The Sin and Trespass Offerings: A Comparison and Contrast

(A paper from my early days of Bible college)

What is a sin of “ignorance”?

A sin of ignorance is a transgression of God’s law committed without the knowledge of the offender. Either the offender is unaware of the law or he is unaware of his violation of the law. Ignorance of a law does not negate that law. Regardless of the knowledge (or lack thereof) of those governed by the law, the law remains the same. God’s law is separate from us, external, and is in no way changed by our perception (or lack of perception) of it.

What makes a sin a sin?

God’s law creates the possibility of sin. If there were no absolute standard from which to deviate there could be no sin. “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” (1Jo 3:4) “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.”(Jam 2:10-11) Scripture also defines sin as anything that is not of faith. (Rom 14:23). Sin is sin because God said so. Sin is sin because it is bad for us (Deut 6:24).

Is a person guilty for a sin of ignorance?

Yes. Genesis 20 tells about king Abimelech ignorantly taking Sarah to be his wife. “And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.” (Gen 20:6) We can infer from this scripture that had the king had sex with Sarah he would have sinned against God in spite of his ignorance of Sarah’s marital status.

Israel was considered “guilty” for sins of ignorance. “And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which should not be done, and are guilty;” (Lev 4:13) “It is a trespass offering: he hath certainly trespassed against the LORD.” (Lev 5:19)

 God’s Word reveals that Paul persecuted the Church in ignorance. (1 Tim. 1:12,13) Others will do and have done the same sort of thing. “They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.” (Joh 16:2) Can you imagine claiming that such crimes were not really crimes on account of the ignorance of the perpetrators? Those who perpetrate heinous or even, seemingly, not so heinous crimes are guilty regardless of their knowledge of right and wrong. The world crucified the Christ unwittingly. “But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, …I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;” (Act 3:14-19) “Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (1Co 2:8)

However, punishment differs according to the knowledge of the offender. “But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” (Luk 12:48) God takes ignorance into account when dispensing mercy. “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.” (1Ti 1:12-13)

Is atonement necessary for a sin of ignorance?

Yes. “If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering… (Lev 4:3-12) “And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance…When the sin, which they have sinned against it, is known, then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin… the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock before the LORD… the priest that is anointed shall bring of the bullock's blood to the tabernacle of the congregation… and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them.” (Lev 4:13-20) “When a ruler hath sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD his God concerning things which should not be done, and is guilty…he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish: And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat, and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the LORD: it is a sin offering… and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him.” (Lev 4:22-26)

Are all “sins of ignorance” truly ignorance? Are some of them “unintentional sins”?

Leviticus 6:2-5 Describes acts, which hardly seem to be the sorts of errors committed in ignorance. Such sins as “false swearing” or taking something away “violently” or “deceitfully” are included in the trespass offering designated for sins of “ignorance”. Such sins, although known, may not have been premeditation and are therefore lumped in with the unintentional sins. Victor Hamilton provides another thought on this subject in his commentary on the Pentateuch.

To solve the dilemma – how can deliberate sins be forgiven? – we may turn to a variant of Leviticus 5:14 – 6:7 and that is Numbers 5:6 – 8. What is novel and crucial in the passage in Numbers is that confession is essential in the case of a deliberate sin. It must succeed conviction and precede restitution (Num 5:7). Thus the sin moves into the category of inadvertent sin and may be expiated.

Quoting Milgrom he says:

A more correct understanding of this priestly postulate [i.e., that only involuntary wrongdoers are eligible for sacrificial atonement] would be that sacrificial atonement is barred to the unrepentant sinner. (Hamilton, p. 261)

Apparently, there is more to the offering for “sins of ignorance” than simply an offering for acts committed in ignorance of God’s law. It seems that provision was made for sins committed unintentionally and without premeditation.

What is the difference between the so-called “sin of ignorance” and the “sin of trespass”?

The offender did not confess his sin when offering for the sin of ignorance described in chapter four. (Tenney, V, 203) The sin of ignorance was just that…a sin committed in ignorance of the commandments of the Lord. No sacrifice is provided in chapter four for those who sinned with knowledge of the law. The trespass offering in chapter five however covers sins that were not ignorantly committed. These offerings were for “a person who had either deprived another of his rights or had desecrated something holy”. (Dockery, 154) Those who refused to testify under oath or who touched an unclean thing and failed to follow the commandments in Leviticus 11:24-31 were compelled to bring a trespass offering.

And for these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcase of them shall be unclean until the even. And whosoever beareth ought of the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even. The carcases of every beast which divideth the hoof, and is not clovenfooted, nor cheweth the cud, are unclean unto you: every one that toucheth them shall be unclean. And whatsoever goeth upon his paws, among all manner of beasts that go on all four, those are unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcase shall be unclean until the even. And he that beareth the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: they are unclean unto you. These also shall be unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth; the weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise after his kind, And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole. These are unclean to you among all that creep: whosoever doth touch them, when they be dead, shall be unclean until the even. (Lev 11:24-31)

Sins such as lying and robbery were covered in the trespass offering. Such sins were not covered under the sin offering prescribed in chapter four. The trespass offering also differed from the sin offering in that it required restitution to be made for the property damage of the victim.

What is the difference between a “high handed” sin and a “willful” sin?

The “presumptuous” sin of Numbers 15:30-31 is a sin of “bold daring acts of transgression against the fullest evidence, and in despite of the Divine authority…” (Carke, I, p. 668). In the case of a presumptuous sin all repentance is precluded. Those who hold God’s revealed will in contempt cannot be forgiven.*

Unlike a “high handed” sin, a “willful” sin can be forgiven when confessed and forsaken. A willful sin does not necessitate a continual separation from God. Any who will confess and forsake sin, even if they were aware of God’s law when they committed that sin, can find forgiveness from God.

Hamilton, Victor. Handbook on the Pentateuch.

Clarke, I, p. 521,668

Tenney, Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, V, p. 203

Dockery, Holman Bible Handbook, p. 154

*I should add that they can be forgiven once they have a change of heart. Jesus taught us that all sins will be forgiven except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. 

Unstoppable in Obedience

Acts 4:13 ¶ Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. ¹⁴ And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. ¹⁵ But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, ¹⁶ Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. ¹⁷ But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. ¹⁸ And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹ But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. ²⁰ For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. ²¹ So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done. ²² For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.

Like their Master (13)

-          Bold in spite of not having official education

-          Reminded the authorities of Jesus

-          We study in obedience to God. But ultimately our wisdom, our learning, comes from God the Spirit.

-          Does your boldness and wisdom remind people of Jesus?

Living evidence (14-16)

-          They had in front of them a life miraculously changed

-          Examples of changed lives

o   Nathan – drug addiction left him homeless, until Jesus changed him

o   Davis – drug addicted and homeless when he met Jesus

o   Phil Burress – porn addict for years when he met Jesus

o   Every saint

o   Physical healings

-          Our lives and the lives we impact are a mighty witness

-          Is your life evidence for or against Jesus?

Enemies try their best (17-22)

-          They made strong threats

-          If we could pull back the veil (demonic opposition)

-          If we fear God we need not fear anything else

-          If you obey God you will be victorious 

      Nothing can stop us but disobedience!

Are you bold about the things of God?

Are you a student? Is it important to be a student?

Proof in the pudding: examples of testimony backed up or refuted by actions?

Satan wants us to be afraid to obey God. Have you ever experienced fear in obeying God?

Are you willing to suffer in order to obey God rather than man?

Good News for All is Bad News to Some

Acts 4:1 ¶ And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, ² Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. ³ And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. ⁴ Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand. ⁵ ¶ And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, ⁶ ¶ And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. ⁷ And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? ⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, ⁹ If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; ¹⁰ Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. ¹¹ This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. ¹² Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

The Gospel brings division (1-4)

-          The religious leaders were upset, but thousands of the people were happy

-          Man who thanked me and decided not to kill himself, woman who thanked me and gave me money (so that she wouldn’t buy crack with it), cussed at, “Satan loves me”, etc.

-          Do not expect to be celebrated by everyone (Sadducees didn’t accept doctrine of resurrection)

-          Proclaim the full message everywhere

The Gospel brings scandal (5-12)

-          Poor and unknown people exercise power through the Gospel (5-7)

o   In Jesus’ name!

-          Jesus works through them just as he promised (8)

o    Luke 21:14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: ¹⁵ For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

-          Precisely the one the leaders did not want was the One God had chosen – Jesus (9-11)

o    Psalm 118:22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

-          Only one way to God – Jesus (12)

In what ways have you seen people react negatively and positively to the Gospel?

Have you ever endured persecution because you presented the Gospel?

Why do you suppose people resist the Gospel?

Have you ever personally resisted the Gospel? Have you ever resisted other light?

Why is it that so many poor and lowly people accept the Gospel?

Is the promise Jesus made in Luke 21:14 for us today?

What does salvation mean? (v. 12 sozo)

What does it mean to say that Jesus is the only source of salvation? 

The Name of Jesus

Acts 3:11-26

Peter preaches another powerful sermon. The message is about Jesus.
The name of Jesus is: 

Rejected
The Jewish people and their leaders rejected Jesus. He was the Prince of Life but they chose instead a murderer, Barabbas. What an unthinkable rejection! By rejecting the name of Jesus they were rejecting life. And still many would rather choose the one who comes to "kill, steal, and destroy" than the Prince of Life. Those who choose to follow Jesus bear the rejection that comes with the name. Jesus told his disciples not to be surprised if they were hated and rejected.

Exalted
But God has raised him up! Jesus was approved of God by many signs and wonders. Finally, he was ultimately approved by his resurrection from the dead. Jesus now sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty, reigning with him. So it is with everyone who takes Jesus as their own, obediently following him. Even if they are despised and rejected by humans they will finally be vindicated and exalted by God himself.

Powerful
None other could do the miracles Jesus did. Then he departed, taken into Heaven. Now the same signs follow those who believe and exercise faith in his name. There is no other name that brings healing to those born crippled -- only the name of Jesus.

Predicted
Jesus was promised from the beginning. He fulfilled the predictions of the prophets. His suffering was a crime against all that is right and good. Yet it was all part of God's plan. Jesus was God's answer to human needs.

Authoritative
Moses spoke of a prophet to whom all must either give heed or perish. That prophet is Jesus. His name is the name at which every knee shall bow. Everyone will confess that he is Lord. By the authority in the name of Jesus we continue, just like Peter and the other Apostles, to command people to repent. Jesus still has authority to forgive sins and will judge humanity in the last day.

Jewish 
Jesus is seed promised to Abraham. His name is a Jewish name, Joshua (or Yeshua), meaning Savior. He was sent to save his people from their sins. He was sent first to the Jews. Peter's sermon was preached to Jews. Jesus is a Jewish name. But also a human name. Jesus is the One in whom all the nations of the earth are blessed.

Saviour
Jesus was sent to bless us. How was he to bless us? By turning us away from our iniquities. Jesus came to "save his people from their sins." We do well to remember that the wonderful grace of Jesus is grace that brings repentance. His name is powerful enough to enable you to quit sinning.

Miracle at the Gate

Acts 3:1 ¶ Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. ² And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; ³ Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. ⁴ And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. ⁵ And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. ⁶ Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. ⁷ And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. ⁸ And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. ⁹ And all the people saw him walking and praising God: ¹⁰ And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

An amazing miracle

This wasn’t just any old miracle. The apostles performed many miracles (Acts 2:43). This was a particularly miraculous sort of miracle. This was the healing of someone born with a defect. Did the man even dare to hope that he would one day be able to walk?

When Jesus healed the man born blind it was said that no one had ever heard of something like that ever taking place in the history of humanity (John 9:32). Now the followers of Jesus had just performed an equally marvelous miracle. A man born lame was instantly healed!

As we witness, through Luke’s testimony, the healing of this man born lame we are inspired to worship our miracle-working God. Certainly we are left with questions. Why didn’t the apostles spend their lives traveling around healing everyone? Why don’t we see more of these healings today? Have you ever known or even heard of someone born lame that began to leap and walk suddenly? Ultimately our questions will not be answered in this life. What is certain is God’s goodness and power. He is worthy to be praised!

Were it not for God’s goodness no one would ever be healed, Jesus would never have walked amongst us healing those who were sick and oppressed of the devil, and we would have no hope that our prayers for healing and deliverance would find answers. God’s goodness is beyond question.

This most miraculous of miracles also leaves us without doubt that God has unlimited power. That means that no matter how dark the night there is reason for hope. In this miracle we see a glimpse of God’s good plan for all of creation. What has been crippled and broken for thousands of years will soon be restored, revitalized, made new.

Not just for one man at one gate

What God did for that man outside of the gate called Beautiful was truly unique. Yet, it wasn’t. This apostolic miracle is strikingly similar to the activities Jesus had been performing during his days in the flesh. The work Jesus began on Earth is continuing through his church.

Jesus came to save his people from their sins. But that’s not all he came to do. He cared for our physical needs. He healed physical bodies. He gave food to the hungry. This man begging outside of the temple could count on the generosity of the Jewish people. He could count on their generosity because they had been taught by God to take care of the poor. This gives us a glimpse of God’s agenda. God intends to meet our needs both physical and spiritual. These days he largely accomplishes this through his people.

A beauty yet to be seen

The gate called Beautiful was likely a gate known as the Corinthian gate. Unlike the other temple gates, which were made of gold and silver, this gate was fashioned from bronze. This gate was considered to be the most beautiful gate of all because of its amazing artwork.

Somehow this beggar’s life was like that gate, made more beautiful, in spite of its smallness, than the silver and gold lives that surrounded. This was a life tried by fire. This was a life fashioned through terrible suffering. This was a life marked by a degree of thankfulness that could not be realized in the more comfortable lives around him.

Michelle, a young woman known by the church, spent her life crippled. She suffered from Spina Bifida. Not once did she get to play like a normal little girl. She never ran and skinned her knee. She never learned to ride a bicycle. She never skipped or jumped rope. Boys never lined up at her door to court her. Don’t get me wrong, she lived a good life. She loved her family and her family loved her. She graduated high school and went on to college. But she needed constant care from her supportive family. This October, at the young age of 40, she left us.

Michelle waits. We wait. We live by faith in this in between time. Jesus is Lord. Yet, we pray that his will will be done here on earth as it is in heaven. Jesus is King. But we wait to crown him King of kings and Lord of the lords. His kingdom has come and yet his kingdom has not fully arrived. It’s as though we live in a land where two maps overlap. We see hints in shadows, or rather in bright spots – like the healing of this lame man, of how things should be, how things will be. Michelle waits. We wait.

We wait in authority. Just as the Apostles performed miracles in the authority of the name of Jesus, so can we. Signs and wonders still follow those who believe. We wait in faith.

Isaiah 35:6 Then shall the lame man leap as a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

Hour of Prayer

Praise & Worship – 15 minutes

Praise God for the things he has done. Worship God for who his acts reveal him to be.

Examination & Confession – 5 minutes

We fall short. It is good for us to recognize our faults and sins. Confessing our failures helps us to grow. Ask God to reveal sins that you don’t know about. Prayerfully read Scriptures such as Romans 12, Galatians 5, Ephesians 5, Colossians 3, James, and 1 John.  You may not need to read much. Allow God to show you where you can improve. Confess your sins and ask for more grace to grow to full Christian maturity.

Intercession – 20 minutes

Prayer changes things. Make lists. Pray freely.
Pray for governments, universities, cities, nations, family, spiritual needs, physical needs, just pray.
Scripture and experience reveal that
prayer changes things.

Personal Petitions – 5 minutes

God enjoys giving good gifts to his children. Pray confidently.

Thanksgiving – 5 minutes

Express thanks for what God has done. Give thanks for what you expect he will do in response to prayer.

Praise, Sing & Listen – 10 minutes

Delight in God’s presence. Make sure to take time to be quiet in his presence. God still speaks.

Jesus the Stranger

John chapter 1


He made the world. Yet, it considered him a stranger. 


Everyone wants to go where "everybody knows your name." But Jesus came where he knew there would be no room for him, where he would be considered a stranger. 

We do well to remember that he was unrecognized and be careful not to miss him 

• He is still met in the stranger 
• His people are still strangers, still rejected 

 Is there room in your heart for the stranger?