guilt offering

One of the more familiar Old Testament messianic prophecies of the Old Testament appears in the Book of Isaiah 53:10 (USCCB): “If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him.” This is a fascinating passage on many levels, and the translation tends to miss a very important connection.

The word translated as “offering for sin” is the word used to describe a particular type of offering in Israelite religious practice—which also is known as a guilt offering, a reparation offering, or a trespass offering. These offerings are described several times in the fifth through seventh chapters of the book of Leviticus (NABRE). A few common themes stand out. The offerings involved make individual reparations or payback for any damage caused by sin—not only paying an equal amount but a fifth more along with the offering of an unblemished ram. Moreover, the book of Leviticus 7:1 (NABRE) describes such offerings as “most holy.”

Consider this verse from the Book of Isaiah again as a description of such an offering. What part does the person being described in this passage play? What’s still missing? What role do you think we might have in the making reparation for our own sins?

related topic: offering

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