What the purpose of and Old Testament sacrifice?

Answer 1

they were to teach Israel and ALL mankind ultimately how awful was SIN, it was NOT PLEASENT to slaughter animals,and taught that blood was required to pay for sin, WHEN Jesus Christ came there was NO NEED for further sacrifices as HIS < GOD (in the flesh ) HIS BLOOD WAS SO MUCH GREATER!! as the New Testament SPIRIT of the LAW is SO MUCH GREATER, than the Old Testament LETTER of the LAW G.D. Leviticus 4:20, 26, 31, 35 And the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them. Leviticus 5:10, 16, 18 And the priest shall make an atonement for him for his sin ... and it shall be forgiven him. Leviticus 6:7 And the priest shall make an atonement for him before the Lord: and it shall be forgiven him. Leviticus 17:11 I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. Numbers 15:27-28 And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering. And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the LORD, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him. Numbers 29:5 And one kid of the goats for a sin offering: to make an atonement for you. Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. ---- == because it's "sweet aroma" to God. Exodus 29:16-18 : And you shall kill the ram, and you shall take its blood and sprinkle it all around the altar. Then you shall cut the ram in pieces, wash its entrails and its legs, and put them with its pieces and with its head. And you shall burn the whole ram on the altar It is a burnt offering to the Lord; it is a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to the Lord.

Answer 2

The purpose of sacrifice in the collections of books known by Christians as the Old Testament and known as parts of the Talmud, Mishna, and Torah by Jews had pretty much one purpose and one purpose only:

To keep God happy. It was a sign of loyalty to the creator(s) by the mortal inhabitants of earth. One thing to keep in mind is that this (usually) did not involve human or necessarily even animal sacrifice. A person would sacrifice the best of what ever it was they had to god. This could be crops, fabrics, or any manner of items.

Answer 3

Thank you for a good question, I had made for myself in fact.

Humanity has had a long fascination with blood sacrifice. In fact, it has been by no means uncommon for a child to be born into this world only to be patiently and lovingly reared by religious maniacs who believe that the best way to keep the sun on its course or to ensure a rich harvest is to lead him by tender hand into a field or to a mountaintop and bury, butcher, or burn him alive as offering to an invisible God. (Sam Harris).

This should seem insane, alas, did God approve? Well, there are different sayings he has made, on either positive/negative appointive positions to this matter:

Exodus 22:29 YES Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me. Leviticus 20:2 NO Again, 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 any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones. Numbers 31:25-29 YES And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take the sum of the prey that was taken, both of man and of beast, thou, and Eleazar the priest, and the chief fathers of the congregation: And divide the prey into two parts; between them that took the war upon them, who went out to battle, and between all the congregation: And levy a tribute unto the Lord of the men of war which went out to battle: one soul of five hundred, both of the persons, and of the beeves, and of the asses, and of the sheep: Take it of their half, and give it unto Eleazar the priest, for an heave offering of the LORD. Deuteronomy 18:10 NO There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire.... (*http:/www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/contra/human_sacrifice.html*)

But my personal opinion on this matter, is that it should not have been placed in religion, as there could be better ways to show love through sacrifice than human sacrifice. Yet, I may not argue God's word, however, I find my own opinion as well. However, God is correct, but would him having humans worship thy, and sacrifice themselves to thy, is this no sin? Which of his different sayings were true, or which he had thoroughly upheld? My own memory of what said jew, Rabbi David Wolpe to Sam Harris, atheist, "The father was to sacrifice his son, however he was stopped by an angel, why? Because there was truly no need!"

Answer 4

In the old testament the blood of bulls were shed at the altar , in place of the blood of the people in the belief that the blood would wash away their sins. But after Christ came and died on the cross , his blood is enough to wash our sins away.

Answer 5

I personally think God asked the Israelites to offer sacrifices so that they could make up to Him for their sins. They did it so there would be justice because God is just and cannot live with injustice.

Answer 6

When 'perfect' Adam sinned, he sold his descendants into sin and death(Romans 6:23). This caused a breach in the relationship between God and man, that needed to be 'covered' or 'atoned for' (Isaiah 59:2). Because God loved mankind, he made an arrangement that would permit man to , once again, gain God's approval. It involved, as always, obedience.

Animal sacrifices were a constant reminder of what sin costs.

The Mosaic Law was 'a shadow of the good things to come' (Hebrews 10:1-4), but the reality belongs to the Christ (Colossians 2:17). This means that the animal sacrifices and the 'pouring out of blood', under the Law, atoned for the sins of mankind on a temporary basis (Hebrews 9:8-10). Because of mankinds' inherited sin (Romans 5:12), obedience to this Law was the only approach to God at that time(Leviticus 17:11/Hebrews 9:22), blood making 'atonement' or 'paying the price' for sin temporarily (Leviticus 16:1,2,6,11,16…).

More importantly, however, the animal sacrifices pre-figured (or pointed forward to) the coming Messiah (Hebrews 9:11-28)who, as the ultimate sacrificial 'LAMB of God', (John 1:29+36; 1 Corinthians 5:7; Revelation 5:12/Isaiah 53:7) would be the permanent sacrifice for all faithful mankind (John 14:6,13,14)(1John 4:10)(Hebrews 2:17)(Acts 4:12). The Law(including the animal sacrifices), was, infact, a 'tutor' leading us to the Christ.(Galatians 3:24)

Christ's death, 'once for all time'(1 Peter 3:18):

**Instituted a 'new covenant' (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 7:19; 8:10-13)

**Destroyed the separation between Jews and Gentiles(Ephesians 2:11-19)

**Made approach to God possible for anyone exercising faith in this sacrifice (Acts 10:35)(Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 4:14-16)(Ephesians 3:12)(Romans 8:33+34)(Isaiah 59:2)(Ephesians 2:3/Romans 5:11), and

**Makes possible the hope of everlasting life for those faithfully obeying God's commands (John 3:16)(Matthew 7:21-23)

The animal sacrifices were a temporary fix, and illustrated how the 'Christ' would, one day, PERMANENTLY sacrifice his perfect earthly life, to pay the 'ransom price' (perfect life for perfect life(1 Corinthians 15:45)(Romans 5:15-19)(1 Timothy 2:5+6)(Ephesians 1:7)(Mark 10:45)(Hebrews 10:12)(Romans 5:6-10)(1 John 2:1+2) and ultimately save faithful mankind forever.(John 17:3)(John 3:16)

Answer 7

To confess your faith for something. People in the old testament used to offer them to false gods as a peace offering or as a way of asking for forgiveness of sins.

Answer 8

to show that you put nothing before GOD