Hebrews 10:4

Hebrews 10:4

Animals cannot do it!

It’s a strange thing that no one ever seemed to question the futility of animal sacrifices. God gave the Law; in it He designed a system of rituals and regulations that would appease His anger against sin and deliver men and women from the consequences of their iniquities. It was God who described what sin was, He was the One who clearly laid out the details of the way humans should behave towards Him and to one another. These are His standards, the ones by which He has decided we may live peaceful and fulfilled lives as human beings. He is our Creator; He alone knows what is best for us. He has also clearly set out the effects and costs of breaking His rules. That is the Law! 

However, within all those rules and regulations God was merciful, He provided ways for sins to be atoned for, for wrongs to be righted. Instead of men paying for their disobedience and rebellion, the penalties could be transferred to other living beings, namely animals. What God had made clear was that only blood could atone for transgressions, the penalty of all sin is death, but rather than the perpetrator dying, a substitute could take his place. The blood of the animal sacrifice was evidence enough that the offender had produced an acceptable substitute. The priesthood was established to ensure that everything was done correctly and in order. And so it went on, for centuries.

However, it is obvious that no animal could ever be an adequate substitute for a human being! You could sacrifice endless bulls, goats, lambs etc. but none of them could sufficiently fill the shoes of the repentant human who offered them. Humans who are ultimately sentenced to eternal death for their wrongdoing. And so, the endless rituals continued, pointless and yet as required by the Law. Without this we would never have understood the purpose and wonder of Christ’s offering and the need for something much better and longer lasting than the Law’s demands. 

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