Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Leviticus 5
Leviticus 5:5then he shall confess the sin that he has committed. And he shall make full restitution for his wrong, adding a fifth to it and giving it to him to whom he did the wrong.
This verse establishes confession as the essential first step toward forgiveness. Acknowledging wrong is as vital as the subsequent sacrifice.Leviticus 5:7“But if he cannot afford a lamb, then he shall bring to the Lord as his compensation for the sin that he has committed two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering.
Here we see God's compassion in action. He ensures forgiveness is available to everyone, regardless of wealth, by creating a system where all can afford to make things right with Him.Leviticus 5:16He shall also make restitution for what he has done amiss in the holy thing and shall add a fifth to it and give it to the priest. And the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering, and he shall be forgiven.
This highlights the principle of restitution, showing that getting right with God also involves making things right with the community by paying back what was mishandled, plus a penalty.
Historical & Cultural Context
The Guilt Offering: When You Sin Without Knowing It
This chapter is part of a larger block of instructions God gave to Moses at Mount Sinai. Having just outlined the major offerings - the burnt, grain, peace, and sin offerings in chapters 1-4 - the focus now narrows to a special category called the guilt offering. This offering deals with specific, often subtle, sins that disrupt the community's relationship with God and each other. It addresses situations where a person might not even be aware they've sinned until later.
A Sliding Scale of Grace: Forgiveness for Rich and Poor
The instructions flow from specific examples of sin to the process for restoration. First, the text identifies four key offenses: withholding testimony, accidental contact with uncleanness, and making a rash promise. Then, it details the remedy: confession, sacrifice, and, in some cases, restitution. A remarkable feature is the sliding scale of sacrifices, which ensures that the poor are not excluded from God's forgiveness, demonstrating His heart for justice and mercy.
A Path to Restoration
In Leviticus 5, God lays out a clear process for dealing with unintentional sins through the guilt offering. The scene is not a narrative but a set of divine instructions given to Moses for the Israelite community. These laws were designed to maintain holiness and restore relationships when they were broken, even accidentally. The chapter carefully defines the types of offenses and then provides a merciful system for atonement that is accessible to everyone.
Four Cases of Hidden Sins (Leviticus 5:1-4)
1 "If anyone sins in that he hears a public adjuration to testify, and though he is a witness, whether he has seen or come to know the matter, yet does not speak, he shall bear his iniquity;"
2 Or if anyone touches an unclean thing, whether a carcass of an unclean wild animal or a carcass of unclean livestock or a carcass of unclean swarming things, and it is hidden from him and he has become unclean, he realizes his guilt.
3 or if he touches human uncleanness, of whatever sort the uncleanness may be with which one becomes unclean, and it is hidden from him, when he comes to know it, and realizes his guilt;
4 Or if anyone utters with his lips a rash oath to do evil or to do good, any sort of rash oath that people swear, and it is hidden from him, when he comes to know it, and he realizes his guilt in any of these;
Commentary:
This passage identifies specific unintentional sins, like withholding testimony or making a rash vow, that require an offering once realized.
Confession and the Standard Sacrifice (Leviticus 5:5-6)
5 then he shall confess the sin that he has committed. And he shall make full restitution for his wrong, adding a fifth to it and giving it to him to whom he did the wrong.
6 He shall bring to the priest a ram without blemish out of the flock, or its equivalent for a guilt offering, and the priest shall make atonement for him for the mistake that he made unintentionally, and he shall be forgiven.
Commentary:
The first steps to forgiveness are to confess the specific sin and bring the standard sacrifice of a lamb or goat.
A Gracious Provision for the Poor (Leviticus 5:7-13)
7 “But if he cannot afford a lamb, then he shall bring to the Lord as his compensation for the sin that he has committed two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering.
8 And he shall bring them to the priest, who shall offer first the one for the sin offering. He shall wring its head from its neck but shall not sever it completely,
9 And he shall sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar, while the rest of the blood shall be drained out at the base of the altar; it is a sin offering.
10 Then he shall offer the second for a burnt offering according to the rule. And the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin that he has committed, and he shall be forgiven.
11 “But if he cannot afford two turtledoves or two pigeons, then he shall bring as his offering for the sin that he has committed a tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering. He shall put no oil on it and shall put no frankincense on it, for it is a sin offering.
12 Then he shall bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take a handful of it as its memorial portion and burn this on the altar, on the Lord's food offerings; it is a sin offering.
13 Thus the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin which he has committed in any one of these things, and he shall be forgiven.
Commentary:
God makes forgiveness accessible to all by allowing the poor to offer birds or even flour if they cannot afford a lamb.
Sins Against Holy Things (Leviticus 5:14-19)
14 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
15 "If anyone commits a breach of faith and sins unintentionally in any of the holy things of the Lord, he shall bring to the Lord as his compensation, a ram without blemish out of the flock, valued in silver shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, for a guilt offering."
16 He shall also make restitution for what he has done amiss in the holy thing and shall add a fifth to it and give it to the priest. And the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering, and he shall be forgiven.
17 "If anyone sins, doing any of the things that by the Lord's commandments ought not to be done, though he did not know it, then realizes his guilt, he shall bear his iniquity."
18 He shall bring to the priest a ram without blemish out of the flock, or its equivalent for a guilt offering, and the priest shall make atonement for him for the mistake that he made unintentionally, and he shall be forgiven.
19 It is a guilt offering; he has indeed incurred guilt before the Lord.”
Commentary:
If someone unintentionally mishandles sacred items, they must offer a ram and pay back the value plus a twenty percent fine.
Core Truths in the Guilt Offering
The Seriousness of All Sin
This chapter shows that even sins we commit by accident or in ignorance have consequences. They still create a distance between us and a holy God. The requirement of a sacrifice underscores that sin is never a small matter and must be dealt with to restore fellowship.
God's Accessible Mercy
The sliding scale of offerings is a powerful picture of God's grace. He doesn't set a standard that only the wealthy can meet. His primary desire is for a person's heart to turn back to Him, and He makes the path of forgiveness possible for everyone, regardless of their economic situation.
Restitution and Responsibility
Forgiveness from God doesn't erase our responsibility to others. The requirement to pay back what was wronged, plus a penalty, teaches that true repentance involves taking action to repair the damage we've caused. It connects our vertical relationship with God to our horizontal relationships with people.
Living It Out Today
Leviticus 5 encourages you to take all sin seriously, not only the big, obvious ones. It reminds you that even unintentional actions can be harmful and require you to seek forgiveness. Instead of brushing off a mistake, this chapter prompts you to confess it to God and, if necessary, to the person you wronged.
The sliding scale in verses 7-13 reveals that God's heart is full of compassion and justice. He cares more about your repentant attitude than the size of your offering. This shows that God is not a cosmic accountant but a loving Father who ensures everyone has a way to come back to Him.
The principle of restitution in verse 16 challenges you to go beyond merely saying 'I'm sorry.' When you've caused a loss, whether financial, emotional, or relational, think about how you can actively help restore what was broken. It might mean paying for a damaged item, correcting a rumor you spread, or asking, 'What can I do to make this right?'
God's Plan for Making Wrongs Right
Leviticus 5 reveals God's detailed and compassionate plan for restoring relationships broken by sin. It shows that God is holy and cannot ignore wrongdoing, yet He is also merciful, providing a clear path back to Himself. The message is personal and significant: God cares about the integrity of our words, actions, and responsibilities, and He has provided a way for everyone to find forgiveness and wholeness.
What This Means for Us Today
The guilt offering was an invitation to live with awareness and integrity before God and others. It calls us to confess our faults quickly, make amends where we can, and trust in the forgiveness God provides. For us today, it points to Jesus, the perfect offering who covers all our guilt, inviting us into a relationship where we can be honest about our failures and confident in His grace.
- Is there a 'hidden sin' in your life that you need to confess to God today?
- Who in your life do you need to make restitution with, going beyond a simple apology?
- How can you better reflect God's compassion for the poor and marginalized in your own community?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
This chapter details the 'sin offering' for unintentional sins by different groups, setting the stage for the specific cases of the 'guilt offering' in chapter 5.
The instructions continue with more details about how the priests are to handle the guilt offering and other sacrifices, clarifying their roles and responsibilities.
Connections Across Scripture
Jesus echoes the principle of restitution, teaching that making things right with others is so important that it should happen even before presenting an offering to God.
This passage explains how Jesus's death is the ultimate, once-for-all sacrifice that fulfills the entire Old Testament system of offerings, including the guilt offering.
This passage provides another look at the laws of restitution, emphasizing confession and repayment when someone defrauds another.
Discussion Questions
- Leviticus 5 covers sins people commit without realizing it at first. How can we become more aware of our own 'blind spots' and hidden faults today?
- The law provided different sacrifices based on what a person could afford. How does this principle of accessibility challenge or affirm the way we practice giving and worship in our communities?
- The idea of restitution (paying back plus 20%) is central to the guilt offering. In what practical ways can we apply this principle when we have wronged someone in our modern world?
Glossary
figures
theological concepts
Atonement
The act of covering over sin through a sacrifice, which repairs the relationship between God and humanity.
Restitution
The act of making things right by restoring what was lost or damaged, often with an added penalty.
Uncleanness
A state of being ceremonially impure, which temporarily prevented someone from participating in worship at the Tabernacle.
Guilt Offering
A specific sacrifice required for unintentional sins that violated God's holy things or wronged another person.