Sacrifice in the Bible
The Bible speaks of several different sacrifices that God expected of Israel on a regular basis. You are probably familiar with the sin offering, because even Jesus spoke about it. But have you heard of the others?
Let’s take a closer look at the five types of sacrifices made by Israel. What does the Bible say about them? And are they relevant today?
Israel’s Five Types of Offerings
There are 5 types of offerings or sacrifices in the Bible that Israel brought the Lord: the burnt offering, the grain offering, the peace offering, the sin offering and the trespass offering.
Each sacrifice served a specific purpose and function. The important distinction is that the burnt, grain, and peace offerings were voluntary. Meanwhile the sin and trespass sacrifices were mandatory.
Each offering had specific elements such as animals, fruit or grain. These offerings were split into portions, two or three usually, with the third portion being kept by the person making the offering.
1. Burnt Offerings
The burnt offering is the first of the voluntary offerings, which were made to express thanks, worship, devotion, and commitment to God. But it was also an atonement for unintentional sin.
Israel sacrificed bulls, birds, either pigeons or turtledoves, or rams without blemish. Their meat and bones were burnt completely, and the hide was given to the Levites who could earn money by selling it.
2. Grain Offering
The second voluntary offering is the grain offering, in which the worshiper offers up the fruit of the field in the form of a cake or baked bread. The grain offering was accompanied by a drink offering of wine.
Grain and drink offerings expressed gratitude and thanksgiving, recognizing the Lord’s favor, unmerited good will and provision towards the person making the sacrifice. Priests could partake of a portion of this offering, but they had to eat it within the tabernacle.
3. Peace Offering
The third voluntary offering was the peace offering. It involved the best and unblemished animal from the herd and various grain and bread offerings. This sacrifice expressed thanksgiving, but it also emphasized fellowship, as it was followed by a shared meal.
Unlike the previous two offerings, the priest received pieces of the animal that were called the “wave” or “heave” offerings. That is because the animal pieces were lifted or “waved” over the altar during the ceremony. The participants were able to eat some of the offering, signifying God’s provision.
The vow, thanksgiving and freewill offerings mentioned in the Hebrew scriptures were all peace offerings.
4. Sin Offering
The sin offering was mandatory, as it atoned for sins and cleansed from defilement.
There were five possible elements of the sin offering, depending on the financial situation of the person. A common person could offer a female goat. The poor could offer fine flour. Meanwhile a young bull was offered on behalf of the congregation as a whole.
5. Trespass Offering
The trespass offering was the second mandatory offering, and this sacrifice was specifically a ram. Israel offered trespass sacrifices as atonement for unintentional sins against someone else that required reimbursement and recompense. It was also a cleansing offering from defiling sins or physical illnesses and conditions.
The fat portions, kidneys and liver were offered to God, and those offering the sacrifice ate the remainder of the ram outside in the tabernacle.
Israel Seeking Atonement Through Sacrifice in the Bible
Through all of the above sacrifices, we see that sin, both unintentional and intentional, required an atonement. Praying and saying you’re sorry just wasn’t enough.
During the High Holy days, from Rosh HaShanah (Yom Teruah – the Feast of Trumpets) to Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), the Jewish people in Israel and around the world prepare their hearts and come humbly before God.
They present themselves in repentance and humility, with hope that the Lord would accept their offerings. In prayer and supplication, they ask to be inscribed in the Book of Life for another year to come.
As believers in Jesus, we have the assurance of pardon, and that our names are inscribed in the Book of Life not by our works but through our faith. And we do not need to ask to be inscribed every year, as Christ’s work was and is final.
“The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”
–The Westminster shorter catechism
Between Sacrifice in the Bible and God’s Grace
The Apostle Paul assures us that God, rich in mercy, loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, making us alive together with Christ. (Ephesians 2:4-6) And yet, somehow, we still struggle with our sinful nature, our habits, the pull of the world, and the devil’s schemes.
Sin, vices, and plain old bad habits are a tricky thing. Some of them are painfully obvious to us and grieve us to the core. Some give trouble and agitation, and others are, sadly, just accepted as a part of life. For example, getting distracted by the cares of the world.
So, although we are assured of pardon and forgiveness of sin, and we are justified through faith by grace, it is so easy to fall by the wayside. We feel shame or guilt, and we avoid God, trying to manage our sin, failings, and shortcomings on our own.
We think that our sin is just too messy and ugly for God. In our need, some cry for mercy, but many, well, think they can get it under control. So, we try to handle our problems ourselves.
This is when ancient Israel would offer sacrifices in the Temple, to atone for their sins. They had instructions from God what to do, and the faithful ones followed them.
But our effort to manage our brokenness became too much. Especially when our troubles remained hidden, we started to despair. Are there sacrifices we can bring to God today?
What “Offerings” do we bring to God today?
Scripture tells us time and time again – through Jesus, the Old Testament prophets, the Apostles – that our own acts of righteousness do not merit salvation. Instead, we are encouraged to obey the commandments to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves.
“Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the LORD’S commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?” (Deuteronomy 10:12-13)
So, if God doesn’t want sacrifices, what does the Lord require of us? The Prophet Micah states very matter-of-factly:
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you,
But to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)
The Apostle Paul built on this and encouraged us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice and to not be conformed to the pattern of the world. It is a constant daily practice. In humility, we accept our human limitations, and present ourselves to God in service.
Not being conformed to the pattern of the world requires daily walking with the Spirit, with a desire to obey. We know we will fail in our flesh, but even so, we have hope in Messiah, who is gentle with us in our weaknesses and failings.
Do We Need Biblical Sacrifices in the New Era?
In contemporary times, we offer our prayers, supplication, and even simply our tears. We offer our remorse, but guilt and shame make us wonder if it is really enough… Can our intentions and the force of our willpower make us clean?
No. It is not our willpower or our love for God that makes us clean. Instead, it is HIS love for us that does. It is in the power of the Cross.
Scripture reminds us again and again that only Jesus and what He did for us on the cross covers us and wipes away our sins, guilt, and shame.
Have you ever heard of the term “double knowledge”? In theological circles, double knowledge is the knowledge of ourselves, the awareness of our guilt, despair at our sinful condition, combined with the knowledge of God, His grace and compassion, His mercy and forgiveness.
Do you have this double knowledge?
How can we have this assurance? We have it only by knowing that the Messiah gave Himself up for us completely, to the point of death… even death on a cross, a form of execution reserved for criminals. (Philippians 2:5-8)
Israel’s Sacrifices in the Bible and Hope for the World
Colossians 2:17 tells us that Israel’s sacrifices in the Bible were a shadow of what is to come, but their substance belongs to the Messiah.
The writer of Hebrews exhorts us to consider the great gift we have in Jesus, of His atonement.
That it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins (Hebrews 10:4) and that we have been sanctified once and for all through the offering of the body of Jesus the Messiah. (Hebrews 10:10)
Because of this, we can confidently enter into the Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, (Hebrews 10:19) we can participate in Jesus’ role of sonship and confidently call God – Father, and call Jesus a friend.
“But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.” (Galatians 4:4-7)
Jesus – the Greatest Sacrifice in the Bible
Jesus is our great High Priest who sympathizes with us and understands our weaknesses, as he was tested in every way as we are but was without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)
The writer of Hebrews further explains that because Jesus holds His priesthood permanently, He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him. Additionally, He always intercedes for them.
“For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.” (Hebrews 7: 26-28)
Atonement for Sin and Shame
Thinking of the sacrifices made by Israel should feel like an invitation to consider God’s great love for us, His people.
Do you remember the story of the Garden of Eden? God walked with Adam and Eve, in purity and holiness–the man and woman did not know they were naked. But their sin impacted their perception of themselves, and it resulted in shame.
Perhaps the saddest verse in the Bible is God calling out for Adam and Eve: “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9) Of course, God knew where they were, but calling out “where are you” pointed out how lost they were.
At the same time, that question was an invitation to be found. And so, the first sacrifice in the Bible was God Himself killing an animal, to make clothing to cover Adam and Eve’s nakedness. (Genesis 3:21)
In our shame and guilt, in hiding our sin, God always sends us an invitation asking, “Where are you?” He calls us by name to return to Him.
Approach the Day of Atonement
Thanks to Jesus’ sacrifice, we are not only found, but more than that, we are seated with Him in heavenly places. (Ephesians 2:6) God once again clothes us – we are dressed in His righteousness. It is the Messiah’s righteousness and virtues that are imparted to us through faith, when He took on our sins and transgressions.
“I will rejoice greatly in the LORD,
My soul will exult in my God;
For He has clothed me with garments of salvation,
He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness,
As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” (Isaiah 61:10)
This High Holy Day season, let us respond to the call of the Lord, to come to Him in our despair, weakness, and sin. On Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, receive His healing and restoration, so you can rejoice in Him and be with Him without guilt or shame.
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Works Cited:
“What were the various sacrifices in the Old Testament?” Got Questions Ministries, accessed September 3, 2023. https://www.gotquestions.org/Old-Testament-sacrifices.html