Animal Sacrifices Are Insufficient
November 2, 2019
Commentary
Animal sacrifices could not take away sins; they provided only a temporary way to deal with sin until Jesus came to deal with it permanently. This chapter of Hebrews continues to emphasize the perfect sacrifice of Christ in contrast to the imperfect sacrifices that were offered under the Old Covenant.
The need for a better sacrifice (verses 1-4). This was because the blood of bulls and goats could not take away sin (v. 4). It is estimated that at Passover times as many as three hundred thousand lambs would be slain within one week’s time. Yet, no matter how many sacrifices were made, or how often, they were ineffective. The provision of a better sacrifice (verses 5-9). Jesus Christ has taken away the first covenant and established the second (v. 9). “You cannot be under two covenants at the same time,” they are being told, “and now that the second has come, the first one has to go.”The effectiveness of the better sacrifice (v. 10). Believers have been set apart by the offering of Christ’s body once for all. This is permanent and can’t be modified in all eternity.
Application
There are people today who think doing certain things will take away their sin. If they go to church every Sunday and go through a set of rituals they will be ok. If I am trusting in anything except the blood of Christ I am still in my sin. I am so glad that my trust is in Him.
Hebrews 10:1– 10 (NET)
1 For the law possesses a shadow of the good things to come but not the reality itself, and is therefore completely unable, by the same sacrifices offered continually, year after year, to perfect those who come to worship. 2 For otherwise would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers would have been purified once for all and so have no further consciousness of sin? 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year after year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 So when he came into the world, he said, “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me.
6 “Whole burnt offerings and sin-offerings you took no delight in.
7 “Then I said, ‘Here I am: I have come—it is written of me in the scroll of the book—to do your will, O God.’”
8 When he says above, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sin-offerings you did not desire nor did you take delight in them” (which are offered according to the law), 9 then he says, “Here I am: I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first to establish the second. 10 By his will we have been made holy through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Illustration: Billy Graham Tells About The Death of Corrie Ten Boom
“A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth” (Ecclesiastes 7:1). In the book “Facing Death“, Billy Graham tells of hearing about the death of Corrie ten Boom. She was a remarkable woman who hid Jews from the Gestapo during WW II and later was sent to the infamous Ravensbrook concentration camp. Her sister died in the camp, but Corrie was released. For more than thirty years she traveled the world telling of her experience. Corrie’s story received national attention in the movie, The Hiding Place, and in the many books she wrote. In the last few years of life her friends and co-workers made quite a celebration for her birthdays. She was bedridden and unable to speak for the last five years of her life, but she truly loved parties. Corrie died on her ninety-first birthday April 15, 1983. As one friend said, “What a birthday party she must have had!” That is exactly what Solomon is saying in Ecclesiastes 7:1, “Our death day is better than our birthday!” (Billy Graham. Facing Death. Word Books, Waco, Texas, 1986, pg. 18).