Trespass
Defining Trespass in Scripture
The biblical concept of trespass goes far beyond the modern English sense of entering someone's property without permission. In Scripture, trespass describes any act of crossing a moral or spiritual boundary — stepping beyond what is right into what is wrong. The Old Testament Hebrew word most associated with trespass is 'asham, which conveys the idea of guilt and liability for wrongdoing. The New Testament Greek term paraptoma literally means "a falling beside" or "a slip," suggesting a deviation from the right path. Whether intentional or accidental, a trespass creates a breach in relationship that requires both acknowledgment and repair.
The Trespass Offering in the Old Testament
The Levitical system provided a specific sacrifice for dealing with trespasses, known as the guilt offering or trespass offering (Leviticus 5:14-6:7). When someone sinned against God — perhaps by mishandling something holy or by unknowingly violating a commandment — a female lamb or a ram was required as an offering, depending on the severity of the offense. Crucially, confession had to precede the sacrifice: the offender had to openly acknowledge what they had done (Leviticus 5:5). When the trespass involved harm to another person, the law required restitution before the sacrifice could be offered. The wrongdoer had to restore what was taken and add one-fifth of its value (Leviticus 6:5). This principle established that reconciliation with others and reconciliation with God are inseparable.
Trespass Against Others
Scripture takes trespasses between people with great seriousness. The requirement to add a fifth to the value of damaged property (Leviticus 6:5) demonstrated that mere restoration was insufficient; the offender had to go beyond what was owed. Zacchaeus exemplified this principle in extraordinary fashion when he promised to restore fourfold anything he had taken by fraud (Luke 19:8), far exceeding the Law's minimum requirements. Jesus taught that when you remember at the altar that your brother has something against you, you must first go and be reconciled before offering your worship (Matthew 5:23-24). This teaching places interpersonal reconciliation as a prerequisite for worship.
Forgiveness of Trespasses
The New Testament emphasizes the obligation of the offended party to forgive. Jesus taught his disciples to pray, "Forgive us our trespasses, as we also have forgiven those who trespass against us" (Matthew 6:12). He further stated, "If you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matthew 6:14-15). Paul urged believers to be "kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you" (Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13). Forgiveness is not optional for the people of God but flows from having received God's own forgiveness.
Trespass and Reconciliation with God
Paul describes the human condition apart from Christ as being "dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1). Humanity's trespasses have created an alienation from God that no human effort can bridge. Yet God, who is "rich in mercy," made a way through Christ: "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses" (Ephesians 1:7). Paul declares that "God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them" (2 Corinthians 5:19). The entire ministry of reconciliation flows from God's initiative to deal with the trespasses that separated humanity from himself (Colossians 1:20-22).
Biblical Context
Trespass appears extensively in the Levitical laws governing sacrifices and restitution (Leviticus 5-6). The concept surfaces in historical narratives involving personal wrongs and national sin. Jesus addresses trespasses prominently in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-6) and in parables about forgiveness. Paul develops the theological dimensions of trespass in Romans, Ephesians, and Colossians, connecting human trespasses to the need for divine reconciliation through Christ. The theme runs from the earliest laws of Israel through the apostolic proclamation of the gospel.
Theological Significance
The concept of trespass reveals that sin is not merely a personal failing but a relational breach that affects both divine and human relationships. The Old Testament trespass offering demonstrates that God takes both vertical (God-human) and horizontal (human-human) offenses seriously, requiring both confession and restitution. Jesus' teaching on forgiveness shows that receiving God's mercy obligates believers to extend mercy to others. Paul's theology of trespass underscores that apart from Christ, all humanity stands guilty, but through the cross, God has provided complete forgiveness and reconciliation.
Historical Background
In the ancient Near East, legal codes such as the Code of Hammurabi addressed property violations and personal injuries with restitution requirements, but the biblical trespass laws are distinctive in their integration of religious sacrifice with interpersonal restitution. The Levitical trespass offering combined moral accountability with ritual atonement in a way unparalleled in neighboring cultures. The practice of adding a fifth to the value of restitution ensured that justice went beyond mere replacement. In Second Temple Judaism, the Pharisees developed elaborate discussions about the boundaries of trespass and the obligations of forgiveness, debates that form the background to Jesus' teachings on the subject.