Deceit and Abraham's Test

[kkollwitz]

In this case what’s the ram for:

If any one sins and commits a breach of faith against the LORD by deceiving his neighbor in a matter of deposit or security, or through robbery, or if he has oppressed his neighbor 3 or has found what was lost and lied about it, swearing falsely–in any of all the things which men do and sin therein, 4 when one has sinned and become guilty, he shall restore what he took by robbery, or what he got by oppression, or the deposit which was committed to him, or the lost thing which he found, 5 or anything about which he has sworn falsely; he shall restore it in full, and shall add a fifth to it, and give it to him to whom it belongs, on the day of his guilt offering. 6 And he shall bring to the priest his guilt offering to the LORD, a ram without blemish out of the flock, valued by you at the price for a guilt offering; 7 and the priest shall make atonement for him before the LORD, and he shall be forgiven for any of the things which one may do and thereby become guilty.

 

[meltzerboy]

In this case what’s the ram for:

If any one sins and commits a breach of faith against the LORD by deceiving his neighbor in a matter of deposit or security, or through robbery, or if he has oppressed his neighbor 3 or has found what was lost and lied about it, swearing falsely–in any of all the things which men do and sin therein, 4 when one has sinned and become guilty, he shall restore what he took by robbery, or what he got by oppression, or the deposit which was committed to him, or the lost thing which he found, 5 or anything about which he has sworn falsely; he shall restore it in full, and shall add a fifth to it, and give it to him to whom it belongs, on the day of his guilt offering. 6 And he shall bring to the priest his guilt offering to the LORD, a ram without blemish out of the flock, valued by you at the price for a guilt offering; 7 and the priest shall make atonement for him before the LORD, and he shall be forgiven for any of the things which one may do and thereby become guilty.

Observe that in the Book of Matthew, Jesus correctly interprets this guilt offering as atonement toward G-d alone, and that it must be preceded by making amends toward the injured party to re-establish good relationships with them. Thus it is not enough in the instance of theft to offer sacrifice to G-d while not seeking forgiveness directly from others. And whether the ram is used as a guilt offering or one of the several other types of sin or thanksgiving offerings according to the complexities of the Written and Oral Law, it is not regarded as a form of vicarious atonement since it must be accompanied (or preceded) by the righteous behavior of the individual who is seeking to absolve the wrongdoing committed.