Dictionary of Bible Themes: 7444 sin offering

7444 sin offering

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 7000 God's people » 7300 Institutions and culture of OT » 7444 sin offering

Offerings to make atonement for both moral and ritual offences. The NT sees them as foreshadowing the death of Jesus Christ as an offering for human sin.

Occasions when a sin offering was required

Unintentional sins against God's laws:

Leviticus 4:2; Hebrews 9:7 Leviticus 5:1-4; Leviticus 4:20 The consequence of the offering is atonement and forgiveness.

Purification after childbirth:

Leviticus 12:6-8; Luke 2:24

Cleansing from infectious diseases:

Leviticus 14:13-31; Mark 1:44

Cleansing from a bodily discharge:

Leviticus 15:15,30

The form the sin offering took depended on who committed the sin

Leviticus 4:3 a priest who sins; Leviticus 4:14 the sin of the community as a whole; Leviticus 4:22-23 a leader who sins unintentionally

An individual who sins:

Leviticus 4:27-35; Leviticus 5:5-6

The ceremony when presenting an animal as a sin offering

The guilty identify themselves with the offering before killing it

Leviticus 4:4,15,24

Confession

Leviticus 5:5

Blood, representing the victim's lifeblood, is put on the altar

Leviticus 4:25,30,34

The best parts, being burned on the altar, are offered to God

Leviticus 4:8-10,26,35

Male members of priestly families may eat what remains

Leviticus 6:26,29; Leviticus 10:16-20

Special procedures for the offerings of the poor

Leviticus 5:7-13

The special ceremony for priests and the community presenting a sin offering

Blood is taken into the sanctuary and placed on the altar

Leviticus 4:5-7,16-18

The rest of the animal is incinerated, not eaten

Leviticus 4:11-12,21 emphasising the identity between the victim and the sin of the community

Significant occasions when sin offerings were made

Leviticus 8:14-17 at the ordination of Aaron and his sons; Leviticus 16:1-34 on the Day of Atonement; 2 Kings 12:16 during Josiah's reformation; 2 Chronicles 29:21-24 at the beginning of Hezekiah's reign; Ezra 6:17 at the dedication of the second temple; Ezra 8:35 when the exiles returned

As part of Ezekiel's vision of restored worship:

Ezekiel 40:39; Ezekiel 42:13; Ezekiel 43:19,21

The NT perspective on the sin offering

Jesus Christ was the supreme sin offering

Romans 8:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV footnote.

Animal sacrifices had limited value

See also Hebrews 9:7-10

The death of Jesus Christ brings full cleansing and forgiveness

Hebrews 9:11-14 See also 1 Peter 1:18-19

Unlike earthly priests, Jesus Christ needed no sin offering

Hebrews 7:27 See also Hebrews 5:1-3