THE FORGIVENESS OFFERING (LEV.6)
Then Yahusha said to Moses, “Tell the people, If you disobey My Instructions regarding My Set-Apart property (with full-awareness of their behaviour) . . . (IE A NON-PRIEST EATING FOOD SET ASIDE ONLY FOR THE PRIESTS OR PRIESTS EATING FOOD IN THEIR HOMES THAT WAS OFFERED AS A SACRIFICE BUT SHOULD ONLY HAVE BEEN EATEN AT THE TABERNACLE OR FAILING TO FULFILL CERTAIN TYPES OF VOWS OR FAILING TO PRESENT A PRESCRIBED OFFERING AT THE SANCTUARY FOR SOME TYPE OF DEDICATION CEREMONIES ) . . . you must bring a FORGIVENESS OFFERING to Me. The offering must be your own ram with no defects, or you may buy one of equal value with silver, as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel. You must make right what you’ve done against Me by paying for the loss, plus an additional 20% and when you give the payment to the priest, he’ll purify you with the ram sacrificed as a FORGIVENESS OFFERING, making you right with Me, and you’ll be completely forgiven. Now suppose you disobey one of My Instructions (even if you’re unaware of it at the time), you’re guilty and will be punished for your behaviour. So you must bring the priest your own ram with no defects for a FORGIVENESS OFFERING, or you may buy one of equal value. Through this process the priest will purify you from your unintentional disobedience, making you right with Me and you’ll be forgiven. This is a FORGIVENESS OFFERING, for you have been guilty of an offense against Me.”
(THE HEBREW WORD FOR `DISOBEDIENCE’ (SIN) IN THIS TEXT IMPLIES MUCH MORE SERIOUSNESS AND IS THE SAME WORD USED TO DESCRIBE WEIGHTIER CRIMES SUCH AS ADULTERY OR IDOLATRY). BEING `UNAWARE’ IMPLIES NOT FEELING QUITE RIGHT INSIDE YOURSELF AND MAKING AN OFFERING FOR A CRIME YOU SUSPECT YOU MAY HAVE COMMITTED BUT ARE NOT 100% SURE.
BEHAVIOURS THAT NEED A FORGIVENESS OFFERING
Then Yahusha said to Moses, “When anyone cheats his neighbour in regard to a security deposit, or steals or commits fraud, or finds lost property and lies about it, or swears falsely, refusing to tell the truth, it’s a great evil to Me. HOW WE TREAT OUR FELLOW YISHARALITE IS HOW WE TREAT YAHUSHA. So if you’ve behaved this way, you’re guilty and you must give back whatever you stole, or the money you took by extortion, or the security deposit, or the lost property you found, or anything obtained by swearing falsely (lying). You must make it right by paying the full amount plus an additional 20% to the person you have harmed. And on that same day you must present a FORGIVENESS OFFERING to Me of your own ram with no defects, or you may buy one of equal value. And through this process, the priest will purify you before Me, making you right with your neighbour, and you will be forgiven for any of these evil behaviours you’ve done.
WE’VE NOW LOOKED AT THE FIVE OFFERINGS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE COMMON INDIVIDUAL APPROACHING YAHUSHA. IN THE NEXT CHAPTER WE'LL LOOK AT THE INSTRUCTIONS YAHUSHA GAVE HIS PRIESTS REGARDING THESE FIVE OFFERINGS AND WHAT THEY SHOULD DO WHEN ALL THESE PEOPLE START APPROACHING THEM WITH THEIR OFFERINGS . . .
