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### DEFINITION
The Guilt Offering, also known as the Asham, is a specific type of sacrifice described in the Old Testament, particularly in Leviticus 5. It is designed to atone for certain unintentional sins and specific breaches of God’s commandments, particularly those that involve some form of desecration or misappropriation of holy things.
### SCRIPTURE
1. **Leviticus 5:6** – “And he shall bring his guilt offering to the Lord for his sin which he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat, as a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin.”
2. **Leviticus 5:15** – “If anyone commits a breach of faith and sins unintentionally in any of the holy things of the Lord, he shall bring to the Lord as his compensation a ram without blemish out of the flock, valued in silver shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, for a guilt offering.”
3. **Leviticus 5:17** – “If anyone sins, doing any of the things that by the Lord’s commandments ought not to be done, though he did not know it, then realizes his guilt, he shall bear his iniquity.”
4. **Leviticus 5:18** – “He shall bring to the priest a ram without blemish out of the flock, or its equivalent, for a guilt offering, and the priest shall make atonement for him for the mistake that he made unintentionally, and he shall be forgiven.”
5. **Leviticus 5:19** – “It is a guilt offering; he has indeed incurred guilt before the Lord.”
### LANGUAGE ROOT
The Hebrew word for Guilt Offering is אָשָׁם (asham), which refers to both the act of guilt and the sacrificial offering made to atone for it. It conveys a sense of compensation or indemnity for wrongs committed.
### NOTES
– The Guilt Offering is distinct from the Sin Offering (חַטָּאת, chatat) and is specifically for offenses that involve misappropriation or damage to sacred things.
– The offering often included restitution plus a fifth of the value of the misappropriated item.
– It emphasizes the need for reparation and restoration in addition to forgiveness.
### KEY FIGURES
– **Priests**: They were responsible for offering the sacrifice and making atonement on behalf of the individual.
– **Offender**: The person who committed the unintentional sin or breach of faith.
### APPLICATION
– **Personal Reflection**: The Guilt Offering encourages believers to consider the impact of their actions on others and on their relationship with God.
– **Community Practices**: It highlights the importance of restitution and reconciliation within the community.
### COMPARATIVE
– **Sin Offering vs. Guilt Offering**: While both offerings are for atonement, the Guilt Offering specifically involves reparative actions.
– **New Testament Fulfillment**: Jesus’ sacrifice is seen as the ultimate fulfillment of all offerings, including the Guilt Offering, providing complete atonement and reconciliation.
### CREEDAL REFERENCES
– **Apostles’ Creed**: While not directly mentioned, the concept of atonement and forgiveness of sins is foundational.
– **Nicene Creed**: Affirms the belief in one baptism for the forgiveness of sins, echoing the themes of atonement found in the Guilt Offering.
### CONTROVERSIES
– **Interpretation of “Unintentional”**: Scholars debate the scope of sins covered by the Guilt Offering, particularly what constitutes an unintentional sin.
– **Modern Application**: How the principles of the Guilt Offering apply to contemporary Christian life and ethics.
### STORY
A man accidentally uses sacred items from the temple for personal use, unaware of their sanctity. Upon realizing his mistake, he brings a ram to the priest as a Guilt Offering. Along with the sacrifice, he makes restitution by returning what he used plus an additional amount. This act restores his relationship with the community and God.
### DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. How does the concept of restitution in the Guilt Offering influence our understanding of justice?
2. In what ways can modern believers apply the principles of the Guilt Offering in their daily lives?
3. What are the similarities and differences between the Guilt Offering and other types of sacrifices?
4. How does the idea of unintentional sin shape our understanding of accountability?
5. How does the Guilt Offering prefigure the work of Christ in the New Testament?
