In today’s lesson for Leviticus, two words jump off the page: guilt and holy.
“This is the rule of the guilt offering; it is most holy.
At the spot where the burnt offering is slaughtered, they shall slaughter the guilt offering, and its blood shall be dashed against all sides of the altar.
All its fat shall be offered: the fatty tail, the fat that covers the entrails, the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the appendage of the liver, which shall be removed with the kidneys.
The priest shall turn them into smoke on the altar as an offering by fire to the Lord; it is a guilt offering.
Every male among the priests shall eat of it; it shall be eaten in a holy place; it is most holy (Leviticus 7:1-6).
Guilt
The first word that meets us in this passage is “guilt.” The Hebrew dictionary reads as follows: The core of the word comes from the verb asham, which means “to be guilty,” “to offend,” or “to bear guilt.” It signifies the state of having incurred culpability or responsibility for a wrong action.
In today’s YouTube video Rudy Ross and Bruce Kirby discuss the different translations of the word. Rudy notes the Hebrew meaning as “guilt,” while Bruce’s translation is “trespass.”
The word “trespass” in Bruce’s Bible originates from the Latin Vulgate translation. Rudy’s Bible is closer to the Hebrew and identifies the word as “guilt.”
Here’s another Hebrew lesson for you. Pesha is the common word for “trespass” or “transgression.” It implies a rebellious act or a breach of trust, particularly in a relationship.
Think about stepping over a “No Trespassing” sign deliberately or a revolt against authority (human or divine).
If we combine thoughts from the two translations of my friends, we know that when we trespass and become deliberate rebels in God’s kingdom we are guilty.
Today’s Bible passage and those that follow demonstrate God’s gracious willingness to provide a way for us to be forgiven for the guilt of our intentional and unintentional sins.
Hebrews describes the indescribable gift of Jesus for the forgiveness of all of our sins.
For if the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkling of the ashes of a heifer sanctifies those who have been defiled so that their flesh is purified,
How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to worship the living God! (Hebrews 9:13-14).
Holy
Like two bookends, “holy” appears at the beginning and end of these verses. Holiness is a key concept in the Bible. It is particularly featured in Leviticus.
Many years ago, I read Rudolph Otto’s often-quoted book, The Idea of the Holy. The main thrust of the book is that God is wholly other than the created order.
As the Creator, God stands outside of creation and is entirely separate from what He created. Thus, for God to be holy means that He is wholly other than creation.
For humans to be holy as God is holy means that we are separated from non-worshipers of God and brought into a relationship with God.
For I am the Lord your God; sanctify yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming creature that moves on the earth.
For I am the Lord who brought you up from the land of Egypt, to be your God; you shall be holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44-45).
Followers of God are to be holy because God is holy. To be “sanctified” is to be set apart for God’s purposes.
As we continue our study of Leviticus, we will discover that moral and ethical behavior is part of being separated from the rest of humanity as servants of the Lord. Peter summarizes the moral aspect of holiness.
Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance.
Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct, for it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:14-16).
We are separated for God’s purposes and not conformed to our former ignorant desires. Our conduct is moral because we strive to be holy like our Creator.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube.
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