Big Idea: The guilt offering shows how to repent.

Understanding the Text

Leviticus 1:1–6:7 is addressed to the laity, giving them instructions about five types of sacrifices. It is organized around those that the layperson could voluntarily choose to offer (burnt, grain, and fellowship offerings), followed by those that the layperson must offer whenever certain offenses have occurred (sin and guilt offerings).

The guilt offering is meant to address offenses against holy things, whether done by directly desecrating a holy thing (Lev. 5:14–19) or by swearing a false exculpatory oath, thus desecrating God’s holy name (Lev. 6:1–7). In both cases the remedy involves restitution of an item plus 20 percent and a guilt offering.

Historical and Cultural Background

The oath (Lev. 6:3) was also …