Christ in the perspective of the Mosaic Law of Sacrifice
The Law of Moses was given to humankind and specifically the children of Israel to be a school master to teach and make personal the Messiah's role as Savior and His impending sacrifice for them and the world. While many were confused and did not understand the connection between these, the prophets and early apostles taught Christ and his sacrifice using words and descriptions the people of the time were familiar with, words and phrases used in the Law of Moses when outlining the sacrifice.
The Law of Moses has many facets. There are many experts who have a deep understanding of this, I am not one of them. From my own studies, I have come to understand the law to have a primary facet, that an animal without blemish is sacrificed for sin, thanksgiving, trespass, or peace, etc (the particular method and animal depends on the sacrifice, see the first four books of Moses, particularly Levidicus). Animal sacrifice in this light did not start with Moses since we have record of both Noah and Abraham building alters and offering sacrifice. Nevertheless, what I feel is the primary point Moses taught about making the sacrifice is found in Lev. 1:3. In that verse, it states that the sacrifice should be offered voluntarily and the animal should be without blemish. This point is resonant in Christ's (a perfect individual in the eyes of God- without blemish) voluntary offering of himself for our sins.
In Paul’s epistle to the Hebrews, Paul describes the Mosaic ordinances and their pointing to Christ’s ministry and sacrifice. Hebrews 9:11-14. Note the language Paul uses as he sets Christ first as "an high priest" (the priest in the Livitical Priesthood would be the one who would lay his hands on the head of the sacrifice and then sacrifice the animal) then as the one sacrificed (his blood). Paul wraps his discussion around references to the Mosaic Law of sacrifice. The people who he was writing to knew these things well. We, in this day and age, may not understand as well the correlation he was drawing. I believe this is one reason that people that may consider themselves Christian write Christ off as only a good teacher and one who died for his beliefs rather than the Son of God, the Messiah, the one who died (gave Himself as a voluntary, perfect sacrifice) for the sins of the world
Paul continues in his letter in chapter 10 saying the “law having a shadow of good things to come” and that through the “offering of the body of Jesus Christ” we are sanctified “once and for all” not needing “those sacrifices which they offered year by year”. Paul follows the comparison of the Mosaic Law and Christ sacrifice by a wonderful chapter on faith, Hebrews 11, the way to partake of the eternal (“once and for all” sacrifice of Christ).
Peter uses a succinct description in his first general epistle (1 Peter 1:18-20). In these verses, Peter straight out says that Christ’s sacrifice in the garden and on the cross are “as of a lamb without blemish and without spot”. Peter describes what we should do to accept this sacrifice---Verses 21-25.
The early Apostles were not the only one who knew the connection between the Law of Moses and Christ’s sacrifice. For it was taught from the very beginning to Adam and Eve soon after being driven from the Garden of Eden. (Moses 5:4-7)
The law of animal sacrifice was completed or fulfilled in Christ’s sacrifice (the final and eternal sacrifice). Since He was Jehovah and the giver of the law, why can't He complete the law? Christ in fulfilling the law ask for a new sacrifice, not an animal sacrifice, but a willing sacrifice of our hearts, our minds, and our strength. It could not be more plain than in Jesus’s words to the Nephites.
I hope to be able to better offer my broken heart and contrite spirit and be as a little child in Him, teachable and full of faith.
The Law of Moses has many facets. There are many experts who have a deep understanding of this, I am not one of them. From my own studies, I have come to understand the law to have a primary facet, that an animal without blemish is sacrificed for sin, thanksgiving, trespass, or peace, etc (the particular method and animal depends on the sacrifice, see the first four books of Moses, particularly Levidicus). Animal sacrifice in this light did not start with Moses since we have record of both Noah and Abraham building alters and offering sacrifice. Nevertheless, what I feel is the primary point Moses taught about making the sacrifice is found in Lev. 1:3. In that verse, it states that the sacrifice should be offered voluntarily and the animal should be without blemish. This point is resonant in Christ's (a perfect individual in the eyes of God- without blemish) voluntary offering of himself for our sins.
In Paul’s epistle to the Hebrews, Paul describes the Mosaic ordinances and their pointing to Christ’s ministry and sacrifice. Hebrews 9:11-14. Note the language Paul uses as he sets Christ first as "an high priest" (the priest in the Livitical Priesthood would be the one who would lay his hands on the head of the sacrifice and then sacrifice the animal) then as the one sacrificed (his blood). Paul wraps his discussion around references to the Mosaic Law of sacrifice. The people who he was writing to knew these things well. We, in this day and age, may not understand as well the correlation he was drawing. I believe this is one reason that people that may consider themselves Christian write Christ off as only a good teacher and one who died for his beliefs rather than the Son of God, the Messiah, the one who died (gave Himself as a voluntary, perfect sacrifice) for the sins of the world
Paul continues in his letter in chapter 10 saying the “law having a shadow of good things to come” and that through the “offering of the body of Jesus Christ” we are sanctified “once and for all” not needing “those sacrifices which they offered year by year”. Paul follows the comparison of the Mosaic Law and Christ sacrifice by a wonderful chapter on faith, Hebrews 11, the way to partake of the eternal (“once and for all” sacrifice of Christ).
Peter uses a succinct description in his first general epistle (1 Peter 1:18-20). In these verses, Peter straight out says that Christ’s sacrifice in the garden and on the cross are “as of a lamb without blemish and without spot”. Peter describes what we should do to accept this sacrifice---Verses 21-25.
The early Apostles were not the only one who knew the connection between the Law of Moses and Christ’s sacrifice. For it was taught from the very beginning to Adam and Eve soon after being driven from the Garden of Eden. (Moses 5:4-7)
The law of animal sacrifice was completed or fulfilled in Christ’s sacrifice (the final and eternal sacrifice). Since He was Jehovah and the giver of the law, why can't He complete the law? Christ in fulfilling the law ask for a new sacrifice, not an animal sacrifice, but a willing sacrifice of our hearts, our minds, and our strength. It could not be more plain than in Jesus’s words to the Nephites.
I hope to be able to better offer my broken heart and contrite spirit and be as a little child in Him, teachable and full of faith.
posted by doc at 10:10 AM
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