Midrash Tanchuma, Tzav
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אִם עַל תּוֹדָה יַקְרִיבֶנּוּ וְהִקְרִיב. רְאֵה הֵיאַךְ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא סוֹלֵחַ לַעֲוֹנוֹתֵיהֶם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל. רְאֵה מֶה הָיוּ מַקְרִיבִין לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, וְהִקְרִיב עַל זֶבַח הַתּוֹדָה. אֶלָּא אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ פַּר, יָבִיא פַּר. מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ אַיִל, יָבִיא אַיִל. וּמִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ שֶׂה, יָבִיא שֶׂה. וּמִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ יוֹנָה, יָבִיא יוֹנָה. וּמִי שֶׁאֵין לוֹ אֶחָד מִכָּל אֵלּוּ, יָבִיא סֹלֶת. וּמִי שֶׁאֵין לוֹ סֹלֶת וְלֹא כְּלוּם, יָבִיא דְּבָרִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: קְחוּ עִמָּכֶם דְּבָרִים וְשׁוּבוּ אֶל ה' (הושע יד, ג), וְתֹאמַר שֶׁהוּא מְקֻבָּל. אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, הֵן, וּנְשַׁלְּמָה פָּרִים שְׂפָתֵינוּ (שם). לָמָּה, שֶׁאֵין תְּשׁוּבָה לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יוֹתֵר מִן הוֹדָיָה. לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר: אִם עַל תּוֹדָה יַקְרִיבֶנּוּ.
(Lev. 7:12:) “If he offers it for a thanksgiving, and he shall sacrifice.” See how the Holy One, blessed be He, forgives the sins of Israel. See what did they offer to the Holy One, blessed be He? It is simply that the Holy One, blessed be He, said, “Whoever has a bull, let him bring a bull; and whoever has a calf let him bring a calf. Whoever has a lamb, let him bring a lamb. Whoever has a dove, let him bring a dove. Whoever has not one of all these, let him bring fine flour; and whoever has neither flour nor anything at all, let him bring words.” Thus it is stated (in Hos. 14:3), “Take your words with you and return unto the Lord.” And do you say that it is accepted? Said the Holy One, blessed be He, (as in Hos. 12:3, cont.), “and we shall pay with our lips for the bulls.” Why? As there is no greater repentance in front of the Holy One, blessed be He, than confession. It is therefore stated (in Lev. 7:12), “If he offers it for a thanksgiving” (as the word for thanksgiving can also be understood as confession).