The concept of the trespass-offering, also known as the guilt offering, is a significant aspect of the sacrificial system outlined in the Old Testament, particularly within the Levitical laws. The trespass-offering is distinct from other offerings such as the sin offering, burnt offering, and peace offering, each serving unique purposes in the worship and atonement practices of ancient Israel.

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 offering was required when an individual committed a specific act of unintentional sin or trespass against the holy things of the Lord or against a neighbor, which required restitution.

Nature and Purpose

The trespass-offering was primarily concerned with sins that involved a breach of faithfulness or trust, often requiring restitution. This offering was necessary when someone unintentionally violated the sanctity of the Lord's holy things or committed a wrong against another person. The offering served to atone for the guilt incurred and to restore the relationship between the offender, the offended party, and God.

Procedure and Requirements

The trespass-offering involved the sacrifice of a ram without defect, as specified in Leviticus 5:15: "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." The offender was also required to make restitution for the wrong committed, adding a fifth of the value to it, and give it to the priest, who would make atonement on their behalf.

Theological Significance

The trespass-offering underscores the seriousness with which God views sin, even those committed unintentionally. It highlights the need for atonement and restitution, emphasizing that sin has both a spiritual and a social dimension. The requirement for restitution reflects the biblical principle of justice and the restoration of relationships, both with God and with fellow humans.

Christological Fulfillment

In the New Testament, the sacrificial system, including the trespass-offering, finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 10:1-10 explains that the sacrifices of the Old Testament were a shadow of the good things to come, pointing to the perfect and final sacrifice of Christ. Jesus, as the Lamb of God, offered Himself once for all, providing complete atonement for sin and reconciling humanity to God.

The trespass-offering, therefore, serves as a foreshadowing of the redemptive work of Christ, who not only atones for sin but also restores the broken relationship between God and humanity. Through His sacrifice, believers are called to live in righteousness and to seek reconciliation and restitution in their relationships with others, reflecting the holiness and justice of God.

Continuation of the Same Subject.
... Not in every place, brethren, are the daily sacrifices offered, or the peace-offerings,
or the sin-offerings and the trespass-offerings, but in Jerusalem only. ...
/.../chapter xli continuation of the same.htm

Continuation of the Same Subject.
... Not in every place, brethren, are the daily sacrifices offered, or the peace-offerings,
or the sin-offerings and the trespass-offerings, but in Jerusalem only. ...
/.../keith/the epistles of clement/chapter xli continuation of the same.htm

Influences that Gave Rise to the Priestly Laws and Histories
... Sin-offerings, guilt-offerings, trespass-offerings, and the day of atonement
(practically unknown before the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC) reflect the spirit ...
/.../ix influences that gave rise.htm

"The House of Israel"
... men and women to show their gratitude by returning Him a portion 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

A Warning against Hypocrisy
... have men and women show their gratitude by returning Him a portion in tithes and
offerings"in thank offerings, in freewill offerings, in trespass offerings. ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 7 a warning against.htm

The Fact of the Redeemer's Return was Typified in the Lives of ...
... For example: in the great Levitical offerings (Lev.1-6) we find five"the Burnt,
the Meal, the Peace, the Sin, and the Trespass offerings"were required to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/4 the fact of the.htm

Scriptural Types.
... Chaps.1:5; 42:8. The classification in the book of Leviticus is into burnt-offerings,
sin-offerings, trespass-offerings, and peace-offerings. ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxvii scriptural types.htm

Index of Subjects.
... Sacrifices, typical of Christ, 591, seq.; their essential character, 597, seq.;
Mosaic classification of them, sin-offerings and trespass-offerings, 598; burnt ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barrows/companion to the bible/index of subjects.htm

Covenanting Provided for in the Everlasting Covenant.
... Oblations in general; the sin and trespass offerings, which were never merely voluntary:
the burnt-offering: the peace-offerings, that were wont to be ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter vi covenanting provided for.htm

Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
... 5. This inner court is that which is called 'the court of the priests,' because
it was it in which they boiled the trespass-offerings, and in which they ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/solomons temple spiritualized.htm

Trespass-offerings (2 Occurrences)
Trespass-offerings. Trespass-offering, Trespass-offerings. Tresses .
Multi-Version Concordance Trespass-offerings (2 Occurrences). ...
/t/trespass-offerings.htm - 7k

Sin-offerings (8 Occurrences)
... reserved from the fire: every offering of theirs, of all their oblations, and of
all their sin-offerings, and of all their trespass-offerings, which they ...
/s/sin-offerings.htm - 9k

Trespass-offering (34 Occurrences)
Trespass-offering. Trespass-money, Trespass-offering. Trespass-offerings . ...
(ASV DBY WBS). Trespass-money, Trespass-offering. Trespass-offerings . ...
/t/trespass-offering.htm - 18k

Oblations (24 Occurrences)
... reserved from the fire: every offering of theirs, of all their oblations, and of
all their sin-offerings, and of all their trespass-offerings, which they ...
/o/oblations.htm - 15k

Leviticus (1 Occurrence)
... (1.) A series of laws (1-7) regarding sacrifices, burnt-offerings, meat-offerings,
and thank-offerings (1-3), sin-offerings and trespass-offerings (4; 5 ...
/l/leviticus.htm - 42k

Tresses (1 Occurrence)

/t/tresses.htm - 6k

Sacrifice (300 Occurrences)
... 2. Bloody, such as (1) burnt-offerings; (2) peace-offerings; and (3) sin and trespass
offerings. (see OFFERINGS.). Noah Webster's Dictionary. ...
/s/sacrifice.htm - 101k

Forfeit (12 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 12:16 The money for the trespass-offerings, and the money for the sin-offerings,
was not brought into the house of Jehovah: it was the priests. ...
/f/forfeit.htm - 13k

Salvation (386 Occurrences)
... But insistence on the strict centralization of worship and increasing emphasis laid
on the sin and trespassofferings did away with the worst of the abuses. ...
/s/salvation.htm - 67k

Belonged (105 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 12:16 The money for the trespassofferings, and the money for the sin offerings,
was not brought into the house of Yahweh: it was the priests'. ...
/b/belonged.htm - 36k

What is a trespass offering / guilt offering? | GotQuestions.org

What were the various sacrifices in the Old Testament? | GotQuestions.org

What is a burnt offering? | GotQuestions.org

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