Leviticus 5

7–13 If an Israelite could not afford a lamb or goat, he could offer two doves and two pigeons (verse 7) or even a tenth of an ephah¹⁶ of fine flour. Forgiveness was available to everyone, rich and poor. A poor man’s pigeon or flour was as acceptable to God as the rich man’s sheep or goat. A rich man could not buy forgiveness with an expensive offering. All alike received forgiveness on the same basis: the love and mercy of God. By humbly confessing their sin and bringing their offering to God’s altar, the Israelites were, in effect, casting themselves on God’s mercy. Thus for the Israelites—as for us—it was not the confession or the offering that effected forgiveness but God Himself, responding to their humble trust in Him.

The Guilt Offering (5:14–19)

14–19 The guilt offering was the fifth of the five major offerings that God commanded the Israelites to offer to Him. It differed from the sin offering in that restitution had to be paid for any damage or loss that resulted from the sin. If a person sinned privately without causing loss or damage to anyone else, the sin offering sufficed. But if any loss or damage occurred to someone else, then in addition to the offering, the damage or loss had to be made up, if possible.

In verses 14–19, “damage or loss” to the Lord is discussed; in Leviticus 6:1–7, damage or loss to other people is discussed. But we must always keep in mind that any sin against other people is also a sin against God.

First to be mentioned are sins causing “loss” in regard to any of the LORD’s holy things (verse 15). These “holy things” would include anything that had been consecrated or dedicated to the Lord. Examples would include all the offerings the Israelites were supposed to offer, as well as their tithes and firstfruits. If an Israelite held back a tithe or an offering, or ate a portion of an offering that should have been reserved for the priests, it constituted a “loss” to the Lord’s holy things. It was, in effect, “cheating” the Lord.

For the guilt offering, the Lord required that a ram be offered, and also the payment in silver of the value of whatever had been held back plus an additional twenty percent (verse 16).

Verses 17–19 refer to a person who fears he may have done something wrong in regard to the Lord’s holy things, but is not sure about it. To clear his conscience, he could bring a guilt offering, but in this case no restitution had to be paid.

Further information about the guilt offering is given in Leviticus 6:1–7; 7:1–6.