Leviticus 5:14 - Meaning and Application

Up to this point, the chapter has dealt with sacrifices that were both sin offerings and guilt offerings, since they are called by both names (Leviticus 5:6). Here the law turns to sacrifices that were properly guilt offerings, brought to make up for wrongs done against a neighbor, the kind of sins we usually call trespasses. Those injuries could be against holy things or against ordinary things, and these verses deal with wrongs against holy things. The next chapter begins the law for wrongs done in common matters.

If a man did harm, as verse 16 explains, in the holy things of the Lord, he had really trespassed against the priests, the Lord’s ministers, because they were entrusted with those holy things and benefited from them. If a man, even by mistake, took for his own use something dedicated to God, he had to bring this sacrifice. For example, he might have used tithes, first fruits, firstborn animals, or, as Leviticus 22:14-16 seems to show, he might have eaten parts of sacrifices that belonged to the priests. That counted as a trespass.

This was assumed to have been done through mistake or forgetfulness, from lack of care or zeal. If it was done on purpose, in open contempt of the law, the offender died without mercy (Hebrews 10:28). But when the fault came from carelessness or ignorance, this sacrifice was provided. Moses is then told what to do when the trespass is clearly certain.

In that case, the trespasser had to bring an offering to the Lord. Since these were true guilt offerings, it had to be a ram without blemish, and, as the Jewish teachers say, one in its second year. He also had to repay the priest for the value of what he had wrongly used, and add one-fifth more. This would teach him to be more careful next time and would show him, at his own expense, that nothing is gained by taking what belongs to God. Oversights like that are costly.

Moses is also told what to do if it was not clear whether the man had trespassed or not. He had reason to suspect it, but he was not sure, as verse 17 says. In such a doubtful case, since it is wise to be safe, he still had to bring his guilt offering and pay the value of what he thought he may have misused, but he did not add the extra fifth part. This still showed how serious sacrilege is, that is, misuse of what is holy. Achan, who did this knowingly, died for it, and so did Ananias and Sapphira.

This law goes even further. It shows that if a man had only unknowingly taken holy things, or even just suspected that he had, he still had to bear the cost of sacrifice, restitution, and the shame of confession. That is how evil it is to touch what belongs to God, and how careful we should be to avoid even the appearance of such sin. We are also taught to keep watch over ourselves with holy caution, to ask forgiveness for sins we are only unsure about, and to make right the wrong we fear we may have done. In doubtful matters, we should always choose the safer path.