Leviticus 5 Study - "Trespass Offerings" - Restitution Offerings" ...
Leviticus Chapter 5 Study – “Trespass Offerings” – “Restitution Offerings” – (vv. 1-26)
Notes Leviticus 5 Study – (vv. 1-26)
5:2-3: Under the Law of Moses, to touch any unclean thing- the carcass of an unclean animal, or an animal killed by a wild animal, or unclean carcasses of creeping things, or the unclean carcasses of cattle, or any human uncleanness – was sin … This uncleanness was a type of uncleanness relating to both soul and body … (Romans 1:23; Galatians 5:18-21; Ephesians 5:3-5 – list examples of such uncleanness …
Romans 1:23
23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like [a]corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
Galatians 5:18-21
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: [a]adultery, [b]fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, [c]murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Ephesians 5:3-5
3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For [a]this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Under the new covenant, to live an unclean life in body and soul is contrary to the teachings of Christ – (Ephesians 4:19-20) … Therefore, we must not touch what is unclean, but if we do, we must cleanse ourselves to be acceptable to the Father – (2Corinthians 6:17-7:1) …
Ephesians 4:19-20
19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But you have not so learned Christ,
2Corinthians 6:17-7:1
17 Therefore
“Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” 18 “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.”
The Corinthians’ Repentance
7 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
5:6: Involuntary sin committed contrary to the Mosaic Law- such as failing to give testimony regarding an oath heard – (v. 1), any uncleanness – (vv. 2, 3), sinning with the tongue – (v. 4) – required confession, which includes knowledge of the sin and genuine repentance … Under the new covenant, any sin of thought, word, or deed, whether voluntary or involuntary, is to be confessed to God, and He is faithful and righteous to forgive and cleanse the confessor … If we genuinely confess our known sins, He even forgives and cleanses the unknown ones as we walk in the light – (1John 1:7-9) …
1John 1:7-9
7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The priest would make atonement for the sinner, that is, reconcile him with God … This speaks of Christ, our Great High Priest, who is now in the heavenly holy of holies reconciling the repentant sinner through His precious blood … He cleanses and remits the sins of the repentant …
5:11: Under the Law of Moses, poverty was no hindrance to attaining the remission of sins … Under the new covenant, Christ became poor for our sakes, for poverty cannot keep a person from Him and His salvation – (2Corinthians 8:9) … But love of riches does – (Matthew 6:24) …
2Corinthians 8:9
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
Matthew 6:24
You Cannot Serve God and Riches
24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and [a]mammon.
5:15, 21, 25: The sin offering, and the trespass offering were similar in that both were offered for transgressing the Lord’s commandments … They were distinct in that the trespass offering also included offerings for transgressions committed against one’s neighbor … But no special provisions were made for the poor in their transgression against a neighbor, as was the case with the sin offering … Everyone, whether rich or poor, was on equal footing in this regard … The poor had no more excuse for infringing on the rights of others than the rich …
In this modern era, some believe the poor have the right to steal from the rich, but poverty is no justification for sinning against a neighbor … Nor do the rich have any excuse for transgressions … But God’s law is fulfilled through love of neighbor, whether they are rich or poor …
5:24-26: Full restoration was to be made, with one-fifth more added to it … This restoration evidenced at least two things on the part of the offender … it showed genuine repentance toward God and love toward neighbor … With these two things in place, the trespass offering was brought, and the sin atoned for …
Zacchaeus made full restoration to his neighbors, which showed genuine repentance and love on his part … Thus, the Lord said of him, “Today salvation has come to this house” – (Luke 9:9) … Jesus also, for His part, made full restitution for sins and trespasses plus – ONE-FIFTH MORE, through thee Cross …