Lesson Eight – The Sin Offering
Lev 4:1-3 - And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them: 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. And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD; and shall lay his hand upon the bullock's head, and kill the bullock before the LORD.
Lev 6:24-30 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying, This is the law of the sin offering: In the place where the burnt offering is killed shall the sin offering be killed before the LORD: it is most holy. The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in the holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation. Whatsoever shall touch the flesh thereof shall be holy: and when there is sprinkled of the blood thereof upon any garment, thou shalt wash that whereon it was sprinkled in the holy place. But the earthen vessel wherein it is sodden shall be broken: and if it be sodden in a brazen pot, it shall be both scoured, and rinsed in water. All the males among the priests shall eat thereof: it is most holy. And no sin offering, whereof any of the blood is brought into the tabernacle of the congregation to reconcile withal in the holy place, shall be eaten: it shall be burnt in the fire.
When Adam sinned, he brought spiritual and physical death on the human race. All die- rich or poor, strong and weak, young or old, schooled or unschooled – it is appointed unto us all to die and then the judgment as the writer of Hebrews says:
Hebrews 9:27-28
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: [28] So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Death reigned from Adam to Moses though individual guilt, because sin had not yet been imputed to mankind. People were not held individually accountable for their sins, because the law had not been given imputing personal guilt.
Romans 5:13
(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
Because everyone dies, it is evident that everyone must possess a sin nature inherited through Adam. Scripture bears testimony to the fact:
Genesis 6:5
And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Psalm 14:3
They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Mankind became conscious of personal sin, with its accompanying guilt and consequences, when the law was given.
Romans 3:20
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Romans 7:7
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
Although God established personal responsibility through the law, He also provided an offering for that sin. Naturally the sin offering was established to atone for a person’s sin, but it taught people the seriousness of sin – the need for repentance and the consequences that unrepented sin would bring.
Although the need to expiate sin was strongly implied through the burnt and peace offerings, a special sin offering was still necessary. The sin offering was actually the foundation of all other offerings; without, the Israelites could not be expiated from their sin. The sin and trespass offerings are distinguished from the other offerings, because they are non-sweet savor offerings.
The term ‘sin’ comes from the Hebrew word ‘chattah’ and means to ‘miss the mark or err from God’s way.’ Leviticus uses the term ‘chattah’ to point to the act of disobedience toward God and to the sin offering by which the guilt and penalty of sin are removed.
The purpose of the sin offering was to cover sins of ignorance or sins committed unintentionally that come to mind. The words ‘through ignorance’ mean ‘to wander, do wrong, err, sin through ignorance.’ The sin offering did not cover presumptuous sins committed in rebellion against God’s law and deliberately breaking His commandments. Presumptuous sin carries a very severe price indeed!
Numbers 15:30-31
But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproaches the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. [31] Because he hath despised the word of the Lord, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.
Different animals were offered for the sin offering, depending on a person’s rank in Israel. The priests and elders, who represented the congregation, were to offer a bull; a ruler, a male goat; and “any one of the common people”, either a female goat, a lamb, two turtledoves, two young pigeons, or a tenth of an ephah of flour.
Leviticus 4:3
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.
Leviticus 4:13-15
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; [14] When the sin, which they have sinned against it, is known, then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin, and bring him before the tabernacle of the congregation. [15] And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock before the Lord: and the bullock shall be killed before the Lord.
Leviticus 4:22-23
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; [23] Or if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish:
Leviticus 4:27
And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the Lord concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty;
Leviticus 4:28
Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned.
Leviticus 4:32
And if he bring a lamb for a sin offering, he shall bring it a female without blemish.
Leviticus 5:11
But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon: for it is a sin offering.
The priests and elders were to bring a more costly offering than the rulers or common people because they were to be examples to the congregation and leaders in the nation’s spiritual life. Although the rulers held a high position in Israel, they were not to be involved in representing the people before God; thus, a less expensive offering was prescribed for them. Unlike the preceding offerings, the sin offering was not voluntary but compulsory by its very nature. God’s holiness demands a blood sacrifice before He can have communion with His people.
The sin offering was a non-sweet savor sacrifice, because it was made with regard to sin. It typified Christ bearing the sin and shame of mankind on the cross. Both the offering and place of sacrifice were to be “most holy” before the Lord.
Leviticus 6:25
Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying, this is the law of the sin offering: In the place where the burnt offering is killed shall the sin offering be killed before the Lord: it is most holy.
The Offerers
The sin offering made clear the responsibility of the people for their sins; either a sinner his or her guilt, and its penalty were paid through a blood substitute. Spiritual leaders in Israel were judged more harshly than those in lesser positions, which is shown by the prescribed ritual given to the four different groups in Israel.
The Priests
The priests held the highest position in Israel, representing the people before God. The consequences of their sins were more serious and affected the entire nation.
Leviticus 4:3
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.
The priests were to bring a bull to the door of the Tabernacle and place their hands on its head to identify with the sacrifice as their substitute.
Leviticus 4:4
And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord; and shall lay his hand upon the bullock's head, and kill the bullock before the Lord.
The animals were substituting their lives for the lives of the priests. A double identification took place: The sins of the priests were committed to the animals, and the acceptability of the offerings was transmitted to the priests. The priests then killed their own offerings before the Lord. The blood symbolically represented the offerer’s own life freely surrendered. Thus, God accepted the sacrifice as atonement for sin, protecting the priests from divine wrath.
Leviticus 4:4
And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord; and shall lay his hand upon the bullock's head, and kill the bullock before the Lord.
The blood had to be applied in three ways for the priests and the congregation:
1. It had to be sprinkled seven times in the Holy Place before the Veil.
2. It had to be smeared on the horns of the Golden Altar of Incense
3. The remaining blood was poured out at the base of the Brazen Altar.
Sprinkling the blood seven times in the Holy Place before the Veil pictured Christ, who shed His blood and inaugurated a new and living way for believers to have access to the presence of God.
Leviticus 4:6
And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the Lord, before the veil of the sanctuary.
Leviticus 4:17
And the priest shall dip his finger in some of the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before the Lord, even before the veil.
Hebrews 10:10-19 - By which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all,. [11] And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: [12] But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; [13] From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. [14] For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. [15] Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, [16] This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; [17] And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. [18] Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. [19] Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Second, the blood was smeared on the horns of the Golden Altar Of Incense, which was a place of prayer and fellowship with God. Blood from the sin offering smeared on the horns of this altar symbolized a prayer for the pardon of sin before God.
Leviticus 4:7
And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the Lord, which is in the tabernacle of the congregation: and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Leviticus 4:18
And he shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar which is before the Lord, that is in the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall pour out all the blood at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Leviticus 4:25
And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out his blood at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering.
Leviticus 4:30
And the priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar.
Leviticus 4:34
And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar:
Hebrews 9:13-14
For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh: [14] How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Hebrews 12:24
And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaks better things than that of Abel.
Blood applied to the altar gave the incense of prayer its value. This typified Christ’s blood, which gives value to the prayers of the saints and opens the way for us to come before the throne of grace to find mercy and grace in time of need. It also typified Him, Christ as our intercessor.
Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 7:25
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.
Third, the remaining blood was poured at the bottom of the brazen altar, typifying Christ’s blood being poured out as a sin offering for mankind.
The fat and the kidneys of the bull were burned on the brazen altar as a peace offering to the Lord.
Leviticus 4:9-10
And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away, [10] As it was taken off from the bullock of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall burn them upon the altar of the burnt offering.
Leviticus 4:19
And he shall take all his fat from him, and burn it upon the altar.
The peace offering represented the ministry of reconciliation Christ provided between God and mankind.
Col. 1:20
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
The remainder of the bull was burned outside the camp, completing the atonement for sin.
Leviticus 4:11-12
And the skin of the bullock, and all his flesh, with his head, and with his legs, and his inwards, and his dung, [12] Even the whole bullock shall he carry forth without the camp unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire: where the ashes are poured out shall he be burnt.
Leviticus 4:21
And he shall carry forth the bullock without the camp, and burn him as he burned the first bullock: it is a sin offering for the congregation.
The priests were permitted to partake of every offering presented on the altar except the sin offering, which was totally burned outside the camp. The bodies of the sin offerings were not burned outside the camp because they were unfit for a holy camp; in fact, just the opposite is true. An unholy camp was an unfit place for a holy sin offering.
The writer to the Hebrews showed that this was a definite type of Christ’s sacrificial work on behalf of mankind. (Heb. 13:10-12) Like the sin offering, Jesus was taken outside the gates of Jerusalem and suffered the fire of crucifixion, “stricken, smitten of God,” sanctifying the people with His own blood and perfectly fulfilling the picture of the Old Covenant sin offering.
Hebrews 13:10-13
We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. [11] For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. [12] Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate..
Likewise, we as believers must be willing to identify with Christ, “bearing His reproach” outside the camp.
Hebrews 13:13 - Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach
When Christ died, the Jewish system, with its laws, ceremonialism, and sacrificial system – was set aside. Today Jewish believers must go outside the camp of Judaism and identify with Christ’s suffering. Many who do leave Judaism for faith in Christ suffer persecution. Paul, a classic example of a Jew suffering outside the camp, well stated, “all that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
2 Tim. 3:12
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
Although the priests could not eat from their sin offerings or those of the congregation, “all the males of among the priests,” could eat of the sin offering prescribed for the rulers and the common people. The priests were always rewarded for their ministry to others. They were permitted to eat the sheep and goats, since they were not carried outside the camp to be burned, but never the bull. The offerings could not be eaten if the blood had been sprinkled in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle. This applied to the offerings of the priests and congregation, which were burned outside the camp, but not those of the rulers and congregation. The priests ate the sin offering in the court of the Tabernacle.
Leviticus 6:29
All the males among the priests shall eat thereof: it is most holy.
Leviticus 6:22
And the priest of his sons that is anointed in his stead shall offer it: it is a statute forever unto the Lord, it shall be wholly burnt.
Leviticus 6:27
Whatsoever shall touch the flesh thereof shall be holy: and when there is sprinkled of the blood thereof upon any garment, thou shalt wash that whereon it was sprinkled in the holy place.
Leviticus 6:30
And no sin offering, whereof any of the blood is brought into the tabernacle of the congregation to reconcile withal in the holy place, shall be eaten: it shall be burnt in the fire.
Leviticus 6:6
And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the Lord, a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest:
Leviticus 6:27
Whatsoever shall touch the flesh thereof shall be holy: and when there is sprinkled of the blood thereof upon any garment, thou shalt wash that whereon it was sprinkled in the holy place.
Leviticus 4:11-12
And the skin of the bullock, and all his flesh, with his head, and with his legs, and his inwards, and his dung, [12] Even the whole bullock shall he carry forth without the camp unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire: where the ashes are poured out shall he be burnt.
Leviticus 4:21
And he shall carry forth the bullock without the camp, and burn him as he burned the first bullock: it is a sin offering for the congregation.
By partaking of the offering while separated from the people, the priests were reminded of their high and holy calling before God. Centuries later, the priests violated these commandments polluting their holy office.
The flesh and blood of the sin offering were considered holy, and those who touched them must be holy as well. If any of the blood splattered on the priests’ garments, they were required to wash them in the holy place. Special instructions were given concerning the pots in which the offerings were cooked. An earthen vessel (clay pot) had to be destroyed after one use; it could not be cleansed because the boiled flesh penetrated the pot’s fiber. But the boiled flesh could be removed from a bronze pot after scouring, preserving it for future use.
Leviticus 6:28-30
But the earthen vessel wherein it is sodden shall be broken: and if it be sodden in a brazen pot, it shall be both scoured, and rinsed in water. [29] All the males among the priests shall eat thereof: it is most holy. [30] And no sin offering, whereof any of the blood is brought into the tabernacle of the congregation to reconcile withal in the holy place, shall be eaten: it shall be burnt in the fire.
If the whole congregation sinned against God in ignorance, a sin offering had to presented. The congregation brought a bull before the Lord at the Tabernacle. The elders representing the people, laid their hands on the bull’s head, killed it, and offered its blood as a sin offering (v. 15). The ritual for the congregation was exactly the same as for the priests, which is a type of sin in the church.
Leviticus 4:13
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;
Leviticus 4:14
When the sin, which they have sinned against it, is known, then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin, and bring him before the tabernacle of the congregation.
Leviticus 4:15
And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock before the Lord: and the bullock shall be killed before the Lord.
Leviticus 4:16-20
And the priest that is anointed shall bring of the bullock's blood to the tabernacle of the congregation: [17] And the priest shall dip his finger in some of the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before the Lord, even before the vail. [18] And he shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar which is before the Lord, that is in the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall pour out all the blood at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. [19] And he shall take all his fat from him, and burn it upon the altar. [20] And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them.
The church is to judge sin immediately, or it will penetrate the whole congregation, weakening the fellowship and holding back the blessing of God.
1 Cor. 5:1-8
It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. [2] And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. [3] For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, [4] In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, [5] To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. [6] Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? [7] Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: [8] therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
When a potentate, a ruler, sinned through ignorance, he was to offer a male goat. The offering was less than that of the priests or congregation, but greater than that of a commoner. The ritual for killing the goat was the same as for the burnt offering. The priests sprinkled the blood on the horns of the brazen altar, but none in the Holy Place.
Leviticus 4:22-23
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; [23] Or if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish:
Leviticus 4:25
And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out his blood at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering.
Leviticus 4:26
And he shall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him.
Then the fat was burned as a peace offering. The meat of the goat went to the priests only, not the people. The fact that the rulers brought a less valuable offering does not lessen their offenses compared to those of the priest or congregation. God ordains rulers, who will one day give an account of the way they functioned in their offices. God commands people to pray for those who rule over them.
Romans 13:1-7
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. [2] Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. [3] For rulers are not terrors to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: [4] for he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. [5] Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. [6] For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. [7] Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
1 Tim. 2:1-2
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; [2] For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
When individuals sinned, they were to bring female goats or lambs without blemish for a sin offering.
Leviticus 4:27-35
And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the Lord concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty; [28] Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned. [29] And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering. [30] And the priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar. [31] And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat is taken away from off the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour unto the Lord; and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him. [32] And if he bring a lamb for a sin offering, he shall bring it a female without blemish. [33] And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay it for a sin offering in the place where they kill the burnt offering [34] And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar: [35] And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat of the lamb is taken away from the sacrifice of the peace offerings; and the priest shall burn them upon the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the Lord: and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath committed, and it shall be forgiven him.
The ritual of the offering was the same as mentioned above, with one exception: the blood was not sprinkled in the Holy Place. If individuals were too poor, they could bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. If they were too poor for even that, they were permitted to bring “the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering.” (5:11)
Leviticus 5:7
And if he be not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring for his trespass, which he hath committed, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, unto the Lord; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering.
Leviticus 5:10
And he shall offer the second for a burnt offering, according to the manner: and the priest shall make an atonement for him for his sin which he hath sinned, and it shall be forgiven him.
Leviticus 5:11
But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon: for it is a sin offering.
The meal offering could be substituted for a blood sacrifice, but only under one condition. If the Israelite was too poor and could not afford the very inexpensive offering of two turtledoves or two young pigeons, then, and only then, he could offer a tenth part of an ephah of fine flour as a sin offering. But it had to be offered without oil or frankincense, showing that it lacked the character of other offerings.
The oil and frankincense was removed from the meal offering for several reasons. First, this was a poor person’s offering. Oil and frankincense represented costly ingredients and were not to be added. Second, this was a sin offering, and oil, and frankincense, which represents fellowship with God through the Holy Spirit and prayer, was therefore to be omitted. Third, because this was a sin offering it was not to be embellished with the taste of oil or the fragrance of frankincense. The bland flour would impress upon the offerer an aversion to sin.
There were other occasions when a sin offering was to be presented, and some of the details vary, but they do not affect the underlying concept of the sin offering. The sin offering was used in the consecration of Aaron and his sons to the priesthood.
Leviticus 8:2
Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and a bullock for the sin offering, and two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread;
Leviticus 8:14-15
And he brought the bullock for the sin offering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the bullock for the sin offering. [15] And he slew it; and Moses took the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about with his finger, and purified the altar, and poured the blood at the bottom of the altar, and sanctified it, to make reconciliation upon it.
It was also used in the ceremony of purification after childbirth, the cleansing of the leper, the ordinance of the red heifer, and on the Day of Atonement. (Also see Numbers 19 and Leviticus 16)
Leviticus 12:6-8
And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest: [7] Who shall offer it before the Lord, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that hath born a male or a female. [8] And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.
Leviticus 14:12
And the priest shall take one he lamb, and offer him for a trespass offering, and the log of oil, and wave them for a wave offering before the Lord:
Leviticus 14:14
And the priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering, and the priest shall put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot:
Leviticus 14:19
And the priest shall offer the sin offering, and make an atonement for him that is to be cleansed from his uncleanness; and afterward he shall kill the burnt offering:
Since everyone in Israel sinned, the law stipulated that a sin offering had to be made. Yet animal blood, continually offered year after year, could not take away sins, because the law, with all its demands was weak through the flesh and incapable of setting men free from the very nature that caused them to sin. For this reason, God sent Christ, in the likeness of sinful flesh, to be an offering for sin, thus condemning sin in the flesh.
Romans 8:3
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Paul succinctly showed how Christ, was an antitype of the sin offering in Leviticus 4. This was stated in his second letter to the Corinthians:
For he hath made him to be sin (offering) for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Christ fulfilled the concept of a “perfect sacrifice without blemish and without spot.” (1 Peter 1:19) Jesus did not think, speak or commit any act of sin (John 8:46; 1 Peter 2:22)
1 Peter 1:19
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
John 8:46
Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
1 Peter 2:22
Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
Second, the sinless Christ was made a sin offering for us. Christ did not become a sinner, but all of mankind’s sins were laid on Him, and He bore them in His own body. (This by the way screams in the face of the Jesus Died Spiritually doctrine being pushed by many faith teachers in the body of Christ today which teaches Christ went to Hades and burned in hell three days because He became a ‘sinner.’ That is blasphemous!)
1 Peter 2:24
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Isaiah 53:6
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
He became a curse when He died on the cross. It is almost beyond comprehension that God the Father would lay on the sinless Son of God the world’s guilt and penalty of sin. Third, Christ became a sin offering so that mankind could be “made the righteousness of God in Him.” This is the great principle of Justification.
The sins of individuals are imputed to Christ, and His righteousness is imputed to believers. The sin offering cannot be expressed in a more majestic way. Believers walk away justified – declared righteous – before a Holy God.
In 1865, Elvina Hall sat in a church choir with her head bowed as the pastor offered the morning prayer. During his prayer, four little words lingered in her mind: Jesus paid it all! Quickly, she scribbled these words on the flyleaf of her hymnal, and one of the greatest invitational hymns of the church was born. The fourth stanza sums it all up and gives us the summary of the sin offering:
And when, before the throne,
I stand in Him complete,
Jesus died my soul to save,”
My lips shall still repeat
Jesus paid it all,
ALL to Him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.”
Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power? Are you washed in that soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb? I pray every one of you who are with us on this journey of the Levitical offerings is today. I pray your name is written in the Lamb’s book of Life. Neighbor it’s getting late and the harvest of the earth is soon to take place. You can be free today of the guilt, the shame, the hurt, the pain, the suffering – and it’s all been paid for through the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise God.