While God did not command anyone to sacrifice His Son by killing him, he certainly sent his Son to be sacrificed for our sins. -- Isaiah 53:4-6; 61:1; John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7
We do not know of any scripture that says that God hates sacrifice itself. We would ask, however: What about all the sacrifices and offerings that He commanded the children of Israel to give as offerings to Himself?
And, then, regarding human sacrifice as needed to pay the condemantion brought into the world through the man, Adam, Isaiah speaks prophetically of the Messiah:
Isaiah 53:4-9 - Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and Jehovah hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he opened not his mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who [among them] considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people to whom the stroke [was due]? And they made his grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in his death; although he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
Isn't the language used concerning the Messiah similar to that used in Leviticus 16 concerning the offerings of the bull and the goat?
We have been presented with several scriptures evidently with the thought that sacrifice is pagan and that God does not approve of sacrifice: Isaiah 1:11-15, Amos 5:18-26, Deuteronomy 12:30-32, Leviticus 20:1-2, 2 Kings 16:1-4, Psalm 106:34:41, 2 Kings 21:3-8, Deuteronomy 18:9-12, Jeremiah 19:4-7, Ezekiel 23:36-40.
Isaiah 1:10-15
Hear the word of Jehovah, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. What unto me is the multitude of your sacrifices? saith Jehovah: I have had enough of the burnt-offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he-goats. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to trample my courts? Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; new moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies,-- I cannot away with iniquity and the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth; they are a trouble unto me; I am weary of bearing them. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
The point here is not that Jehovah hated sacrifice itself, but rather that he hated their sacrifices evidently because they had become an excuse to sin; it appears that these sacrifices had become something like a bribe being offered to so, they could escape punishment for their sin so that they could continue could go on with their sinning. It would seem that they were zealous about making the sacrifices while ignoring God's command given in the Law otherwise. Additionally, it appears that to many, such sacrifices had become a ritual, and thus their offerings made for sin reflect no sincere sorrow for their sins.
Sadly, many today treat Jesus' eternal sacrifice for sin similarly. For many, his offering of himself to God for sin has become an excuse to sin. God, however, can see the heart, and he knows if one is truly struggling against sin or not. At the same time, due to Adam's sin, we are all born into this world in a crooked condition, under a bondage of corruption, and we need to realize that our flesh will continue to sin and although as new creatures, we bring our flesh under subjection to the will of God, we will still fall short in our flesh of being fully obedient in absolutely everything.
Nevertheless, the very fact that Isaiah said to give ear to the law of God indicates that Isaiah is not condemning the Law with its sacrifices, but rather, as he goes on to show:
Isaiah 1:16-23 - Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well; seek justice, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith Jehovah: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it. How is the faithful city become a harlot! she that was full of justice! righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers. Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water. Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; every one loveth bribes, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.
Much of the above is also applicable to the Christian, although the Christian is made clean through the sacrificial offering of the blood of Christ. And yet as Paul states:
Isaiah 53:4-9 - Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and Jehovah hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he opened not his mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who [among them] considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people to whom the stroke [was due]? And they made his grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in his death; although he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
Isn't the language used concerning the Messiah similar to that used in Leviticus 16 concerning the offerings of the bull and the goat?
We have been presented with several scriptures evidently with the thought that sacrifice is pagan and that God does not approve of sacrifice: Isaiah 1:11-15, Amos 5:18-26, Deuteronomy 12:30-32, Leviticus 20:1-2, 2 Kings 16:1-4, Psalm 106:34:41, 2 Kings 21:3-8, Deuteronomy 18:9-12, Jeremiah 19:4-7, Ezekiel 23:36-40.
Isaiah 1:10-15
Hear the word of Jehovah, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. What unto me is the multitude of your sacrifices? saith Jehovah: I have had enough of the burnt-offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he-goats. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to trample my courts? Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; new moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies,-- I cannot away with iniquity and the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth; they are a trouble unto me; I am weary of bearing them. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
The point here is not that Jehovah hated sacrifice itself, but rather that he hated their sacrifices evidently because they had become an excuse to sin; it appears that these sacrifices had become something like a bribe being offered to so, they could escape punishment for their sin so that they could continue could go on with their sinning. It would seem that they were zealous about making the sacrifices while ignoring God's command given in the Law otherwise. Additionally, it appears that to many, such sacrifices had become a ritual, and thus their offerings made for sin reflect no sincere sorrow for their sins.
Sadly, many today treat Jesus' eternal sacrifice for sin similarly. For many, his offering of himself to God for sin has become an excuse to sin. God, however, can see the heart, and he knows if one is truly struggling against sin or not. At the same time, due to Adam's sin, we are all born into this world in a crooked condition, under a bondage of corruption, and we need to realize that our flesh will continue to sin and although as new creatures, we bring our flesh under subjection to the will of God, we will still fall short in our flesh of being fully obedient in absolutely everything.
Nevertheless, the very fact that Isaiah said to give ear to the law of God indicates that Isaiah is not condemning the Law with its sacrifices, but rather, as he goes on to show:
Isaiah 1:16-23 - Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well; seek justice, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith Jehovah: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it. How is the faithful city become a harlot! she that was full of justice! righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers. Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water. Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; every one loveth bribes, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.
Much of the above is also applicable to the Christian, although the Christian is made clean through the sacrificial offering of the blood of Christ. And yet as Paul states:
Romans 6:1 - What will we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Romans 6:2 - May it never be! We who died to sin, how could we live in it any longer? -- World English.
Again, Paul goes on to show that, due to our sinful flesh, our flesh will not be fully brought into subjection to God's will, but our own will as new creatures must be fully in harmony with God's will.
Again, Paul goes on to show that, due to our sinful flesh, our flesh will not be fully brought into subjection to God's will, but our own will as new creatures must be fully in harmony with God's will.
Amos 5:18-26
Amos 5:18-26 - Woe unto you that desire the day of Jehovah! Wherefore would ye have the day of Jehovah? It is darkness, and not light. As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. Shall not the day of Jehovah be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it? I hate, I despise your feasts, and I will take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Yea, though ye offer me your burnt-offerings and meal-offerings, I will not accept them; neither will I regard the peace-offerings of your fat beasts. Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.[24] But let justice roll down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream. Did ye bring unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel? Yea, ye have borne the tabernacle of your king and the shrine of your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves.
Again, it is not the sacrifices as such that Jehovah was concerned about, but the idolatry and disobedience that had become connected with such sacrifices, making their service to God actually a mockery of God. ********
Deuteronomy 12:30-32 - Take heed to thyself that thou be not ensnared to follow them, after that they are destroyed from before thee; and that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How do these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. Thou shalt not do so unto Jehovah thy God: for every abomination to Jehovah, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters do they burn in the fire to their gods. What thing soever I command you, that shall ye observe to do: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
Here again, it is not the sacrifices of the Law that Jehovah disapproves of, nor the sacrifice that his son gives for sin, but rather the idolatrous ways of the heathen. Verse 32 shows that Jehovah did expect the children of Israel to do all he commanded, even all the sacrifices and offerings that He commanded. The reality is that the offering of children to appease any alleged God is definitely despicable to God. Evidently, the thought of those making such a sacrifice is that children are "innocent" and therefore their offering in sacrifice could pay for the wrongs of the older one(s) presenting such sacrifices. Scripturally, the children are condemned and made sinners in Adam's disobedience, and thus all such children cannot satisfy justice so as to pay the price for Adam and any other person condemned in Adam, since those children are also condemned in the curse upon Adam. -- Romans 5:12-19.
Leviticus 20:1-2 - And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, Moreover, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones.
Deuteronomy 18:9-12 - When thou art come into the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found with thee any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one that useth divination, one that practiseth augury, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer, or a charmer, or a consulter with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For whosoever doeth these things is an abomination unto Jehovah: and because of these abominations Jehovah thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
Nothing here says that Jehovah disapproved of sacrifices. Jehovah, being a jealous God, an exacting God, could not approve, however, of such sacrifices to false gods.
2 Kings 16:1-4 - In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign.[2] Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign; and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: and he did not that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah his God, like David his father.[3] But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations, whom Jehovah cast out from before the children of Israel.[4] And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
Again, we do not find anything that says that Jehovah disapproved of sacrifices. He certainly disapproved of the idolatrous sacrifices described in these verses.
Psalms 106:34-41 - They did not destroy the peoples, As Jehovah commanded them, But mingled themselves with the nations, And learned their works, And served their idols, Which became a snare unto them. Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto demons, And shed innocent blood, Even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, Whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan; And the land was polluted with blood. Thus were they defiled with their works, And played the harlot in their doings. Therefore was the wrath of Jehovah kindled against his people, And he abhorred his inheritance. And he gave them into the hand of the nations; And they that hated them ruled over them.
Again, we find nothing that would mean that Jehovah did not accept the sacrifice of His son for our sins. Of course, Jehovah, who is a jealous or demanding exclusiveness, is against the idolatrous sacrifices that children of Israel did as well as their disobedience.
2 Kings 21:3-8 - For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made an Asherah, as did Ahab king of Israel, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built altars in the house of Jehovah, whereof Jehovah said, In Jerusalem will I put my name. And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of Jehovah. And he made his son to pass through the fire, and practised augury, and used enchantments, and dealt with them that had familiar spirits, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of Jehovah, to provoke him to anger. And he set the graven image of Asherah, that he had made, in the house of which Jehovah said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever; neither will I cause the feet of Israel to wander any more out of the land which I gave their fathers, if only they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them.
The point here is not that Jehovah would not accept a human sacrifice of one without sin for our sins, but rather again it is regarding idolatry and obedience to Jehovah.
Jeremiah 19:4-7 - Because they have forsaken me, and have estranged this place, and have burned incense in it unto other gods, that they knew not, they and their fathers and the kings of Judah; and have filled this place with the blood of innocents, and have built the high places of Baal, to burn their sons in the fire for burnt-offerings unto Baal; which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind: therefore, behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that this place shall no more be called Topheth, nor The valley of the son of Hinnom, but The valley of Slaughter. And I will make void the counsel of Judah and Jerusalem in this place; and I will cause them to fall by the sword before their enemies, and by the hand of them that seek their life: and their dead bodies will I give to be food for the birds of the heavens, and for the beasts of the earth.
Ezekiel 23:36-40 - Jehovah said moreover unto me: Son of man, wilt thou judge Oholah and Oholibah? then declare unto them their abominations. For they have committed adultery, and blood is in their hands; and with their idols have they committed adultery; and they have also caused their sons, whom they bare unto me, to pass through [the fire] unto them to be devoured.[ Moreover this they have done unto me: they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned my sabbaths. For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it; and, lo, thus have they done in the midst of my house.And furthermore ye have sent for men that come from far, unto whom a messenger was sent, and, lo, they came; for whom thou didst wash thyself, paint thine eyes, and deck thyself with ornaments,
Still we find nothing in the above that would forbid Jehovah's purpose in Christ's sacrifice for our sins. Jesus did not forsake Jehovah so as to offer himself to another "god", an idol such as Baal, but he offered himself in sacrifice to Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. -- Ephesians 5:2; Hebrews 9:14.
Two more scriptures are given: Matthew 9:13 and Matthew 19:17.
Matthew 9:13 - But you go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
I am not sure why this is being quoted. The call to repentance is still going forth, "True, our Lord said to the Pharisees during his ministry, "I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Matt. 9:13) But we are to recognize a great difference between calling men to repentance and calling them to the high calling of the divine nature and joint-heirship with Christ. No sinners are accepted to it; hence it is that we, being "by nature children of wrath," all require first to be justified freely from all things by the precious blood of Christ." -- Acts 20:21; See also Hebrews 6:1.
Matthew 19:17 - He said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."
The rich young rule had asked Jesus what he should do to have eternal life.
Matthew 19:16 Behold, one came to him and said, “Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?”
Matthew 19:17 He said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
Matthew 19:18 He said to him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “You shall not kill. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not offer false testimony.
Matthew 19:19 Honor your father and mother. And, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Matthew 19:20 The young man said to him, “All these things I have observed from my youth. What do I still lack?”
Matthew 19:21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
Matthew 19:22 But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sad, for he was one who had great possessions.
Jesus was here speaking to a Jew who was under the Law Covenant. Only the children of Israel came to be under the Law Covenant through Moses, and it was binding only to the children of Israel, those who became proselytes to Israel, and any foreign person residing in the land of Israel. All others were never bound to the Law Covenant made with Israel. -- Exodus 12:43,45; 19:5,6; Deuteronomy 4:4; 7:6; 14:21; 26:18; Psalm 147:19; Isaiah 63:19; Amos 3:2; Romans 2:12,14; 3:1,2.
Jesus taught that, if a Jew under the Law Covenant could keep the commandments, that Jew could live forever. (Matthew 19:16-19; Mark 10:17-21; Luke 10:25-28) Paul also taught the same thing. (Romans 10:5) This offer was made, however, only to the Jew who was under the Law; Gentiles were not under the Law Covenant, and thus no Gentile was ever made such an offer, and thus God overlooked the Gentile’s ignorance of the Law. The appeal to the Gentile to repent is in view of the judgment day of the age to come, when the new covenant will be enacted throughout the world. -- Acts 17:30.
The problem is that the Jews, like all the descendants of Adam, were under a bondage of corruption, so that none of them could perfectly obey the Law Covenant. No one gained eternal life by obeying the Law. Paul further testifies: “If there had been a law given which could make alive, most assuredly righteousness would have been of the law.” (Galatians 3:21) And, “a man is not justified by the works of the law but through the faith of Jesus Christ.” — Galatians 2:16.
For more related to this, see the study at:
https://bible-covenants.blogspot.com/2019/12/mat19-16-22.html
The Scriptures indicate that those who become Gods’ sons in this age do so by partaking of the powers of that age to come. (Hebrews 6:5) Nevertheless, no Israelite has ever gained eternal life by keeping those commandments. We see no Jew walking around today who is several thousand years old, nor any one who has come out his dying condition that is upon him through Adam. The only one who did keep those commandments was Jesus, who gave up his right to eternal human life in order to redeem those under the curse of the law. — 2 Corinthians 5:12; Galatians 3:13.
Amos 5:18-26 - Woe unto you that desire the day of Jehovah! Wherefore would ye have the day of Jehovah? It is darkness, and not light. As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. Shall not the day of Jehovah be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it? I hate, I despise your feasts, and I will take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Yea, though ye offer me your burnt-offerings and meal-offerings, I will not accept them; neither will I regard the peace-offerings of your fat beasts. Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.[24] But let justice roll down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream. Did ye bring unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel? Yea, ye have borne the tabernacle of your king and the shrine of your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves.
Again, it is not the sacrifices as such that Jehovah was concerned about, but the idolatry and disobedience that had become connected with such sacrifices, making their service to God actually a mockery of God. ********
Deuteronomy 12:30-32 - Take heed to thyself that thou be not ensnared to follow them, after that they are destroyed from before thee; and that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How do these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. Thou shalt not do so unto Jehovah thy God: for every abomination to Jehovah, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters do they burn in the fire to their gods. What thing soever I command you, that shall ye observe to do: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
Here again, it is not the sacrifices of the Law that Jehovah disapproves of, nor the sacrifice that his son gives for sin, but rather the idolatrous ways of the heathen. Verse 32 shows that Jehovah did expect the children of Israel to do all he commanded, even all the sacrifices and offerings that He commanded. The reality is that the offering of children to appease any alleged God is definitely despicable to God. Evidently, the thought of those making such a sacrifice is that children are "innocent" and therefore their offering in sacrifice could pay for the wrongs of the older one(s) presenting such sacrifices. Scripturally, the children are condemned and made sinners in Adam's disobedience, and thus all such children cannot satisfy justice so as to pay the price for Adam and any other person condemned in Adam, since those children are also condemned in the curse upon Adam. -- Romans 5:12-19.
 |
| Sacrifice to Molech |
Deuteronomy 18:9-12 - When thou art come into the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found with thee any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one that useth divination, one that practiseth augury, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer, or a charmer, or a consulter with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For whosoever doeth these things is an abomination unto Jehovah: and because of these abominations Jehovah thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
Nothing here says that Jehovah disapproved of sacrifices. Jehovah, being a jealous God, an exacting God, could not approve, however, of such sacrifices to false gods.
2 Kings 16:1-4 - In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign.[2] Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign; and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: and he did not that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah his God, like David his father.[3] But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations, whom Jehovah cast out from before the children of Israel.[4] And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
Again, we do not find anything that says that Jehovah disapproved of sacrifices. He certainly disapproved of the idolatrous sacrifices described in these verses.
Psalms 106:34-41 - They did not destroy the peoples, As Jehovah commanded them, But mingled themselves with the nations, And learned their works, And served their idols, Which became a snare unto them. Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto demons, And shed innocent blood, Even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, Whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan; And the land was polluted with blood. Thus were they defiled with their works, And played the harlot in their doings. Therefore was the wrath of Jehovah kindled against his people, And he abhorred his inheritance. And he gave them into the hand of the nations; And they that hated them ruled over them.
Again, we find nothing that would mean that Jehovah did not accept the sacrifice of His son for our sins. Of course, Jehovah, who is a jealous or demanding exclusiveness, is against the idolatrous sacrifices that children of Israel did as well as their disobedience.
The blood of those who had committed no crime; who did not “deserve” the treatment which they received. That is, they were sacrificed “as” innocent persons, and “because” it was believed that they “were” innocent: the pure for the impure; the holy for the unholy. It was on the general principle that a sacrifice for sin must be itself pure, or it could not be offered in the place of the guilty; that an offering made for one who had violated law must be by one who had “not” violated it. This was the principle on which “lambs” were offered in sacrifice. It is on this principle that the atonement for sin by the Lord Jesus was made; on this depend its efficacy and its value. -- Barnes, Albert. "Commentary on Psalms 106". "Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bnb/psalms-106.html. 1870.Of course, the reality is that children are not actually innocent in God's eyes, for all are made sinners due to Adam's disobedience, even if the child has not committed a personal sin. (Romans 5:19) The life of a child born of the bloodline of Adam therefore cannot be an acceptable sacrifice to God. From God's standpoint, all mankind born under the condemnation in Adam is already condemned to death, and worthy of death; any such cannot be sacrificed for sin. -- Romans 5:12-19.
2 Kings 21:3-8 - For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made an Asherah, as did Ahab king of Israel, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. And he built altars in the house of Jehovah, whereof Jehovah said, In Jerusalem will I put my name. And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of Jehovah. And he made his son to pass through the fire, and practised augury, and used enchantments, and dealt with them that had familiar spirits, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of Jehovah, to provoke him to anger. And he set the graven image of Asherah, that he had made, in the house of which Jehovah said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever; neither will I cause the feet of Israel to wander any more out of the land which I gave their fathers, if only they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them.
The point here is not that Jehovah would not accept a human sacrifice of one without sin for our sins, but rather again it is regarding idolatry and obedience to Jehovah.
Jeremiah 19:4-7 - Because they have forsaken me, and have estranged this place, and have burned incense in it unto other gods, that they knew not, they and their fathers and the kings of Judah; and have filled this place with the blood of innocents, and have built the high places of Baal, to burn their sons in the fire for burnt-offerings unto Baal; which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind: therefore, behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that this place shall no more be called Topheth, nor The valley of the son of Hinnom, but The valley of Slaughter. And I will make void the counsel of Judah and Jerusalem in this place; and I will cause them to fall by the sword before their enemies, and by the hand of them that seek their life: and their dead bodies will I give to be food for the birds of the heavens, and for the beasts of the earth.
Ezekiel 23:36-40 - Jehovah said moreover unto me: Son of man, wilt thou judge Oholah and Oholibah? then declare unto them their abominations. For they have committed adultery, and blood is in their hands; and with their idols have they committed adultery; and they have also caused their sons, whom they bare unto me, to pass through [the fire] unto them to be devoured.[ Moreover this they have done unto me: they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned my sabbaths. For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it; and, lo, thus have they done in the midst of my house.And furthermore ye have sent for men that come from far, unto whom a messenger was sent, and, lo, they came; for whom thou didst wash thyself, paint thine eyes, and deck thyself with ornaments,
Still we find nothing in the above that would forbid Jehovah's purpose in Christ's sacrifice for our sins. Jesus did not forsake Jehovah so as to offer himself to another "god", an idol such as Baal, but he offered himself in sacrifice to Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. -- Ephesians 5:2; Hebrews 9:14.
Two more scriptures are given: Matthew 9:13 and Matthew 19:17.
Matthew 9:13 - But you go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
I am not sure why this is being quoted. The call to repentance is still going forth, "True, our Lord said to the Pharisees during his ministry, "I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Matt. 9:13) But we are to recognize a great difference between calling men to repentance and calling them to the high calling of the divine nature and joint-heirship with Christ. No sinners are accepted to it; hence it is that we, being "by nature children of wrath," all require first to be justified freely from all things by the precious blood of Christ." -- Acts 20:21; See also Hebrews 6:1.
Matthew 19:17 - He said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."
The rich young rule had asked Jesus what he should do to have eternal life.
Matthew 19:16 Behold, one came to him and said, “Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?”
Matthew 19:17 He said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
Matthew 19:18 He said to him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “You shall not kill. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not offer false testimony.
Matthew 19:19 Honor your father and mother. And, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Matthew 19:20 The young man said to him, “All these things I have observed from my youth. What do I still lack?”
Matthew 19:21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
Matthew 19:22 But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sad, for he was one who had great possessions.
Jesus was here speaking to a Jew who was under the Law Covenant. Only the children of Israel came to be under the Law Covenant through Moses, and it was binding only to the children of Israel, those who became proselytes to Israel, and any foreign person residing in the land of Israel. All others were never bound to the Law Covenant made with Israel. -- Exodus 12:43,45; 19:5,6; Deuteronomy 4:4; 7:6; 14:21; 26:18; Psalm 147:19; Isaiah 63:19; Amos 3:2; Romans 2:12,14; 3:1,2.
Jesus taught that, if a Jew under the Law Covenant could keep the commandments, that Jew could live forever. (Matthew 19:16-19; Mark 10:17-21; Luke 10:25-28) Paul also taught the same thing. (Romans 10:5) This offer was made, however, only to the Jew who was under the Law; Gentiles were not under the Law Covenant, and thus no Gentile was ever made such an offer, and thus God overlooked the Gentile’s ignorance of the Law. The appeal to the Gentile to repent is in view of the judgment day of the age to come, when the new covenant will be enacted throughout the world. -- Acts 17:30.
The problem is that the Jews, like all the descendants of Adam, were under a bondage of corruption, so that none of them could perfectly obey the Law Covenant. No one gained eternal life by obeying the Law. Paul further testifies: “If there had been a law given which could make alive, most assuredly righteousness would have been of the law.” (Galatians 3:21) And, “a man is not justified by the works of the law but through the faith of Jesus Christ.” — Galatians 2:16.
For more related to this, see the study at:
https://bible-covenants.blogspot.com/2019/12/mat19-16-22.html
The Scriptures indicate that those who become Gods’ sons in this age do so by partaking of the powers of that age to come. (Hebrews 6:5) Nevertheless, no Israelite has ever gained eternal life by keeping those commandments. We see no Jew walking around today who is several thousand years old, nor any one who has come out his dying condition that is upon him through Adam. The only one who did keep those commandments was Jesus, who gave up his right to eternal human life in order to redeem those under the curse of the law. — 2 Corinthians 5:12; Galatians 3:13.
No comments:
Post a Comment