The Trespass/Guilt Offering:

Bible Reading: Leviticus chapter 5 verses 1 to chapter 6 verse 7.

(1). The name of the offering.

(2). The items of the offering.

(3). The reason for the offering.

(4). The fulfilment of the offering.

Ill:

Silly UK Laws - Did you know…

• It's illegal to stand sockless within 100 yards of the Queen.

• Thanks to a law enacted by Edward VI, between 1547 and 1553, it's illegal to stand sockless within 100 yards of the Queen.

• Anyone found breaking a boiled egg at the sharp end could be sentenced to 24 hours in the village stocks

• Thanks to Edward VI, anyone found breaking a boiled egg at the sharp end could be sentenced to 24 hours in the village stocks.

• It is illegal to drop dead in the Houses of Parliament.

• It is illegal to drop dead in Parliament, according to the 1887 Coroners Act, which was 're-enacted' by the 1988 Coroners Act.

• It is illegal to eat mince pies anywhere in England on Christmas Day.

• Thanks to Oliver Cromwell who considered pies a forbidden pagan pleasure and on December 22, 1657, his Puritan Council banned consumption of mince pies on Christmas Day.

• It is illegal to hail a black cab as it speeds towards you, with its yellow 'for hire' light on.

• According to the strict letter of the 1843 London Hackney Carriage Act, London cabbies are only allowed to seek custom when they're stationary.

• TRANSITION:

• When you read the book of Leviticus you may feel it has some silly or pointless laws.

• On first reading that may be the case,

• But when you slow down and ponder them, there is a good reason and logic to them.

• The Israelite people would benefit from keeping them,

• And you and I will appreciate Jesus more and more as we study them.

Now remember that the Bible is a collection of books that complement one another.

• 39 in the Old Testament,

• 27 in the New Testament.

• 66 books in total.

Leviticus is the third book of the Old Testament and continues to unpack a story.

• e.g., Genesis answers the question,

• Of how God will provide Abraham the descendants he promised.

• e.g., Exodus answers the question,

• Of how God will redeem Abraham’s descendants out of slavery,

• In order to bring them to the Promised Land.

• Sadly, those ancestors (the nation of Israel) struggled with sin and especially idolatry,

• And that throws up a key question, “How can a holy God relate to sinful people?”

• Leviticus answers that question.

• It shows us the seriousness of sin and the importance and cost of forgiveness.

Review:

• The book of Leviticus starts with five offerings or sacrifices.

• We need to think sanctification as we read this book,

• Sanctification the action of making or declaring something holy.

• That is the point of this book,

• So don’t be preoccupied with the sacrifices.

• Remember everything dies, every single thing on this earth dies,

• And everything on the earth eats something that had to die every single day!

• This is the world in which we live!

• One day we are going to a place where this will not be the case,

• But until we get there this is where we are at!

• So think sanctification as we read this book,

• The book of Leviticus starts with five offerings or sacrifices.

• We have looked at four of them.

• Let me give you a very quick reminder and leave you with a key word for each offering.

#1: The Burnt Offering.

• The Key word: Cover.

• The purpose: to cover the offender’s unholiness & make him acceptable in God’s presence.

• e.g., perfume or deodorant can cover a person’s body odour.

#2: The Grain/Meal/Cereal Offering

• Key word: Remember.

• The purpose: to remember the covenant made between God and his people Israel.

• e.g., sealed with salt – symbolizes it is meant to be perpetual, incorruptible and enduring.

#3: The Peace/Fellowship Offering.

• Key word: Fellowship.

• The purpose: to eat a covenant meal in fellowship with God.

• e.g., Sharing a meal often denotes friendship between people.

#4: The Purification/Sin Offering.

• Key word: Decontamination.

• The purpose: to remove that which is unholy/unclean.

• e.g., Covid has taught us the importance of cleaning/washing hands etc.

#5: The Trespass/Guilt Offering (Restitution).

• The Purpose: to repay debts caused by our wrong or sinful actions,

• e.g., Playing cricket in the garden and I hit a ball that flies over the garden fence,

• And smashes a neighbour’s window – I will need to pay for a new pane of glass.