Topical Bible: Trespass offering was a Most Holy offering

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Topical Encyclopedia

The Trespass Offering, also known as the Guilt Offering, is a significant sacrificial practice detailed in the Old Testament, primarily within the Levitical law. It is distinct from other offerings such as the Burnt Offering, Grain Offering, Peace Offering, and Sin Offering, each serving unique purposes in the religious and communal life of ancient Israel. The Trespass Offering is particularly concerned with atonement for specific transgressions and the restitution of wrongs, emphasizing the holiness and justice of God.

Biblical Foundation

The primary scriptural references for the Trespass Offering are found in the Book of Leviticus. Leviticus 5:14-19 and Leviticus 6:1-7 provide detailed instructions regarding the circumstances and procedures for this offering. The Berean Standard Bible renders these passages with clarity, highlighting the necessity of the offering for unintentional sins and breaches of faith against the LORD.

Leviticus 5:15-16 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. He must make restitution for what he has failed to do regarding the holy things, add a fifth of the value to it, and give it to the priest. Then the priest will make atonement on his behalf with the ram as a guilt offering, and he will be forgiven."

Purpose and Significance

The Trespass Offering served a dual purpose: atonement for the individual and restitution for the wrong committed. It was required when a person committed a sin that involved desecration of something holy or when they wronged another person, particularly in matters involving deceit or theft. The offering underscored the principle that sin, even when unintentional, disrupts the covenant relationship with God and requires rectification.

The offering was considered "Most Holy," a term indicating its sacredness and the seriousness with which it was to be approached. The phrase "Most Holy" is used in Leviticus 7:1 : "Now this is the law of the guilt offering, which is most holy." This designation reflects the offering's role in maintaining the sanctity of the community and the holiness of God’s dwelling among His people.

Procedure and Components

The Trespass Offering involved the sacrifice of an unblemished ram, symbolizing the purity required to atone for sin. The individual was also required to make restitution to the offended party, adding a fifth of the value to the compensation. This restitution was a tangible expression of repentance and a means to restore relationships within the community.

The priest played a crucial role in the offering, acting as a mediator between the sinner and God. Upon receiving the offering, the priest would make atonement for the individual, signifying the restoration of fellowship with God. Leviticus 6:7 affirms this: "In this way the priest will make atonement for him before the LORD, and he will be forgiven for anything he may have done to incur guilt."

Theological Implications

The Trespass Offering highlights the gravity of sin and the necessity of atonement and restitution. It reflects the holiness of God and His desire for His people to live in righteousness and justice. The offering also foreshadows the ultimate atonement provided through Jesus Christ, who, according to Christian theology, fulfills the sacrificial system and offers complete forgiveness and reconciliation with God.

In summary, the Trespass Offering was a vital component of the Levitical sacrificial system, emphasizing the need for holiness, justice, and reconciliation in the covenant community. Its designation as a "Most Holy" offering underscores its importance in the spiritual life of Israel and its enduring theological significance.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Leviticus 14:13
And he shall slay the lamb in the place where he shall kill the sin offering and the burnt offering, in the holy place: for as the sin offering is the priest's, so is the trespass offering: it is most holy:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Leviticus.
... They may be divided in several ways, among which the most instructive is as ... (a) the
blood offering-peace offering, sin offering and trespass offering,. ...
/.../the way of salvation in the lutheran church/chapter iii leviticus.htm

Scriptural Types.
... the peace-offerings of the people, the trespass-offerings, and ... slain the goat of
the sin-offering, he carried its blood into the most holy place, and ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxvii scriptural types.htm

Some Helpful Thoughts on Consecration
... him into the favor of God, who gave his Son a "trespass-offering" for the ... to sin,
for the blood of Jesus in this sin-offering will most certainly effect ...
/.../byers/sanctification/chapter xi some helpful thoughts.htm

The Helpless State of the Sinner under Condemnation.
... to bring any sin-offering, or trespass-offering at all ... what kind of obedience thou
thinkest of offering to a ... the servants of Christ, who now most tenderly love ...
/.../chapter vii the helpless state.htm

Separation to God.
... All the days of his separation he is holy unto the ... Here we have a most solemn and
important prohibition"to ... of the first year for a trespass-offering: but the ...
/.../taylor/separation and service/part i separation to god.htm

Perfection in Faith
... the sacrifice did not make the man perfectly holy, and perfectly ... priest, "you must
bring another offering; you most bring a trespass offering." He does ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/perfection in faith.htm

An Unalterable Law
... It was the one most prominent thing under the ... The trespass offering, referred to
as an alternative, in Leviticus 5 ... have all of us to take the offering which has ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 60 1914/an unalterable law.htm

Manner of Covenanting.
... "If any man trespass against his ... As when the vail was rent the most holy place was
no longer ... name of God was wont to be symbolized by the offering of sacrifice ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter ii manner of covenanting.htm

On the Management of the Resources Collected for the Support of ...
... of all the sacrifices, and out of every trespass-offering, and sin ... and ye are all
children of the Most High." [2724 ... by you in the place of the Holy Ghost, and ...
/.../various/constitutions of the holy apostles/sec iv on the management of.htm

God's Love to Fallen Man
... he "made him to be sin," that is, a sin-offering, "for us ... works; and next to them,
those that have suffered most, according to ... My trespass is grown up to heaven ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 59 gods love to.htm