If and Only If
When a person presents an offering of meal to the LORD, his offering shall be of choice flour; . . . Leviticus 2:1 JPS
When – God never commanded sacrifices. Let’s say that again. God never commanded sacrifices. Even when Abraham was asked to take Isaac to the altar, it was not a command. The particle na makes it clear that God only asked, He did not order. The same is true of all sacrifices in Leviticus. The crucial Hebrew word is the particle ki. It has a very wide range of meanings (because, for, that, when, whenever, even, if). The context must determine the correct translation. When ki is used to describe sacrifices, there is never an obligation. The texts always allow that the person brings the sacrifice voluntarily whenever that person feels a need to come into God’s presence. We could translate this verse, “If a person presents an offering,” and it would be just as correct. This should help us put aside the grossly mistaken idea that God demanded sacrifices as a means of obtaining favor. Just as Man was not made for the Sabbath, so Man was not made to sacrifice. Sacrifices are for men. They are the means by which men, should they choose, may deal with their unintentional transgressions, express their gratitude, honor YHWH or bring their concerns about life.
Realizing that sacrifices are for us, we may now answer the question, “When did the sacrifices end?” The answer, of course, is never. The question is the equivalent of asking, “When did I stop needing to come close to YHWH?” Never. Of course, YHWH instructs us in the proper method of bringing a sacrifice when we feel the need to do so. And since some of the methods are no longer available, those particular sacrifices cannot be accomplished God’s way. But that doesn’t mean that sacrifices have been abolished altogether. The means of sacrificing have been temporarily interrupted, but the purpose of sacrificing has not been set aside. When we need to draw close to YHWH, there are certain ways to do so. Animals no longer play a part because there is no Temple, but there are other sacrifices still applicable.
Did you think that Yeshua’s sacrifice ended all sacrifices? It certainly was the ultimate sacrifice for the purpose of atonement, but is that the only reason we would bring a sacrifice to YHWH? Is your need for forgiveness the only reason you wish to draw close to the Lord? If it is, then your relationship with YHWH must certainly be very one-sided and abbreviated.
Just like Judaism, Christianity recognizes many reasons for coming into God’s presence. But Christianity has invented its own methods for accomplishing this while Judaism has (more or less) retained the Torah instructions. Christianity often teaches the idea that sacrifices were once demanded of God’s people but since Yeshua’s death they are no longer part of coming into God’s presence. You might ask where that idea came from. In the meanwhile, when you wish to honor the Lord, there are ways for doing that – ways that He tells us are completely effective. When you’re ready, He’s waiting.
Topical Index: sacrifice, when, ki, if, Leviticus 2:1
Skip,
Since the sacrifices are not done away with, in what ways should we honor God’s sacrifices since there is no longer a temple? I know the Rabbis say to do charitible deeds, and there are other things such as prayer and fasting etc…..I just want to honor the Lord and his ways so I hope I am not just overthinking the word you brought today…Have a good 4th of July:)
Wow! Thanks Skip. May our Father in Heaven move us closer to Him as we humble ourselves completely before His throne of love and mercy.
Shalom Shalom!
Good one Skip. Hope this is only pt.1 on this subject.
Shalom Shalom
Excellent word Skip – Thanks – am passing it on – agree with Pam hope there will be more on this.
Christine
Skip, growing up as a christian in a land with the most churches per square mile (according to the Guinness Book of Records), it means that by default I have inherited much that needs to be cleared away… Learning to walk in Torah is indeed an awesome ongoing journey into the truth of Yah’s Word – learning a little here, a little there… Your contribution is invaluable.
A year ago the Lord saved my life (I sustained 2 brain hemorrhages, due not to natural illness such as high blood pressure, but directly the result of demonic attacks!). This calls for a sacrifice…
Thanks for this timely word. Looking forward to more from you on the subject.
Arnella
Wow…ed again. I repent of my dormant “Christian” view that G*D was this insatiable, bloodthirsty diety who demanded the blood of innocent bulls and goats to placate his anger toward man. This “re-newing” of your mind with the truth really does wonders for your theology, not to mention your soul! My thoughts immediately went to Romans 12:1 where we are told (asked?) to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, set apart and acceptable to G*D.
Hi Michael,
Just like all the rest of us, you are beginning to have your eyes opened. I encourage you to share your thoughts and experience with this worldwide group of Bereans. And please consider becoming a regular supporter. Thanks
Skip
Michael, I am blessed that my response was also the Father’s revelation to you!! Yes one never knows…
There is no reply button to that response so I chose to reply here.
If at all you desire to talk more on the subject you may email me at arnella_4@hotmail.com
Arnella
Skip,
“God did not command sacrifices.”
Now I’m confused. Lev. 2:1 is not speaking about sacrifices; the reference is to offerings, which you apply broadly to the sacrifices. And you suggest that this is not an imperative. Perhaps you might care to expand your explanation in the light of this:
Lev 5:15 “If anyone acts improperly and inadvertently sins in regard to the holy things of ADONAI, he is to bring as his guilt offering for ADONAI a ram without defect from the flock or its equivalent in silver shekels (using the sanctuary shekel as the standard), according to your appraisal of its value; it is a guilt offering. 16 In addition, he is to make restitution for whatever he did wrong in regard to the holy thing; moreover, he is to add to that one-fifth and give it to the cohen. Then the cohen will make atonement with the ram of the guilt offering, and he will be forgiven.”
Here two things are required: sacrifice of a ram and restitution plus 20%. If the sacrifice is not commanded here, then is the restitution similarly not a command, but maybe YHVH’s suggestion of a “good idea.”
Also, your comment, “Christianity often teaches the idea that sacrifices were once demanded of God’s people but since Yeshua’s death they are no longer part of coming into God’s presence.”
Christianity does insist on the necessity of sacrifice to get into God’s presence: Yeshua’s sacrifice, and Christians, Roman Catholic and Protestant, East and West, have different ways of expressing this. Now if the Torah sacrifices were not efficacious in themselves, then they were symbolic of the necessity of the Atoning Sacrifice of the Lamb of God. And it’s on this basis that Christianity abandons the Torah requirements of sacrifice saying that now the fulfillment has arrived these commands are no longer necessary.
Which, of course, leaves Christianity in somewhat of a difficulty: if the Torah sacrifices were symbolic why is it no longer appropriate to represent the Messiah with those symbols? Christianity therefore found it necessary to replace the Torah symbols with its own, based on its misreading of the book of Hebrews.
By the way, R.J. Rushdoony in his book Institutes of Biblical Law, Vol. 1 makes reference to the Armenian church maintaining the sacrificial system down to the 20th century, although it was kept with a New Covenant flavor rather than strictly by Old Testament standards. An interesting piece of “world history” showing that Western Christianity does not have all the answers.
Let’s start with the vocabulary. The Hebrew term in Lev. 2:1 is minchah. While it is used for “offering,” it’s basic use is “tribute” or “gift.” It is used in Genesis 4:3-5 for the “sacrifices” of Cain and Abel. Etymologically, there is no clear history about how the term came to be used for grain offerings. There are other terms (such as todah, that also take on the sense of “offering,” but many seem to be synonyms. So, technically, the term in Leviticus 2:1 can be called a “sacrifice.” But I am sure this is not your real concern.
Let’s look at the ancient Near Eastern cultures to see why I say that God did not command sacrifices. Then I think you will see the difference. In all of the ancient Near Eastern cultures except Israel, the gods demand homage including food and gifts in order that they may be placated and grant (sometimes) favors to men. These demands are not predicated upon any sins or mistakes by men. They are simply requirements of the gods. We see this in biblical history with pagan worship. Divine status alone demands human obeisance. This is NOT true of YHWH. His relationship with men is voluntary in the sense that Man is able to decide to enter into the requirements of worship. Man worships YHWH out of love, not out of compulsion.
Now let’s look at the examples you offer. While it is absolutely true that once a sin is committed, there are specific requirements commanded for the repair of the relationship, God does not require sacrifices simply because He is God (as for example Ra in Egypt does). Sacrifices occur as a result of prior conditions first occurring. Sacrifices come about because the relationship is broken and MAN wants to repair the relationship. If a man does not care to repair the relationship with YHWH, he is not COMPELLED to do so. There will be consequences, certainly, but YHWH does not hold a gun to the man’s head and demand sacrifices. So, in your example, and in others of similar type, there is always an “if” clause. Once the condition is met, and the human being voluntarily determines to meet the subsequent requirements, then one could say that God commands a sacrifice. But the conditions and the voluntary decision come first. Certainly, you are correct. This is not a “good suggestion.” It is a divine requirement. But it comes AFTER a voluntary decision – and that was my point.
The Torah sacrifices were efficacious, just as the sacrifice of Yeshua was efficacious. I agree that Christianity treated them as symbols and subsequently had to develop its own (non-Torah) basis for atoning rituals. There is no doubt whatsoever that the Biblical record considers sacrifices efficacious – and eternal. There is no need for a Christian “replacement” of these. But I believe the point remains – they are not demanded. They are offered as the proper means for repairing breeched relationship.
Once again, I probably didn’t develop this enough to make it clear. Thanks for initiating the effort to straighten it out.
“Maimonides, a medieval Jewish scholar, drew on the early critiques of the need for sacrifice, taking the view that God always held sacrifice inferior to prayer and philosophical meditation.”
Maimonides
I remember back in 1979 wandering around in Northern Spain
And seeing a quote on the wall of some old monastic-like building in a beautiful countryside
And wondering why “Maimonides” would be quoted in a Catholic building
I didn’t know who he was but I had seen his name before and was pretty sure he was not a Catholic
I thought he was Arabic, but in any case Mamonides has some interesting things to say about sacrifices
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korban
Given that fact that temple sacrifices are not required anymore for multiple reasons (i.e., temple is no longer in existence and Yeshua, our ultimate sacrifice, was made on our behalf to cover guilt, intentional sins etc.)….I believe that King David was ahead of his time when he stated in Psalm 51:17 (Amplified )
“MY SACRIFICE [the sacrifice acceptable] to God is a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart [broken down with sorrow for sin and humbly and thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise [Psalm 51:17, Amplified].
Very interestingly, temple sacrifices were made during very specific times of the day — third, sixth and ninth hours (9 am, noon and 3 pm). When we examine Yeshua’s sacrifice (Matthew 15:25, Matthew 27:45), we see specific mention of these times in relation to his crucifixion. The THIRD HOUR, they crucified him. The SIXTH HOUR, there was darkness over the land and the NINTH HOUR, Yeshua cried out with a loud voice “Eli Eli, lama sabachthani?”
Why does Matthew make specific mention of these three times of the day? Because Jews knew that when they went to the temple to present their sacrifices that something powerful was happening in the heavenlies — before God’s Throne room. And here, unbeknowst to them, the ultimate sacrifice was being laid down for them and something of cosmic proportions was happening at those specific times that I believe are for us to make note of. Why?
Because the THIRD, SIXTH, and NINTH hours were also the three times a day that a devout Jew would to to Temple to pray. Even after the temple had been destroyed, Daniel would throw open his shutters, and face towards the non-existent Temple and pray three times a day before HaShem. Like David, that was his sacrifice — the giving of his heart in full repentance, wholehearted devotion, intimate connection to his source of L’Chaim – Life. It was what the Jews called their MOEDIM or appointed time with the Lord.
God is so awesome in how He ties everything together. In Genesis 1:14 we read how God set the moon and the stars and celestial beings in the heavenlies to mark MOEDIM or appointed times for us to come before Him (the 7 set apart of Holy biblical festivals) that remind us of Salvation history – past, present and future).
So Moedim isn’t just about the festivals as appointed times but so is PRAYER — it is a MOEDIM that the Jews kept three times a day in sacrificial reverence to HaShem. And He met them powerfully during those times.
So Prayer is one of the major ways we can present our heart, soul, mind and hearts to our living God today a loving SACRIFICE 24/7 but if we do it with full attention specifically at the THIRD, SIXTH and NINTH hours each day as Yeshua, Peter, Daniel, Paul…and all the others did…I think we will find heaven coming to earth for us in ways that are revelatory which are much needed for the times we live in. In Hebraic thinking, “sacrifice” is not a sacrifice as we would like to think of it but a divine privilege.
Oh…and Happy July 4th everyone. Freedom is not Free.
I was blessed by your post Christina.
He who Messiah has set free is free indeed
Quite profound Christina. Thanks. I did learn of the daily appointments but never treated them with the same seriousness as I did the weekly Shabbat and the annual Moedim. How could I have been so lax about this divine privilege…?! Thanks for the reminder.
Arnella
and another amen for your post today Christina- thank you! Through Him then let us continually offer up the sacrifice of praise to G-d, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to G-d. (Hebrews 13.15,16)
Thanks Carl for your Hebrews reminders.
Arnella
You said, “but there are other sacrifices still applicable.”
Like…? I hope you continue to elaborate on this subject. It’s one that causes me (and seemingly, the entire “Church”) much confusion.
If Yeshua was the ultimate sacrifice, what role does the sacrifice play today – His death was for atonement for sin, I know, but didn’t it allow us to come near to G-d? Is the sacrifice of ourselves, our contrite heart, paid for by Yeshua’s blood, enough to allow us to enter into G-d’s presence? Is there more that must be done.
Sigh. Just when I think I’ve got a pretty decent idea of how Yeshua fits into this whole thing, I get confused again. 😛
Think of the sacrifices that cannot be completed today because there is no temple. Not all of them are for atonement. Yeshua’s sacrifice for intentional sin is complete, but there are still sacrifices that would be performed for unintentional sins if there were a temple and there are still ritual sacrifices (see Leviticus) that would be performed if the temple existed today. So, they apply but there is no current means to fulfill them. When the temple is rebuilt, they will begin again.
Thanks for replying! I will have to reread Leviticus to see what types of sacrifices there were, but that helps to clarify that Yeshua’s death was for intentional sin (something the Temple sacrifices weren’t able to atone for).
Until the temple is rebuilt, does repentance and asking G-d’s forgiveness cover the unintentional sins?
Amanda,
You might find this article by Monte Judah helpful in your search for the sacrifices and offerings in Leviticus (there were 13 of them specified to be brought by the people, and only 2 have anything to do with sin). There were others, for example the 70 bulls and goats that were sacrificed during Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles), 70 being the number that represents the nations – Tabernacles is the “Festival of the Nations”.
“Until the temple is rebuilt, does repentance and asking G-d’s forgiveness cover the unintentional sins?”
Even after the temple is rebuilt, repentance and asking God’s forgiveness is still necessary to cover the unintentional sins. It is an integral part of bringing a sacrifice. Without repentance, a sacrifice is worthless, whether it be an animal sacrifice or a sacrifice of praise or prayers.
For some reason that link to the article didn’t appear to work. Here it is again:
http://www.lionlamb.net/v3/YAVOHHeisComing/2003/12
Thanks! I’ll check it out.
I think you asked what our sacrifices/offerings are to HIM – these are mine & one takes more effort than the other:
1. abstinence (am a single woman as of 6/1999)
2. fasting (harder than abstinence)
Both of these offerings/sacrifices require the slaughter/killing of my flesh. AND both of these actions bring me/draw me closer to HIM.
Abstinence takes no effort at all since I don’t date nor do I go seeking a man for sex – not that the desire is not there but that it does not dominate my thoughts at age 58 & my desire is for sex in a covenant of marriage. Now if I were very young this offering/sacrifice may take on a very relevant effort to keep. I am not dead to my sexual being but content in my waiting for what God has for me. And, I am not a virgin (have an only son that is 28) – so I have experienced that which I am abstaining from – have tasted the fruit of sexual pleasures. But if I chose to live a different lifestyle & not remain abstinent – I know from experience that this sin can put a wedge between a person & God. SO – to me & many others I’m sure – this is an offering/sacrifice of our bodies, our souls & our minds to HIM to keep all paths clear between us & HIM. Obedience is better than sacrifice…
Fasting is another story – killing the appetite of daily sustenance is a struggle for me. I like to eat – the pleasure of eating is enjoyable to me. I can die if I don’t eat (good excuse) but I won’t die if I don’t have sex. Fasting is putting down my appetite/flesh – subduing it instead of it controlling me. I have fasted before in my life time for 6 months & then in the 6th month before the beginning of a new year – fasted the whole month of December into 10 days of January (40 days) with no effort at all. I had trained by body/my appetite for the preceding 6 months & the 40 day fast was easy. I fasted all solid foods – only consumed liquids (got pretty creative in 6 months). But oh the blessing of HIM was not of this world. I had miracle healings, revelations, discernment beyond anything I had ever had before. This offering of my appetite to HIM & the sacrifice of killing/slaughtering my flesh daily was so much more worth anything any struggling it took to accomplish it. I know that HIS grace empowered me & I have not accomplished it since – because I have tried (am presently trying again).
I offered myself to HIM from day one of our relationship – to use me anyway He can/does/chooses too & that sometimes is a sacrifice of my life to others – with much sorrow & much joy also.
OFFERINGS & SACRIFICES – in this day & time it is a slaughtering/killing of the flesh on HIS altar of love for us & them = HIM… ♥
jano
Interesting Jan. Your sharing is much appreciated. I’m also single and just 2 years younger; I just never thought of abstinence as a sacrifice… but it is! Fasting has never been particularly difficult for me… Your sharing has caused me to realize however, a kind of sacrifice by which I have been offering myself to the Lord – modesty in dress. You see, I live in a country where lewdness in dress is quite rampant (a thing that seems only to afflict women… though admittedly many men are the trend-setters in the clothing industry). This immodesty is particularly true for the city in which I am now living – a beach-side town with a predominantly tourist-focused culture, facilitating an ‘anything goes’ lifestyle. It is actually wonderful to know that there is a standard – not set by the culture around us – by which our Father may be honoured; a feminine attractiveness without enticing our men through the lewdness of exposing flesh in skimpy dress… This may be a bigger matter than appears to be on the surface, for the religion of the other brother points to the dress code of western ‘christian women’ as a reason why the West needs to be subjugated to remove this affront…!
Sacrifice – it also means prayer (Christina), praise, doing good, hospitality (Carl), abstinence, fasting… could be quite broad in its sweep. I am challenged. Thanks for your contribution.
Arnella
Arnella, thank you for responding – I wasn’t sure how others in this/our community would respond to my comment/post/reply. I was very transparent & not sure how that was going to fly?!?!?!
I too am modest in my dress & I don’t live in a beach town but in a metropolis with no tourist traffic. I find that women (in particular) tend to dress very immodest/sensual/sexy/revealing with very much of a lewd spirit about them – even such goes on in the churches here – just like the world & I would suppose no one says anything to them/the women. AND – I’m sure if you did, you would be called “judgmental” as always when the truth is told.
I had a co-worker once who was very active in her church – sang specials quite often & dressed professionally when doing so but at work – she dressed like a whore (cleavage & boobs hanging out & all the professors could not keep their mind on their business when speaking with her about their work that needed to be completed by her).
I just never have had the desire or inclination to dress seductively – my thing is dressing classy. My mother never dressed seductive or lewd so I guess I never did see the like until I grew up & got out in the world. I really didn’t even see much of it in high school – guess we were just not raised that way in a small Midwestern town.
I can recall three times in my past that I may have dressed immodestly & have repented since & was embarrassed to say the least. Twice thinking about it & wondering if it was appropriate & going ahead & wearing the dress or blouse & once without thinking about how it looked & how immodest it was (especially to young men & how they stumble over such). When I was in high school the dresses were worn short one or two years & I have a photo of me in the trunk of a car, sitting on the edge of the fender, with three other people (two male & one female classmates) & our/girls dresses were really short – it is embarrassing now. I guess that was the style then but didn’t make it appropriate.
It’s sad in a way because a woman would feel she has to go to such measures to be noticed (especially by men). I would say it is some kind of an insecurity for sure for them.
I read a book once about women & their relationship with God/HIM & I will never forget one of her sayings, “you dress like a whore & you will attract whore mongers…” I rest my case…
Arnella, thanks for sharing – it is much appreciated by me (for sure).
jan
Jan, I like your openness!
Yes, insecurity… I believe at its root is the absence of family life. Family life that surrounds the child (turning adult) with love and which honors Yah, finds its source in Scripture and Hebrew thought. In fact, Scripturally speaking, Israel is a nation of families! We women (and men too!) need the security of the Father’s love. It finds its first expression in the security in the father’s love found in the home. The absence of family life destroys a society – no matter what we achieve or how learned we become… Now when we add to that lack, all the alternative lifestyles being served on the menu… only the Lord knows the hell that is coming on earth before He returns!
I came to the revelation very early in my walk with the Lord that a Father-daughter relationship with God was not optional. In fact I came into this security after becoming jealous of Yeshua’s security in HIS Father’s love! Who is Yeshua except the SON of His Father? That was His IDENTITY, but it has to be revealed to us. His whole purpose for living was to please His Father!! He came not to be a Teacher, not to be a Healer… but simply and wholly to do His Father’s bidding. Everything else that He was came out of His obedience as a Son, a Son fully anointed of the Ruach HaKodesh, walking in obedience to Torah (His Father’s words), and in vital Spirit communion with His Father. He trusted His Father even unto death (Phil 2) and His Father trusted Him… How awesome!!
The Father is raising up SONS and DAUGHTERS in these last days, for all hell is going to break over our heads (the West as we know it is fast becoming history) and nothing less than security in the Father’s love and being anointed of His Spirit will take us through our personal and corporate end-time Gethsemanes… I could write a book and perhaps should…
This all began with Skip talking about sacrifices! Some midrash here…
Arnella
Arnella, You wrote: “Who is Yeshua except the SON of His Father? That was His IDENTITY, but it has to be revealed to us. His whole purpose for living was to please His Father!!”
Thank you, thank Him. I was one of those “rebellious” sons of the 60’s who by self will and sin came to despise my earthly Abba for his discipline and ‘old fashioned’ ways. No doubt, it was ha-satans early attempt to subject me to him, but perhaps more so, to keep me from later submitting fully and willingly to my Heavenly Abba because of the negative and rebellious darnel I had sown into my soul. Sad to say that it worked for lo these many years; till I read your post and received the revelation that I am a SON of THE FATHER who loves me and all He wants from me is my obedience, my respect, my trust and my love. And so I now say: Yes. And I now shout: Abba, Abba!!!
So thank you. You never know how Yah can use your words – even in a post on a blog to another person!! Praise Him. Michael
So thank you. You never know how Yah can use a few words written in response to another person!
Thank you ladies for your testimonies and transparency. Since you have share from the female side- may I say a word or two from this side of the aisle. First and foremost our “gold standard” – for all of us is Christ. He is “both” the perfect man and He is the perfect woman. In the image of Elohim created He them- male and female.
I too am in my sixth decade of life and what hair remains is now on the silver side. But through the years (or because of the years?) I see things differently (and more clearly) than when I was a younger man. I see things on the surface and I see things that are layers and levels deeper. There are (in this world) some very attractive young women who (to me) are thin as a sheet of paper. They have what I call (for lack of a better term) no “depth” to them. No substance. May I say it? No virtue.
We (speaking strictly for me) still have an eye for the ladies. Always have, always will I suppose. We menz are visually stimulated. But as we recall the instructional words of our Master- “we walk by faith NOT by sight” this holds new meaning and new life for me. NOT by sight- Carl, – look a little deeper, -look beyond the surface layer, Look beyond the make-up, the glitz, the glamor- look into the heart.
And I am sure you two ladies (and dear sisters in Christ) are doing the very same thing toward us menfolk! For each of are capable of determining the worth or value of something or someone. We (all) have been given a gift, the gift above all gifts- the gift of the Ruach HaKodesh, the very Breath of G-d, the spirit of truth and of error.
Do you know any godly men? (or women?) Do you know anyone who you can look up to and respect? Someone you can trust and pour our your innermost secret longings to? (I am speaking to all-male and female.) We all have a Friend. A friend who is closer than a brother. And we know His name and we know His promise- never to leave us nor forsake us. A friend who is a very present help in time of need. And isn’t it amazing He is the answer to every possible need we might have?
Open my lips, O LORD,* and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. Had you desired it, I would have offered sacrifice,* but you take no delight in burnt-offerings. The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit;* and a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51:16–18