The Sin and Trespass Offerings: Comparison and Contrast

In the modern age of Christianity a debate has been raging over the issue of sin. Christians on opposing sides bring up many arguments to support their views. Yet it seems that few actually take into account one of the most valuable resources available to us, the Old Testament sacrificial system. This system was designed to be a precursor to the coming of Christ, who would then become our perfect sacrifice on Calvary. It is for this reason that we are justified in considering and studying this sacrificial system. While Christ’s death has replaced many of the ritualistic practices, such as animal sacrifice, the principles for which the sacrifices were created are still applicable to us today. We will now focus on two specific sacrifices from this system that deal with the issue of sin. The Sin Offering, and the Trespass Offering. It is important to note for the understanding of this paper that the Sin Offering was prescribed for a sin of ignorance. And the Trespass offering was prescribed for a willful sin.

1. What is a sin of “ignorance”?
The sin of ignorance, also known as an “unintentional sin,” is defined in Leviticus ch. 4. Verse 13 is a good example of the concept:

Leviticus 4:13 “And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance, and the thing be hidden from the eyes of the assembly and they have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which should not be done, and are guilty;”

Look at the specific terminology used in this verse. The phrase “sin through ignorance” is followed by an explanatory phrase, “and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly.” Or, as the New American Standard translates it, “and the matter escapes the notice of the assembly.” So, a sin of ignorance is different from a willful sin (which will be discussed later) in that it is not necessarily something you are aware is a transgression of God’s law when you are doing it. It is “hid” from you, or it “escapes” your attention.

There is also the sense in which a sin of ignorance, or unintentional sin, refers to “sins of ‘surprise’ or ‘passion’—meaning that you did not premeditate and plan your sin before you did it.” In both cases the perpetrator has broken the word of God, and is thereby subject to guilt (Leviticus 5:17, 19).

2. What makes sin a sin?
There is a standard for sin. The passages of Leviticus four and five state this:

Leviticus 4:2 “Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them:”

Leviticus 4:13 “Now if the whole congregation of Israel commits error and the matter escapes the notice of the assembly, and they commit any of the things which the LORD has commanded not to be done, and they become guilty;”

As stated in these verses, a sin is a transgression of the “commandments of the LORD” which is God’s Word. It is also defined in the New Testament in 1 John 3:4. Here, again, sin is defined as a transgression of the law (God’s Word):

1 John 3:4 “Whomever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”

Having now established the standard required to measure whether or not something is sin, we can now define exactly what the action of sin consists of. Simply defined, it is a violation of any of the principles stated in God’s Word. Or, as it is more commonly put, “a violation of a known law of God.”

3. Is a person guilty for a sin of ignorance?
Some have a concept that sin is defined only as a “willful” transgression of a known law of God. But this is contrary to Scripture. As evidence, please see the following verses:

Leviticus 4:13 “And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance, and the thing be hidden from the eyes of the assembly and they have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which should not be done, and are guilty;”

Leviticus 4:22 “When a ruler hath sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD his God concerning things which should not be done, and is guilty;”

Leviticus 4:27 “And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty;”

Leviticus 5:2 “Or if a soul touch any unclean things, whether it be a carcase of an unclean best, or a carcase of unclean cattle, or the carcase of unclean creeping things, and if it be hidden from him; he also shall be unclean, and guilty.”

Leviticus 5:17 “Now if a person sins and does any of the things which the LORD has commanded not to be done, though he was unaware, still he is guilty and shall bear his punishment.”

While there is certainly a difference between willful sin, and a sin of ignorance, they are both still sin, and, hence, are subject to guilt. While you may not always be aware of your sin, or it is unintentional, you still sinned. There is no escaping or circumventing that fact.

4. Is atonement necessary for a sin of ignorance?
Contrary to the popular view today, sins of any kind always require atonement; even those of ignorance. The statement, “I didn’t mean to” doesn’t change the fact that atonement is still required. That atonement is required for a sin of ignorance is well established. Look at the following verses:

Leviticus 4:20 “And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them.”

Leviticus 4:26 “And he shall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him.”

Leviticus 4:31 “…and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him”

Leviticus 4:35 “…and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath committed, and it shall be forgiven him.”

This also supports the assertion earlier that a person is guilty of a sin of ignorance. You would have no need of atonement if you were not guilty.

5. Are all “sins of ignorance” truly ignorance? Or are some of them “unintentional” sins?
Not all sins of ignorance are truly “ignorance” in the sense that the offender is unaware that what he is doing is wrong. In other words, some sins that are classified as “sins of ignorance” could be more accurately stated as “unintentional/inadvertent sins,” or even as “accidental sins.” Leviticus 5:1-13 lists a few of these sins. For example, not testifying to oath, touching unclean animals or humans, and improper oaths. So, the offender knew that it was wrong, but it was not something he planned for, it was not premeditated. To quote Brown again, “[a sin of ignorance] can refer to sins of “surprise” or “passion”—meaning that you did not premeditate and plan your sin before you did it.” In this sense, when you commit some sins that fall under the category of “sins of ignorance” you are not ignorant, or oblivious to the fact that it is sin.

6. What is the difference between “unintentional” sins of Leviticus Ch. 4 and sins of Trespass of Ch. 5?
There are at least two differences between sins of ignorance, and sins of trespass:
A) A sin of trespass deals with sins that involve other people, and have caused them some degree of loss. For example:

Leviticus 6:2 “If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbor in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour;”

In the case of a sin of trespass restitution was always required. Numbers 5:7 gives the exact amount of the restitution payment:

Numbers 5:7 “then he shall confess his sins which he has committed, and he shall make restitution in full for his wrong and add to it one-fifth of it, and give it to him whom he wronged.”

The “it” in vs. 7 is referring to the “full” restitution. So, a person is required to pay 120% in restitution for the sin he committed.

B) Unlike sins of ignorance, which can be committed without knowledge of the fact that it is sin, sins of trespass are “willful” sins. As Hamilton points out, “An examination of the particular situations covered in 6:1-7 (sins against another person) shows that these cannot possibly be sins done inadvertently.” He then goes on to support his argument by saying, “For example, refusing to return something that an acquaintance has placed in one’s safekeeping, or stealing from him, or lying about something that was lost by another and found by oneself can hardly be called inadvertent sins!”

7. What is the difference between a “high handed” sin and a willful sin?
While both of these types of sin come from willful, volitional actions, it is the subsequent conduct of the offender that separates them. Ashley makes the distinction based on the offender’s attitude toward repentance after a willful sin.

A) A willful sin:
If the offender is repentant, he will evidence this by performing the following actions: 1) he confesses his sin, 2) he is truly contrite, and 3) he fulfills the necessary restitution for his sin. If he evidences his repentant attitude by accomplishing this, then his sin will fall under the category of a trespass offering, and he can have guaranteed forgiveness.

B) A “high-handed” sin:
Ashley states about a high handed sin, “the sinner with a high hand considers Yahweh irrelevant for the future; this one sins in an open-eyed and rebellious way, knowing full well what he or she is doing. This kind of rebellion therefore differs from the intentional sin described in Lev. 5:20-26 (Eng. 6:1-7) for which a reparation offering may be made, ‘when the offender feels guilty’ (5:23, 26).” If a person commits a willful sin he is left with two options. He can either be repentant and remorseful, and follow the prescribed steps under the trespass offering, or he can be unrepentant, at which point his sin enters into the category of a high-handed sin.

It should be noted that there is no sacrifice provided to atone for a high-handed sin. While a willful sin falls under the trespass offering, the only thing that can redeem a person who committed a high-handed sin. His only hope of receiving forgiveness is that God will show him mercy (Psalm 51).

As we have seen evidenced in this paper, God takes sin seriously. It is not something to blush at, smile, and go on. It is a heaven or hell situation. It requires true, sincere repentance, not a quick “I’m sorry.” Sin must be denounced and turned from. May God help all of us to truly gain a right conception of sin.

Bibliography

References used:
Ashley, Timothy R. The Book of Numbers. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1993

Brown, Dr. Allan. Anthropology. No publisher. No date.

Brown, Dr. Allan. The Old Testament Sacrificial System. No publisher. No date.

Cole, R. Dennis. Numbers. The New American Commentary. Vol. 3b. Broadman & Holdman Publishers. United States, 1995

Hamilton, Victor P. Handbook on the Pentateuch. Baker Book House. Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1982

References read, but not used:
Brown, Raymond. The Message of Numbers. The Bible Speaks Today. Inter-Varsity Press. Leicester, England 2002

Clarke, Adam. The Bethany Parallel Commentary on the Old Testament. Bethany House Publishers. Minneapolis, Minnesota 1985

Harris, R. Laird. Leviticus. The Expositor’s Bible Commentary. Vol. 2. Zondervan Publishing House. Grand Rapids, Michigan 1990

Harrison, R.K. Leviticus. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. Vol. 3. Inter-Varsity Press. Leicester, England 1980

Martin, Glen S. Leviticus. Holman Old Testament Commentary. Vol. 2. Broadman & Holman Publishers. Nashville, Tennessee 2002

Philip, James. Numbers. The Communicator’s Commentary. Vol. 4. Word Books, Publisher. Waco, Texas 1987

Rooker, Mark F. Leviticus. The New American Commentary. Vol. 3a. Broadman & Holdman Publishers. United States, 2000

Tidball, Derek. The Message of Leviticus. The Bible Speaks Today. Inter-Varsity Press. Leicester, England 2005

Unger, Merrill F. Sacrificial Offerings. Unger’s Bible Dictionary. Moody Press. Chicago, Illinois 1981

Wenham, Gordon J. Numbers. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. Vol. 4. Inter-Varsity Press. Leicester, England 1981

Wenham, Gordon J. The Book of Leviticus. The New International Commentary on the Old Testament. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1979.

Whedon, D.D. Leviticus Numbers and Deuteronomy. Whedon’s Commentary on the Old Testament. Vol. 2. Schmul Publishing Company Incorporated. Salem, Ohio 1980