What is a sin offering?

Answer

A sin offering was a sacrifice made according to the Mosaic Law, providing atonement for sin. The Hebrew term for “sin offering” translates to “fault offering.” It was offered for sins committed in ignorance or unintentionally. The specific ritual and the type of animal used for the sin offering varied based on the sinner’s status. For instance, a high priest would offer a young bull if he sinned unintentionally, while a king or prince would offer a young male goat. Common individuals would sacrifice a young female goat or lamb, unless they were too impoverished, in which case they were only required to offer two turtledoves or pigeons. Detailed instructions for the sin offering and its associated requirements can be found in Leviticus 4 and Numbers 15.

Furthermore, the sin offering was presented when a person unknowingly sinned by violating one of the Lord’s commandments and later acknowledged their guilt “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 4:27). Sin offerings were also integral to the ceremonies on the Day of Atonement, where the high priest offered two sin offerings: a bull for himself and a young male goat for the congregation “And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself:”, (Leviticus 16:11,15) “Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprink.Lay it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat: », (Leviticus 16:11,15). In a sin offering, the live animal was brought to the altar, and the sinner was required to lay his hand on the head of the animal «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. », (Leviticus 4:29). Then the animal was killed, at which point the priest would take some of the blood and put it on the horns of the altar (verse 30). In some cases, some of the blood was also sprinkled inside the tabernacle (verses 6 and 17). Then all the rest of the blood was poured at the base of the altar (verse 34). The fat of the sin offering was removed and burned on the altar. In some cases, the body of the animal was burned outside the camp (verse 12); in other cases, the meat of the sin offering could be eaten by the priests. “In this way the priest will make atonement for them for the sin they have committed, and they will be forgiven” (verse 35).

The sin offering was a poignant picture of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the sins of the world. He was a “lamb without blemish” (1 Peter 1:19;cf: Leviticus 4:32) whose precious blood was spilled after being publicly slain. Jesus was crucified outside the city of Jerusalem, just as the sin offering was to be burnt outside the camp (Hebrews 13:12;cf: Leviticus 4:12). Just as the sacrificial lamb makes atonement for unintentional sins, Jesus’ blood made atonement for the sin of any person who realizes his guilt before God and asks for that atonement to be applied to him (John 3:16; Ephesians 1:7)

. “Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins” «And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. », (Hebrews 9:22).

Every person has broken the Law of God in one way or another, whether we realize it or not. Humanity is sinful, and we are all guilty before God «for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; », (Romans 3:23). It must have been painful for sinners under the Mosaic Law to slaughter an innocent animal when they knew they were the ones who had done wrong. In the same way, it is painful for us to admit our guilt and to know that the innocent and holy Son of God took the punishment for our sin. But this salvation God has provided, and it is the only way. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” «Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. », (John 14:6). Praise the Lord that sin offerings are no longer required because we have been redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” «but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: », (1 Peter 1:19).