The Trespass Offering – Cleansing (Lev. 5.1-6.7)

A trespass is an act of crossing a boundary when I do not intend to do so, once again a sin of ignorance. But in this case, it may be that the Lord expects some sort of retribution to accompany the offering. The trespass offerings are given for things that we forget to do, are forbidden to do, or are formidable to the believer.

      A.  Forgotten Things – Violations Because of an Ordinance of the Lord, 5:1-13.

Forgotten sins are those that result from violating some ordinance of the Lord. The next four verses provide three examples of forgotten things.

1. Sin of Silence, 5:1. The first example of neglected sins is the sin of silence. The sin of silence happens when a fellow citizen in God’s economy hears (or sees) another citizen swear by an oath of cursing and does nothing about it. When he knows of the crime and does not report it, he becomes an accomplice. There seems to be a fine line between being a tattletale and reporting an incident to the proper authorities. For example, we might be traveling and see someone speeding. The police might be nowhere in sight. Should we get the license number and report it? A student in school is cheating on a test, and the teacher does not see it. Should we tell the teacher? These situations don’t have easy answers.

Let’s consider an example that fits the situation. Suppose you’re at work and your coworkers are talking badly about the boss. They are planning some form of mistreatment against him. You overhear this but say nothing. In this case, it doesn’t matter whether the allegations against the boss are true or not. When the boss is mistreated, you feel guilty. You’ve committed a trespass; a sacrifice needs to be made.

Let’s be careful not to overlook the main point of the example given. This sin of silence could also be called a sin of omission. We may commit many sins, but there are also many sins we commit by failing to do what we should. What we need is for the Holy Spirit to guide us in these matters and then to follow His guidance.

2. Sin of Squalidity, 5:2-3. The second example of a forgotten sin is the sin of squalidity (uncleanness). This occurs when a citizen in God’s economy becomes defiled by touching a dead or unclean body. The idea is that he did not realize he had become defiled, but once it is revealed to him, he is guilty and must make atonement. We do not have to go far in our Christian experience to encounter uncleanness. In doing so, we ourselves become defiled and need cleansing. The sacrifice of the red heifer, a form of the sin or trespass offering, was especially relevant in the matter of touching a dead body. (See Numbers 19.) When it is revealed to us that we are defiled by touching something unclean, there is a need for the trespass offering.
3. Sin of Swearing, 5:4. The third example of a forgotten sin is the sin of swearing. Here, we revisit the first example and consider the citizen who made an oath. We find that this unpaid vow could be made for either good or evil purposes. The failure to fulfill the vow seems to disturb God’s holiness. Man is so inconsistent with his words these days. We no longer say what we mean, nor mean what we say. And God is not pleased. The sin is one of careless speech. Proverbs 29:11 warns that “a fool uttereth all his mind, but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.” Be careful not to say what you do not mean. The example given is of Jephthah, who made a vow to the Lord to dedicate the first thing that came out of his house to Him, and he further vowed to offer it as a burnt offering. Lo, and behold, his daughter came out first. Jephthah rent his clothes and was very distressed, for he could not break his vow. Many people vow to come to church or serve the Lord, only to break those vows repeatedly. “Lord, if you get me out of this hospital bed, I will serve you,” yet they have no real intention of serving God, no more than the “man in the moon.” Forgotten vows can cause us trouble with the Lord of the universe.

     B.  Forbidden Things – Violations Against Holy Things, 5:14-19.

Another area where the trespass offering applies is with forbidden things, especially holy items. For example, if someone accidentally uses one of the temple’s holy utensils for everyday purposes, they would defile both the instrument and themselves. There are times in a believer’s life when they enter into areas they shouldn’t, or use what they lack authority over. Saul, a king, got into trouble when he took on the priestly role without permission. We need to mind our own business and stay out of things that don’t concern us. Some things are sacred and belong only to the Lord. For instance, “Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord.” Don’t try to get even with someone—that is holy ground that belongs to the Lord.

     C.  Formidable Things – Violations Against a Neighbour, 6:1-7.

A third area where the trespass offering applies is with formidable things—things that are feared, difficult to handle, or overcome. This concerns violations against a neighbor, especially lying to them. It’s unlikely that a citizen would commit this sin out of ignorance. Whether the person intentionally deceives, steals, or simply lies, they are still guilty (v. 4). I call these offenses formidable because they evoke fear and are hard to deal with. The focus here is on restoration. Restoring broken fellowship is challenging, and the instructions call for a five-fold restoration. The wrongdoer must return what was lost, stolen, or damaged, and add a fifth part to it. Reparations should start with honesty. Next comes expressing sorrow. Finally, there’s the need to restore what was lost, stolen, or damaged. In today’s culture, this restoration might be in the form of money.

SUMMARY: The five sacrificial offerings are a clear illustration of Christ, who is our example. We should imitate Christ by offering ourselves fully in dedication, surrender, and fellowship. We should present our confession to the Lord and accept His cleansing. In doing so, we will genuinely worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. (LEH)