Old Testament Sacrifices
Q: Can you help me? I am looking for information relating to the Burnt offerings, described in Leviticus. I had read that when they were performed, they didn't remove all the sin, but allowed the individual to at least have communion with God. I read this in a commentary section in the Spirit Filled Life Bible,but cannot find any it in the scripture that I read.
A: Thank
you for writing. I do have some outlines on the first couple of
chapters of Leviticus (found in the Sunday School Outlines section of
the
website). However, I do not think that they deal with the temporary
nature of the Old Testament sacrifices. This nature is best explained
in
the New Testament books that deal with the Old Testament sacrifices.
Let
me give you some verses.
Hebrews 10:4 states, "For it is not possible that the blood of bulls
and
of goats should take away sins." This shows that the animal sacrifices
could not completely remove their sins.
Hebrews 10:11-12 states, "And every priest standeth daily ministering
and
offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat
down on the right hand of God." This passage contrasts the temporary
effect of the Old Testament sacrifices with the absolute sacrifice of
Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 7:19 reads, "For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing
in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God." The
sacrifices were a part of the law and this verse says that they made
nothing perfect. But the better hope of Jesus Christ perfected our
salvation.
Hebrews 9:13 explains the purpose of the sacrifices: "For if the
blood of
bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean,
sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh." They were given for
the
sanctifying of the flesh, not the absolute salvation of the soul.
Now, why did their flesh need to be sanctified? This was necessary
because God came to make His dwelling with the Israelites. Leviticus
16:16 states, "And he shall make an atonement for the holy place,
because
of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their
transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle
of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their
uncleanness." This and other verses emphasis the importance of being
holy
because of the presence of God among them.
The sacrifices covered their sins but they did not completely do away
with their sins. Consider this entire passage:
Hebrews 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come,
and not
the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they
offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that
the
worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of
sins
every year.
4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should
take away sins.
The reason they had to keep coming back is because the sacrifices did
not
entirely do away with their sins.
I hope this helps and may the Lord bless you.
Till He comes,
Pastor David Reagan
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