The sin offering brings up an important question: what is sin? I think God defined it for the Israelites: “If a person sins unintentionally in any of the things which the LORD has commanded not to be done, and commits any of them…” (Lv 4:1; emphasis mine). And, since God does not change (Ml 3:6), it is still God’s definition. While this definition may not sit well with us today, it is the definition God himself put on it. Sin is anything God has commanded not to be done. It doesn’t matter if we can rationalize it. God’s definition still stands. Also, we see that sin may be either ignorant or willful; active or passive. This means we can sin even when we don’t intend to. Ignorance was not punished, but revelation of one’s ignorance required action.

Why was this so important to God? Sin results in defilement. God stated there were sins which Israel committed which were said to defile the people, the land, and even the dwelling place of God: sexual immorality (Lv 18:24-30); bloodshed (Nu 35:29-34); occult practices (Lv 19:31; 20:6); infant sacrifice (Lv 20:1-5); divorce (Jr 3:1); false worship (Jr 16:18). These are things we still commit today. We may have tweaked them and made them more sophisticated, but we still commit them. God still sees them as sin.

Sin is exceedingly costly. The people had to sacrifice their livelihood and be dependent upon God for their survival. Bob Deffinbaugh, Community Bible Chapel, Richardson, TX, made the following statement: “When you think of what it would cost an Israelite who wished to maintain his walk with God, it would have been a religion almost too costly to be able to afford. No wonder God promised to prosper this people greatly!” If this practice of worship was still in existence today, would people even dare obey it?

The only solution for the guilt of sin was blood atonement. Sin led to guilt which led to blood sacrifice. By offering fat and sprinkling blood and then destroying the rest, God made it clear it was the blood that made atonement. The death of Christ, who died once and for all, has made atonement for man’s sin, and assures forgiveness.

Ignorance is not bliss. Bob Deffinbaugh also stated the following, “The Israelites were held accountable for the sins they committed ignorantly. Many contemporary Christians seem to think that if they don’t study their Bibles, if they don’t familiarize themselves with the standards and principles God has given in the Bible, they will not be responsible for their sins committed in ignorance. Not so! The Sin Offering strongly suggests that we had better become careful students of the revealed Word of God, for it is disobedience to His word that constitutes sin.” And as was already stated, we don’t define sin, God does.

So, what’s the answer? What is our hope? Christ is our answer. “But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” (Hb 9:11-14).

In addition, Peter tells us the following: “Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’ Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed form the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with this previous blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified them, and so your faith and hope are in God” (1Pt 1:13-21).

Although God hates sin, he loves us. That is why he paved the way for us. He did for us what we could not do for ourselves. We just have to accept. Will you? Take that leap of faith. Your only regret will only be why you didn’t do it even earlier.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

I guess it’s pretty self-explanatory what a sin offering was for. Yet, since everyone sins, everyone’s sin had to be atoned for—including the priests. This offering was made when one sinned unintentionally, and it was made for a specific sin.

When priests unintentionally sinned, it brought guilt to all the people. When such occurred, the priest was to bring a young bull without blemish (Lv 4:3-12). A bull was one of the more expensive and precious livestock. The priest would lay his hands on the animal for atonement and then slaughter it. The blood of the bull was sprinkled before the veil in the Holy Place of the tabernacle. Blood was then placed on the horns of the Altar of Incense, and the remainder of the blood was poured at the base of the Brazen Altar outside the tabernacle. The fat of the animal was then offered on the Brazen Altar. The remainder of the animal was taken outside the camp to the ash heap and burned to ashes on a wood fire. This was symbolic of how sins were dealt with by God. The sin was symbolically transferred to a valuable animal whose blood atoned for their relationship to God, for their prayers to God, and then offered to God. Once the animal was completely consumed, nothing of the sin was left remaining.

When the congregation sinned unintentionally, they, too, were to bring a young bull without blemish (Lv 4:13-21). The elders (one from each of the twelve clans or tribes) would lay their hands on the head of the animal for atonement and then slaughter it. Again, this shows how they were intimately involved with the sacrifice. The blood of the bull was sprinkled before the veil in the Holy Place of the tabernacle and placed on the horns of the Altar of Incense. The remainder of the blood was poured at the base of the Brazen Altar, the fat offered, and the remainder of the animal taken outside the camp to the ash heap and burned to ashes on a wood fire.

When a leader of the people sinned unintentionally, he would bring a male goat without defect (Lv 4:22-26). He would lay his hands on the head of animal for atonement and then slaughter it himself. The priest would then place the blood on the horns of the Brazen Altar while the remainder of the blood was poured at its base. The fat of the animal was offered. Both the priest and his male family members could eat the remainder within the courtyard of the tabernacle.

When a member of the community sinned unintentionally, they would bring either a female goat or female lamb without defect (Lv 4:27-35). They would lay their hands on the head of animal for atonement and then slaughter it themselves. The priest would place blood on the horns of the Brazen Altar, the remainder of the blood poured at its base, and the fat offered on the Brazen Altar. The priest and his male family members could eat the remainder within the courtyard of the tabernacle.

So, what happened with the sin was not unintentional? The sin not forgiven (Lv 5:1). Also, if someone did not speak up about what they knew about someone accused, they would be held responsible, and a sin offering would not be accepted. A defiant sin was not forgiven, and they would lose their inheritance (Nu 15:27-31).

There were several sins mentioned that would be forgiven (Lv 5:2-4): realizing one unknowingly touched something unclean, or someone thoughtlessly took an oath. They had to confess their specific sin (Lv 5:5). Once the sin was recognized, specific requirements were dictated (Lv 5:6-13). The offender was to bring either a female lamb or goat, or, if they were poor, they were to bring two doves or two pigeons: one for a sin offering; the other for a burnt offering. The sin offering was made first (the head of the bird was wrung from its neck, blood splattered against the side of the Brazen Altar; the remainder drained at the base of the Brazen Altar). The other bird was offered as a burnt offering as previously described. If they could afford neither of these types of offerings, they were to bring one-tenth ephah (3½ lbs) of the finest flour (this required extreme effort on their part to make flour this fine). It could not contain olive oil or incense. The memorial part was offered on the altar; the rest of the offering belonged to the priest.

Some interesting facts were then provided about this type of offering (Lv 6:24-30). Whatever touched the flesh of the sacrifice became holy. Blood on any garment had to be washed in the sanctuary area. A clay pot cooking the meat had to be destroyed. A bronze pot cooking the meat had to be scoured and rinsed with water. As previously noted, only the flesh from the sin offering which did not require blood to be sprinkled in the Holy Place could be eaten by the priest; otherwise, the rest of the sacrifice had to be taken outside the camp and burned to ashes.

In summary, the sin offering was to be made for a specific sin and had to be made as soon as possible once the sin was identified. This type of offering was made only for sins which were unintentional. The offering made for sin which caused the congregation to sin was treated differently from the offering made for one’s individual sin, and the one making the offering received none of the sacrifice for consumption.

That brings us to the real question: what was the purpose of all of this? Stay tuned for the next post which will address this question and then explore what it means for us today.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens