Topical Bible: Offerings: Trespass: Ordinances Concerning

◄ Offerings: Trespass: Ordinances Concerning ►

Jump to: Nave's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

In the Old Testament, the concept of trespass offerings is intricately linked to the Levitical laws given to the Israelites. These offerings were instituted by God as a means for His people to atone for specific transgressions, particularly those involving unintentional sins or violations against His holy commandments. The trespass offering, also known as the guilt offering, is distinct from the sin offering, though both serve the purpose of reconciliation and restoration of fellowship with God.

Biblical Foundation

The primary scriptural basis for the trespass offering is found in the Book of Leviticus. Leviticus 5:14-19 and Leviticus 6:1-7 provide detailed instructions regarding the circumstances and procedures for offering a trespass offering. The Berean Standard Bible renders these passages with clarity, emphasizing the necessity of restitution and the sacredness of the process.

Nature of Trespass Offerings

Trespass offerings were required when an individual committed a sin against the holy things of the Lord or against a neighbor. This could include unintentional misuse of sacred items, deceit, robbery, or failure to return lost property. The offering was a tangible acknowledgment of guilt and a means to make amends.

Ordinances and Procedures

1. Identification of the Trespass: The first step in the process was the recognition of the sin. Leviticus 5:15 states, "If someone acts unfaithfully and sins unintentionally against any of the LORD’s holy things, he must bring his guilt offering to the LORD: an unblemished ram from the flock, according to your valuation in silver shekels, based on the sanctuary shekel. It is a guilt offering."

2. Offering a Ram: The individual was required to present an unblemished ram as the offering. This animal symbolized the costliness of sin and the need for a perfect substitute to bear the guilt.

3. Restitution and Compensation: In addition to the offering, the offender was required to make restitution for the wrong committed. Leviticus 6:5 instructs, "He must make restitution for what he has done wrong in regard to the holy things, adding a fifth of the value to it and giving it to the priest. The priest will then make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering, and he will be forgiven."

4. Atonement by the Priest: The priest played a crucial role in the process, acting as a mediator between the sinner and God. The priest would offer the ram on the altar, and through this act, atonement was made, and the individual was forgiven.

Spiritual Significance

The trespass offering underscores the seriousness with which God views sin, even those committed unintentionally. It highlights the necessity of acknowledging one's guilt and the importance of making restitution. The offering also points to the holiness of God and His provision for reconciliation through prescribed means.

Typology and Fulfillment

From a typological perspective, the trespass offering foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who is the perfect and final offering for sin. Hebrews 10:12 states, "But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God." Christ's atoning work fulfills the requirements of the law, providing complete forgiveness and restoration for all who believe.

In summary, the ordinances concerning trespass offerings in the Old Testament reveal the gravity of sin, the necessity of restitution, and the provision of atonement through a divinely appointed sacrifice. These offerings serve as a precursor to the redemptive work of Christ, who provides the ultimate means of reconciliation with God.

Nave's Topical Index

Leviticus 5:1
And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he has seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity.
Nave's Topical Index

Leviticus 6:1-7
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
Nave's Topical Index

Leviticus 7:1-7
Likewise this is the law of the trespass offering: it is most holy.
Nave's Topical Index

Leviticus 14:10-22
And on the eighth day he shall take two he lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish, and three tenth deals of fine flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and one log of oil.
Nave's Topical Index

Leviticus 15:15,29,30
And the priest shall offer them, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD for his issue.
Nave's Topical Index

Leviticus 19:21,22
And he shall bring his trespass offering to the LORD, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, even a ram for a trespass offering.
Nave's Topical Index

Numbers 6:12
And he shall consecrate to the LORD the days of his separation, and shall bring a lamb of the first year for a trespass offering: but the days that were before shall be lost, because his separation was defiled.
Nave's Topical Index

Ezra 10:19
And they gave their hands that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their trespass.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

"The House of Israel"
... covenanted to keep all the commandments and ordinances of Jehovah ... in tithes and
offerings"in thank offerings, in freewill offerings, in trespass offerings. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 59 the house of.htm

Scriptural Types.
... Testament of the "carnal ordinances" of the ... When we raise inquiries concerning the
interior ... into burnt-offerings, sin-offerings, trespass-offerings, and peace ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxvii scriptural types.htm

What a Sacrifice Is, and what are the Species of Sacrifice.
... sin-offerings and burnt offerings for a trespass. ... ie, that the Gentiles might be
offerings acceptable to ... preach mostly of human ordinances, whereby consciences ...
/.../melanchthon/the apology of the augsburg confession/part 30 what a sacrifice.htm

Covenanting Provided for in the Everlasting Covenant.
... received special information from above concerning the exercise ... times of waiting
upon the ordinances of that ... general; the sin and trespass offerings, which were ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter vi covenanting provided for.htm

Manner of Covenanting.
... In the ordinances of His grace He has made his chosen ... "If any man trespass against
his ... which offered burnt-offerings, and sacrificed peace-offerings of oxen ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter ii manner of covenanting.htm

Nature of Covenanting.
... extending grace to those who wait upon his ordinances, however unworthy ... "I will go
into thy house with burnt-offerings; I will ... "If any man trespass against his ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter i nature of covenanting.htm

The New Covenant.
... Law came in beside, that the trespass might abound ... He also teaches them through the
ordinances of the ... prepare for Me: In whole burnt offerings and sacrifices ...
/.../chapter viii the new covenant.htm

Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
... in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and ... the priests,'
because it was it in which they boiled the trespass-offerings, and in ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/solomons temple spiritualized.htm

The Sixth Book
... of an accursed thing, and the trespass of one ... we dedicate the vilest shows as
sacrificial offerings. ... offence against the sacred ordinances have nevertheless ...
//christianbookshelf.org/salvian/on the government of god/the sixth book.htm

On Reconciling Religious Dissensions among Christians
... than that of an orator, lest I trespass on your ... at the public sermons and other
religious ordinances of a ... 23:4,) for whose redemption votive offerings may be ...
/.../the works of james arminius vol 1/oration v on reconciling religious.htm