once again to cite specific examples to understand the application or meaning of this verse. Read Exodus 34:26 (The first of the first fruits of your ground you shall bring to the house of the Lord your God.) Suppose a man ate the first fruits of his farm or garden and failed to bring it to the Lord? He must restore the amount and add one-fifth. Read Deuteronomy 15:19The wool of the first-born sheep belongs to the Lord. Suppose a greedy Israelite takes the fleece for himself? The rule of the trespass offering becomes immediately applicable and should be followed; retain one fleece or several plus one-fifth more. The one-fifth payment was to be in the form of money. All was to be given to the priest. The amount of a double tithe is a double acknowledgement that the Lord has a portion and we must respect it and give it.

Can we see in this that all honor due God will be paid to Him and more? Once again we are so eternally grateful for the value of the blood of the Lamb without spot or blemish (1 Peter 1:18). He paid it all for us. The first tithe, His active obedience. The second, His passive obedience to all the Father's will.

Leviticus 5:17 We believe knowledge of what was right and what God required was always within reach of the worshipper; whereas he sinned in ignorance, it was a willful ignorance. He knew it not, but not because he needed to be ignorant. Nadab and Abihu were consumed not because they sinned only in ignorance but in defective high-handed ignorance. A particular type of sin is here considered, but the principle is the same. We defraud God in our worshipwe fail to discern the bodyor to sing with the Spiritnot because we could not but because we will not. When it happens we hardly know it has but we are responsible and need atonement lest we bear our iniquity.

Leviticus 5:18-19 It would seem from what is said in these verses that the conscientious Jewish family would be often discussing their possible violations of the laws of God. To do this they would need to know God's laws as found in His word. How often would a trespass offering be needed? Was there an annual or bi-annual trespass offering from each family? or was it more often? All such questions will be answered in subsequent study in this book but they are good to ask just here to give relevance to this regulation. We learn among other truths that God cannot and does not consider sin as a light matter.

FACT QUESTIONS 5:14-19

127.

Define the difference between a sin and a trespass.

128.

God has a way of handling man's rationalizations concerning his sinhow does He do it?

129.

Specifiy two examples of sins in the holy things of God. Do we have a counterpart today?

130.

Who decides how much the ram is worth?

131.

Give two points of comparison and contrast in these verses for our appreciation of our Lord.

132.

Exodus 34:26 and Deuteronomy 15:19 give good examples of where and when a sin against God could be committed. Discuss these examples.

133.

What principle or eternal truth is taught in restoring and paying a double tithe?

134.

Give up-to-date examples that prove we can sin unwittingly and yet be responsible.

135.

Show how a real desire to fulfill these laws would develop devotion and education.