In our last devotional, we began reading the book Leviticus. Along with today's reading, we covered the following offerings; the burnt offerings, the grain offerings, the peace offerings, and the sin offerings, that the Lord, the God of Israel, ordered the children of Israel to make. Each offering was for a specific reason and carried with them, spiritual significance for worship. I said last week that reading the book of Hebrews in light of Leviticus, gives a clear understanding of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on Calvary's cross.
As such, when we read Hebrews 10:4-10 NLT, we have a much better understanding;
Hebrews 10:4-6 NLT
[4] For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. [5] That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer. [6] You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin.
We read in Leviticus that the offerings that were offered were a special gift and a pleasing aroma to the Lord. Yet, in light of the New testament, we understand better, God was not pleased with them. Why? One answer would be that they were a stop gap measure until the sacrifice of Christ was made. Secondly, the book of Hebrews says that it was not possible for the blood of animals to take away the sins of man. That is why Jesus Christ's sacrifice became necessary.
Hebrews 10:8-10 NLT
[8] First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). [9] Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. [10] For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.
