Through the Bible: Leviticusনমুনা

The Guilt Offering

This is the law of the guilt offering. It is most holy.

Leviticus 7:1 (ESV)

Among the five offerings in Leviticus, the guilt offering is described in 5:14-6:7 and 7:1-6. The guilt offering is required when a person commits a violation unintentionally in any of the LORD’s holy things or when a person violates another person where monetary restitution is possible. The guilt offering not only calls the contrite perpetrator to bring a ram as a sacrifice to God, but also to reconcile with the victim by making restitution in full with a 20% markup. The guilt offering gives us an insight that reconciliation in God’s sight is twofold. Coming to the altar to reconcile with God has only done half, and we must do what is essential to reconcile our relationship with others. The grace of Jesus Christ covers all kinds of sins, but it ought not be a cheap substitute to release our guilt when we deliberately ignore our responsibility to mend the damages. We should love God and our neighbor, as it is most holy.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, show me where I may need to make this guilt offering by repenting in Jesus Christ as well as taking actions to reconcile with the one harmed by my misdeed. In Jesus’ name, amen.