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TRESPASS OFFERING – A NON-BLOOD OFFERING?
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17
Leviticus 5

Hebrews 9:22

 

“And the priest shall make an atonement
for him as touching his sin…

and it shall be forgiven him…”

 

TRESPASS OFFERING – A NON-BLOOD OFFERING?

 

The trespass offering or sin-offering was for the cleansing of the Israelite who had sinned. It was not an option like the other offerings in the sense that a person could not help himself if he suddenly came into contact with a dead person or a woman experiencing her monthly period. A trespass offering was immediately required unlike the other offerings like the burnt offering where the person could bring his offering when he was ready. But an unclean person needed to get cleansed before God as soon as possible as he could cause others to be unclean by contact. If that happened, he could be ostracised by friends and family.
 
God permitted a very poor person to offer “the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour” (Lev 5:11). This ensured that no one was excused from being holy in the sight of God. The importance of holiness for all of God’s people regardless of their financial status is definitely the emphasis. Thus, the book of Hebrews in 9:22 says, “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” God’s holy and perfect Word is very precise, knowing that not all of His permitted offerings were with blood. This trespass or sin-offering was an exception. Though a non-blood offering was permitted by the LORD, it did not diminish the significance of the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ. These clean animal sacrifices were temporary substitutes until the incarnation of Christ. They had their weakness as seen in this scenario. The LORD knew the poverty in some of His people as they lived and witnessed for Him in the Promised Land. The spiritual significance in these offerings was more important than the “types” of offerings permitted. The LORD had to ensure no Israelite was excused from being cleansed and thus be disqualified from partaking the holy feasts or any holy activities because he could not afford to bring an offering. The lesson for us is that there is no excuse for any sinner or saint to remain in sin when Christ has made Himself freely available to all, to come before Him in true repentance, seeking the forgiveness of sin.
 
MEMORISATION: Leviticus 5:11
PRAYER: I thank Thee, Father, for salvation made possible throughout all generations even before Christ came. Amen.

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