LEVITICUS Windows into the Heart of God
Leviticus: Good News The book of Leviticus is a long study on the good news that God has indeed provided ways through the paralysis of guilt. Whether guilt was actually merited or merely feared, there was a remedy close at hand. Walter Brueggemann
Reparation Offering: Evidence The reparation would probably be the most meaningful of all the sacrifices for the sinner, but probably the least offered. In order to offer this one you have to really feel convicted of sin. Allen Ross
The Guilt Offering: Amendment The guilt offering the fifth offering God commands his people to present guards the Israelites from falling into the error of believing that grace is cheap.... it concerned specific sins and included a unique element of reparation as a part of the ritual. Derek Tidball
Sacrifice: A Robust Theology The theology of sacrifice will make clear the complexity of sin, the grandeur of grace, and the fullness of forgiveness.
Sacrifice: Logical/Theological Order Burnt (Whole Burnt) Offering Grain (Meal) Offering Peace (Fellowship) Offering Sin (Purification) Offering Trespass (Reparation) Offering
Sacrifice: Chronological Order Sin (Purification) Offering Contamination Damage Acceptance Appreciation Celebration Trespass (Reparation) Offering Burnt (Atonement) Offering Grain (Meal) Offering Peace (Fellowship) Offering
The burnt offering uses a personal picture: of man the guilty sinner who deserves to die for his sin and of the animal dying in his place. God accepts the animal as a ransom for man. The sin offering uses a medical model: sin makes the world so dirty that God can no longer dwell there. The blood of the animal disinfects the sanctuary in order that God may continue to be present with his people. The reparation offering presents a commercial picture of sin. Sin is a debt which man incurs against God. The debt is paid through the offered animal. Gordon Wenham
SACRIFICE OT REFERENCES ELEMENTS PURPOSE Burnt Offering Grain Offering Fellowship Offering Sin Offering Guilt Offering Lev 1; 6:8 13; 8:18 21; 16:24 Lev 2; 6:14 23 Lev 3; 7:11 34 Lev 4:1 5:13; 6:24 30; 8:14 17; 16:3 22 Bull, ram or male bird (dove or young pigeon for the poor); wholly consumed; no defect Grain, finest flour, olive oil, incense, baked bread (cakes or wafers), salt; no yeast or honey; accompanied burnt offering and fellowship offering (along with drink offering) Any animal without defect from herd or flock; variety of breads 1. Young bull: for high priest and congregation 2. Male goat: for leader 3. Female goat or lamb: for common person 4. Dove or pigeon: for the poor 5. Tenth of an ephah of finest flour: for the very poor Voluntary act of worship; atonement for unintentional sin in general; expression of devotion, commitment and complete surrender to God Voluntary act of worship; recognition of God s goodness and provisions; devotion to God Voluntary act of worship; thanksgiving and fellowship (it included a communal meal) Mandatory atonement for specific unintentional sin; confession of sin; forgiveness of sin; cleansing from defilement Lev 5:14 6:7; 7:1 6 Ram Mandatory atonement for unintentional sin requiring restitution; cleansing from defilement; make restitution; pay 20% fine lm When more than one kind of offering was presented (as in Nu 7:13 17), the procedure was usually as follows: (1) sin offering or guilt offering, (2) burnt offering, (3) fellowship offering and grain offering (along with a drink offering). This sequence furnishes part of the spiritual significance of the sacrificial system. First, sin had to be dealt with (sin offering or guilt offering). Second, the worshipers committed themselves completely to God (burnt offering and grain offering). Third, fellowship or communion between the Lord, the priest and the worshiper (fellowship offering) was established. To state it another way, there were sacrifices of expiation (sin offerings and guilt offerings), consecration (burnt offerings and grain offerings) and communion (fellowship offerings these included vow offerings, thank offerings and freewill offerings).
Reparation: Evidence of Repentance Sin often takes the form of defrauding God and the holy things that belong to him or in defrauding others of their possessions. In such matters Scripture is clear that it is not sufficient to make confession the wrong must be made right if at all possible. To do so was evidence of remorse and contrition. Allen Ross
Reparation Offering: Compensation The sacrificial system in ancient Israel provided a way to make things right for the person who committed transgressions against others. There were two important differences between the sin offering and guilt offering. First, the guilt offering remedied the particular offense of fraud, whereas the sin offering was broad in scope. Second, the guilt offering always required the payment of money to compensate for the indebtedness, whereas the sin offering did not. Kenneth Mathews
Intentional/Defiant Sins (ב י ד רמ ה) But anyone who sins defiantly (with a high hand), whether native-born or foreigner, blasphemes the LORD and must be cut off from the people of Israel. Because they have despised the LORD s word and broken his commands, they must surely be cut off; their guilt remains on them. Numbers 15:30
Unintentional ( ש ג ג ה) An unintentional sin must be defined carefully. It would include sins a person was unaware were sins, sins that had been rationalized as not sin, sins that were inadvertent and not intended, as well as sins that were a lapse or from weakness. Eventually, the person becomes aware of the sin as sin and the guilt they already incurred is now real to them.
Unfaithful, Breach of Trust, Defraud (מ ע ל) This is a word for sin that emphasizes the breach of trust between two people in a relationship or who have made a covenant/agreement. The conduct is contrary to the responsibility expected. The defrauding is because something has been taken. Either property has been stolen, or reputation has been damaged.
Dust [duhst] dust - (noun) fine powdery substance dust (verb) - put a fine powder on something I dusted the chocolate cake with sugar. dust (verb) - remove a fine powder from something I dusted the furniture before the guests arrived.
Dust [duhst] dust - (noun) fine powdery substance dust (verb) - put a fine powder on something Dawn dusted the chocolate cake with sugar. dust (verb) - remove a fine powder from something Dawn dusted the furniture before the guests arrived.
Guilt, Guilty, Reparation (א ש ם) This word has a wide range of meaning. On the one hand the word means being guilty. The word can also indicate a person feeling guilty. In an interesting twist of Hebrew grammar it is also the way you remove the state of guilt and the feelings of guilt by making amends or paying reparation.
(א ש ם) Guilt, Guilty, Reparation The āšām offering was in most cases a matter of personal conviction, because often only the LORD and the guilty party knew about the crime. Public acknowledgment of the sin, therefore, was evidence of a guilty conscience, especially when reparation was in order. Allen Ross
Reparation Offering: Categories You know you have defrauded God (5:14-16) You think you have defrauded God (5:17-19) You know you have defrauded others (6:1-7)
Reparation: Evidence of Repentance The sins here either defrauded God s holy things or defrauded people by keeping what rightfully belonged to them and swearing falsely about it. Both cases are sacrilege; and unless reparation is made, divine justice could fall. The main point is that reparation is evidence of true repentance. Although God makes provision by his grace for forgiveness and restoration of the guilty, he requires genuine repentance as a prerequisite for forgiveness. Showing remorse for sin is not sufficient in cases where the wrong can be corrected; making reparation is required in those situations. Allen Ross
Reparation Offering: Ritual A ram with no defect Appropriate value Reparation made Atonement granted Forgiveness experienced
Reparation Offering: Defrauding God The LORD said to Moses: When anyone is unfaithful to the LORD by sinning unintentionally in regard to any of the LORD s holy things, they are 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. They must make restitution for what they have failed to do in regard to the holy things, pay an additional penalty of a fifth of its value and give it all to the priest. The priest will make atonement for them with the ram as a guilt offering, and they will be forgiven. Leviticus 5:14-16
Certain: Defrauding God of What Rightfully Belongs to Him The LORD is unintentionally defrauded. You become aware of it and feel guilty. A sacrifice is required. Restitution of 120% must be paid. Atonement and forgiveness is granted.
Reparation Offering: Defrauding God If anyone sins and does what is forbidden in any of the LORD S commands, even though they do not know it, they are guilty and will be held responsible. They are 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 them for the wrong they have committed unintentionally, and they will be forgiven. It is a guilt offering; they have been guilty of wrongdoing against the LORD. Leviticus 5:17-19
Uncertain: Defrauding God of What Rightfully Belongs to Him The LORD is unintentionally defrauded. You feel guilty. A sacrifice is required. No restitution because don t how much. Atonement and forgiveness is granted.
Defrauding God: Examples Tithes and Offerings Infectious Skin Disease and Rashes Breaking a Nazirite Vow
Tithes and Offerings: Money Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, How are we robbing you? In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse your whole nation because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the LORD Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe, says the LORD Almighty. Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land, says the LORD Almighty. Malachi 3:8-12
Skin Disease: Missing Worship The LORD said to Moses, These are the regulations for any diseased person at the time of their ceremonial cleansing, when they are brought to the priest: The priest is to go outside the camp and examine them. If they have been healed of their defiling skin disease [Scapebird ceremony/washing and waiting/grain offering] Then the priest is to take one of the male lambs and offer it as a guilt offering, along with the log of oil; he shall wave them before the LORD as a wave offering. Leviticus 14:1-12
Nazirite Vow: Missing Service The LORD said to Moses, Speak to the Israelites and say to them: If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of dedication to the LORD as a Nazirite... [No wine/no haircuts/no contact with death (even your parents)] If someone dies suddenly in the Nazirite s presence, thus defiling the hair that symbolizes their dedication, they must shave their head on the seventh day the day of their cleansing. Then on the eighth day they must bring two doves or two young pigeons to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting. The priest is to offer one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to make atonement for the Nazirite because they sinned by being in the presence of the dead body. That same day they are to consecrate their head again. They must rededicate themselves to the LORD for the same period of dedication and must bring a year-old male lamb as a guilt offering. The previous days do not count, because they became defiled during their period of dedication. Numbers 6:1-12
Neighbors: Defrauding Others Deception: Defrauding others of what rightfully belongs to them (6:1-3). Conscience: The worshipper is aware and feels guilty of his sin (6:4). Sacrilege: The worshipper defrauds God by taking an oath (6:5a). Restitution: The worshipper makes restitution before he sacrifices (6:5b). Sacrifice: The worshipper must offer a sacrifice for his sin (6:6). Atonement: The worshipper is forgiven and reconciled to God (6:7).
Reparation Offering: Defrauding Others The LORD said to Moses: If anyone sins and is unfaithful to the LORD by deceiving a neighbor about something entrusted to them or left in their care or about something stolen, or if they cheat their neighbor, or if they find lost property and lie about it, or/and if they swear falsely about any such sin that people may commit when they sin in any of these ways and realize their guilt, they must return what they have stolen or taken by extortion, or what was entrusted to them, or the lost property they found, or whatever it was they swore falsely about. Leviticus 6:1-7
Reparation Offering: False Oath The sin dealt with here is not merely stealing a neighbor's goods, either by blatant robbery, extortion, or by failing to return property entrusted for safekeeping. The sin is that when challenged about it the person swears falsely that they are not guilty. Gordon Wenham
Reparation Offering: False Oath Leviticus 6:1-7 states each case of fraud was aggravated by a false oath compounding a civil crime against humanity with a capital crime against God. The false oath does not apply to a discrete wrong. Rather, it applies to all the proceeding cases: not only have the offenders defrauded their fellows but they have denied it under oath. The sacrilege against Yahweh is therefore fully clarified. Rabbi Jacob Milgrom
Reparation Offering: Defrauding Others They must make restitution in full, add a fifth of the value to it and give it all to the owner on the day they present their guilt offering. And as a penalty they must bring to the priest, that is, to the LORD, their guilt offering, a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value. In this way the priest will make atonement for them before the LORD, and they will be forgiven for any of the things they did that made them guilty. Leviticus 6:1-7
Reparation: Order of Payment In the case of the violation against God's holy things, the offering was made first and then reparation was paid; in the case of sins against another person, reparation came first and then the offering. Allen Ross
The Guilt Offering: Amendment Indeed, the debt that sin had incurred before God would not be removed until the debt to the neighbor had been paid in full. Derek Tidball
Defrauding Man: Examples Samuel Zachaeus Employers
Samuel: A Hypothetical Example Samuel said to all Israel, I have listened to everything you said to me and have set a king over you. Now you have a king as your leader. As for me, I am old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have been your leader from my youth until this day. Here I stand. Testify against me in the presence of the LORD and his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe to make me shut my eyes? If I have done any of these things, I will make it right. 1 Samuel 12:1-3
Zacchaeus: A New Testament Example All the people saw this and began to mutter, He has gone to be the guest of a sinner. But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount. Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. Luke 19:7-9
Employers: A Relevant Example Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and selfindulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. James 5:4-5
Jesus: A Sobering Example Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. Matthew 5:23-24
Two Clarifying Issues: Confession The LORD said to Moses, Say to the Israelites: Any man or woman who wrongs another in any way and so is unfaithful to the LORD is guilty and must confess the sin they have committed. They must make full restitution for the wrong they have done, add a fifth of the value to it and give it all to the person they have wronged. But if that person has no close relative to whom restitution can be made for the wrong, the restitution belongs to the LORD and must be given to the priest, along with the ram with which atonement is made for the wrongdoer. Numbers 5:6-8
Two Clarifying Issues: Crime If anyone gives a neighbor silver or goods for safekeeping and they are stolen from the neighbor s house, the thief, if caught, must pay back double. But if the thief is not found, the owner of the house must appear before the judges, and they must determine whether the owner of the house has laid hands on the other person s property. In all cases of illegal possession of an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or any other lost property about which somebody says, This is mine, both parties are to bring their cases before the judges. The one whom the judges declare guilty must pay back double to the other. Exodus 22:7-9
Leviticus: Windows into the Heart of God Anyone who defrauds God or his neighbor by causing damage that can be repaired shows evidence of true repentance when they make matters right.
Reality: Jesus Is Our Reparation Offering But the LORD was pleased To severely crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a reparation offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. (Isaiah 53:10 - my translation)
Reality: Jesus Is Our Reparation Offering Not only are we sinners, we are sinners who have defrauded God of his due and his service, who have committed sacrilege in the holy things; we are lepers who need to be restored; we are Nazirites with broken vows; we are the ones who defraud one another. Allen Ross
Reality: Jesus Is Our Reparation Offering When Jesus gave his life a ransom for many, the fullest satisfaction was made to God. What Jesus paid on the cross was more than the penalty for sins; his death was sufficient to make reparation for all that had been defrauded by the human race. And upon his offering for sin, God the father could say, I have all back, and more! Allen Ross
The Reparation Offering: No Cheap Grace The guilt offering speaks, once more, of a gracious God, who provides the means by which guilty sinners can be freed from their debt of sin. But it is no cheap grace. The grace that flows from God flows from an altar where the life of his Son was slain. And it flows into the lives of those who, conscious of God's holy compassion, treat sin seriously, strive to live in integrity and make costly reparation when they fail. Derek Tidball
LEVITICUS Windows into the Heart of God