Once Messiah was ordained/appointed above his fellows (Heb. 1:9; Ps. 45:7) he became our High Priest. The Church started in 30 CE when the Holy Spirit was poured out from the day of Pentecost. From that time forward the spiritual Temple was being built with Messiah at its head. The prophets had been acting through the Holy Spirit but only as chosen by God, and the Spirit was not open to mankind as yet.

In this lesson, we will go through point by point how Messiah fulfilled each aspect of the sacrifices, how he is functioning as our High Priest, and our responsibilities as priests in the spiritual Temple.

For a review of the physical sacrificial system prior to Messiah see paper No. CB119. In this lesson we will take an in-depth look at how Messiah introduced the spiritual concepts into the Law of Eloah. Although the Jews were offering physical sacrifices during Messiah’s life, we are told in Psalm 51:16-17 that God does not delight in sacrifice. The sacrifice acceptable to God is rather a humble spirit and a poor and contrite heart. In this lesson we will also see that the physical sacrifices were going to be done away with for a time.

We know from Ezekiel 40:44,48 that in the Millennium there will be a physical priesthood under Zadok with Levi that will be offering physical sacrifices in the yet-to-be-built Temple. For more information about this see The Priesthood of Eloah from Messiah Onwards (No. CB118).

We have learned that faithful priests are responsible (as kings and priests, Rev. 1:6) and have responsibilities in five main areas in relation to the Law of Eloah:

Live by the word of Eloah (Deut. 8:3; Mat. 4:4; Lk. 4:4).
Explain the Law of Eloah (Neh. 8:7).
Teach the Law of Eloah (Deut. 33:10; Lev.10:11; Ezra 7:10).
Keep or preserve the Law of Eloah (Mal. 2:7; Neh. 18:18).
Judge by the Law of Eloah (Deut. 17:2-13; 21:5).

Expectations under Messiah

As we have already alluded to, the priesthood under Messiah functioned as a spiritual Temple. The main tasks of the priests include:

· To pray (Joel 2:17) for the people and the whole nation.

· To fast to loose the bonds of wickedness and let the oppressed go free (Ps. 35:13; Isa. 58:6).

· To take the Gospel to the world (Mk. 16:15-16) explaining the three fundamentals of eternal life.

· Compile a personal copy of the Law (Deut. 17:18-19)

· Offer spiritual sacrifices (1Pet. 2:5)

As time progresses we know Messiah will soon return to the planet and take up his rightful role as King and Priest. For more information on this topic see the paper Jesus Christ King, Priest, Prophet (No. 280).

Let us start from the beginning when Messiah was known to be the sacrifice.

Lamb slain before the foundation of the world

Hebrews 10:4 tells us the sacrificial system will not take away sin.

Hebrews 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. (KJV)

Revelation 13:8 tells us that before the world was even created, Eloah knew there would need to be a blood sacrifice to restore or reunite the rebellious Host and sinful mankind back to Him.

Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (KJV)

Eloah so loved the world that He sent His only-born son (Jn. 3:16; Heb. 11:17; 1Jn. 4:9) to be offered up as a sacrifice.

The Book of Hebrews has much to say about the sacrifice of Messiah. Hebrews 10:10ff. talks of Messiah’s sacrifice being once and for all.

Hebrews 10:10-13 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God. (KJV)

For more information on the physical sacrificial system see the paper Introduction to the Sacrifices and Offerings of Eloah (No. CB119).

As a result of Adam’s and Eve’s rebellion and sin, death came upon all mankind (1Cor. 15:22; Rom. 5:12).

Sin is the breaking of God’s Law (1Jn. 3:4). We know what sin is by the Law of God (Rom. 3:19). For more information on God’s Law see The Law of God (No. CB25). All men have sinned (Rom. 5:12). The consequence (or wages) of sin is death (Rom. 6:23). Jesus Christ came as the only-born god (Jn. 1:18) to pay the death penalty for all mankind and the fallen Host. Since Jesus was here as a man and led a sinless life, his death paid the price for all of us. His death became the perfect acceptable sacrifice to bring all of us back to the Father (Heb. 7:27,28; 9:12; 10:10-19; 1Pet. 3:18). For more information on sin see What is Sin? (No. CB26).

Priesthood of Jesus, the Christ

Messiah was appointed and called by God (Heb. 3:1,2; 5:4,5); after the Order of Melchizedek (Ps. 110:4; with Heb. 5:6; 6:20; 7:15,17). The order was superior to that of Aaron and the Levitical priests (Heb. 7:11,16,22; 8:1,2,6) and was consecrated with an oath (Heb. 7:20,21). It is an unchangeable priesthood (Heb. 7:23,28) and is unblemished and pure (Heb. 7:26,28), and faithful (Heb. 3:2).

Messiah lived a sinless life and therefore did not need a sacrifice for himself (Heb. 7:27). Rather, he offered himself as a sacrifice (Heb. 9:14,26; Eph 5:2) which was superior or better than all other sacrifices (Heb. 9:13,14,23). He needed only to be offered once (Heb. 7:27) to make reconciliation for us (Heb. 2:17) and thereby obtained redemption for us (Heb. 9:12).

Messiah was appointed above his fellows (Ps. 45; Heb. 1:8,9); he entered into Heaven (Heb. 4:14; 10:12). He was tempted in all things as we are yet without sin (Heb. 2:18; 4:15) and he intercedes or makes requests to God for us (Heb. 7:25; 9:24). He is a priest on his throne (Zech. 6:13).

The word offering (SHD 5930) is: 1) whole burnt offering 2) ascent, stairway, and steps. Later we will look at this concept a lot more.

Sacrifices are required to be perfect and without blemish (Deut. 15:21; 17:1; Mal. 1:8,14). Typically, sacrifices are to be males (Ex. 12:5; Lev. 1:3,10; 4:23; 22:9) with the peace offering being a male or female (Lev. 3:1,6).

Four main sacrifices

From paper The Sacraments of the Church (No. 150) we see that the structure of the offerings of the Tabernacle were as follows:

1. Burnt Offerings (Lev. 1:3-17);

2. Meal Offerings (Lev. 2:1-16);

3. Peace Offerings (Lev. 3:1-17);

4. Sin Offerings (Lev. 4:1 to 6:7).

The Law of the Offerings was placed in the following order:

1. Burnt Offerings (Lev. 6:8-13);

2. Meal Offerings (Lev. 6:14-23);

3. Sin Offerings (Lev. 6:24 to 7:10);

4. Peace Offerings (Lev. 7:11-34).

Christ did away with the difference between priest and lay members in offering sacrifices. Now, since we are the noas, we are all spiritual priests and can offer spiritual sacrifices. The Church is also responsible for the sanctification of the nation. For more information see also the papers Sanctification of the Temple of God (No. 241), Sanctification of the Simple and Erroneous (No. 291) and Sanctification of the Nations (No. 77).

In the lesson on The Tabernacle in the Wilderness (No. CB42) we began by approaching the Tabernacle from the outside of the camp and progressively moving closer and closer to the Tabernacle. Bullinger, in his footnote to Exodus 25:10 in The Companion Bible states:

God begins from within; man from with out, Matt. 15:16-20. Here the work begins with the ark and ends with the gate Ex. 25.10-26:37. So with the four great offerings. So with His work in the heart of the saved sinner. we begin from the “gate” and with the “sin offering” God begins with the “ark” and the “burnt=offering”

Continuing with this concept:

…all true reformation begins with the inner temple and proceeds outward. God works from inside out man makes clean the outside and never gets any further. Fn. 2 Chronicles 29:16

Yahovah begins with the burnt offering and ends with the sin offering; we, in our approach, begin with the sin offering and end with the burnt offering (fn. to Lev. 1:3, The Companion Bible).

We see the peace offering follows the sin offering since it is only when we repent and turn to God and follow His Laws that we can have the peace that comes from God. Sin (disobedience) separates us from God. Only when we have dealt with our sin and ourselves can we delight in Christ (see fn. to Lev. 7:1, The Companion Bible).

Matthew 5:23ff. instructs us that if we have a problem with our brother we must go and fix the problem before we can offer our gift. This is the same concept as daily/immediately asking God to forgive our sins; since sin separates us from God.

We already see there is a lot of symbolism tied to God’s sacrifices and offerings. From the physical we learn the spiritual (Heb. 8:5; Ex. 25:9,40; 1Chr. 28:12,18; Acts 7:44).

We will now look at the four main sacrifices in detail and see how Messiah fulfilled each part of the sacrifices. We will begin where God starts with the burnt offering.

Burnt offering

In paper No. CB119, we looked at the word for burnt offering, which is olah (SHD 5930): 1) whole burnt offering 2) ascent, stairway, and steps. In The Companion Bible, at Appendix 43 Bullinger makes the following comment about the burnt offering:

'Olah = the burnt offering: so called from the Hiphil of the verb 'alah, to cause to ascend [as the flame and smoke ascend by burning]. In Greek holocausta, which conveys its meaning as being wholly burnt.

It is interesting to note that word means totally burnt or consumed and going up.

We know Messiah in his resurrected state ascended or went up to the Father on the day after the weekly Sabbath, Sunday morning, and was waved as the Wave-Sheaf Offering. He was the first of the first-fruits (1Cor. 15:20,23). Just as the wave sheaf is waved to the four corners so too is the wave offering, and the heave offering, as part of the peace offering, lifted up on high (cf. Ex. 29:27); just as Messiah rose from the Earth and ascended to his Father’s Throne in the third heaven in the north.

T^erumah = the Heave offering. So called because it was lifted up on high in presentation to Jehovah for Himself alone. See I. ix. above and Exodus 29:27.

T^enuphah = the Wave offering, because it was waved to and fro (not up and down like No. viii), and presented for the four quarters of the earth.

(App. 43 of The Companion Bible)

Christ was the first of the victims/sacrifice or korban of the Feast, which in effect, did away with the Levitical priesthood (cf. Mal. 2:3).

The verb "to offer" is Karab means to draw near, but in the Hiphil conjugation to make to approach, or draw near: hence, to bring near. See Korban No. II. i. below

Nagash = to come near, after having been so brought, that is to say, to enjoy the presence which the Korban (see below II. i.) has secured. Compare Jeremiah 30:21 where we have both words. Hence used of coming near with offerings. Compare Greek engizo, Hebrews 7:19, and prosphero, Matthew 2:11; 5:23; 8:4. Mark 1:44. Luke 5:14. John 16:2. In the Epistle to the Hebrews it is used twenty times in a sacrificial sense, except Hebrews 12:7, "God brings you near as sons". See also Hebrews 9:14, 28. Used also of the sinner's approach to God by offering, Hebrews 4:16; 7:25; 10:1, 22; 11:6.

II. The noun "offering" is Korban a gift, or an admittance-offering: from I. i. above. It is the present brought, to this day in the East, in order to secure an audience, or to see the face of the superior, and find access to his presence. Hence called to-day, "the face-offering ". When the admittance has been secured and entrance has been obtained, then the real offering or present has to be given. Hence Korban is essentially an admittance-offering; securing the entree. Compare the verb, Judges 3:18. Compare its use in New Testament, Matthew 5:23; 8:4; 23:18. Mark 7:11. Hebrews 5:1.

I. The verb "to offer" is also 'Alah = to offer up, especially a burnt offering, from its name in II. ii. below.

Katar = to burn or turn into vapour. Used of the incense which = Kethoreth, but also of the 'Olah (II. ii) and parts of the Minchah (II. iii.) and the Zebach (II. xii.) because these ascended to Jehovah.

Psalm 40 ties to Messiah as being the burnt offering or fulfilling the aspects of the burnt offering.

Psalm 40:6-10 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, 8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. 9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest. 10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy loving kindness and thy truth from the great congregation.

The footnote to Psalm 40 in The Companion Bible explains how this ties to the Messiah being the burnt offering, meal offering and any sacrifice.

The Psalm clearly tells us Messiah had preached in the congregation of Eloah before he was made human (vv. 9-10), as he also did bringing the good news to the world. It speaks of Messiah’s love or delight for the Law of God (vv. 8,10).

Hebrew 10 also makes reference to Psalm 40, and clearly tells us the sacrificial system could never restore us to the Father. Yet, through the sacrifice of Messiah our sin is remembered no more, as long as we repent, are baptized, keep the Passover annually and attempt to obey all of Eloah’s Laws.

Hebrews 10:1-7,10-14 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. … 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

Meal offering

Minchah = the Meal offering = a present, assuch. Hence a gift-offering, not necessarily to secure admittance, but to secure favour. It might be sacrifice by blood, or more generally and later, without blood. It is used of the offerings of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:3, 4, 5), of Jacob's present to Esau (Genesis 32:13-21), etc. In Exodus and Leviticus it acquires a special limitation, and is the only word rendered "meat", or better (with Revised Version), "meal-offering" (though it has a wider signification than literal "meal").

From Psalm 40:6 we see Messiah offered himself as a gift for all of us. We also know from the New Testament that he is the bread of life (Jn. 6:35; 48, 51). He is the living bread (Jn. 6: 51), the bread that came down from Heaven (Jn. 6:58).

Sin offering

From Psalm 22 we see Messiah is the sin offering. This Psalm is also quoted in Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34.

Chattath = the Sin offering from chatt'a to sin coming short of, by missing the mark in sins of commission. In the Piel it means to purge from such sin (Psalm 51:7). In the 'Olah (II. ii) the blood went upward, in the chattath it went downward and outward "without the camp". The former was burnt up on the altar, the latter went down on the ground.

Saraph is used of burning up (or rather, down) the sin-offering, because nothing ascended up to God in that offering.

All our sins are gone as far as east is to the west.

We see from 1John 1 that Messiah’s blood cleanses us from sin, if we confess our sins.

1John 1:7-9 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (KJV)

It is interesting to note that Psalm 22, reflecting the sin offering of Messiah, is followed by the 23^rd Psalm which starts with “The Lord is my Shepherd”. The 23^rd Psalm uses seven of the titles of Yahovah (fn. to Ps. 23:1 in The Companion Bible). Then the 24^th Psalm is the Psalm for the first day of the week. Even within the Psalms we see the pattern laid down that the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world was known before the creation began.

Bullinger says these three Psalms (22,23,24) relate to the suffering and the glory of “the man Jesus Christ”. Psalm 22=The Good Shepherd on Earth, in Death (Jn. 10:11). Psalm 23=The Great Shepherd, in Heaven, by Resurrection (Heb. 13:20). Psalm 24=The Chief Shepherd, coming in His Glory to Earth and Zion, again (1Pet. 5:2; Rev. 19). See footnote to Psalm 22 in The Companion Bible.

The sacrifices of Messiah covering our sins are examined in the paper The Wave Sheaf Offering (No. 106b).

We will now look at sins that occurred due to ignorance.

Trespass offering

The trespass offering has its meaning in the word Asam. It relates to sins that occur due to ignorance. Bullinger has the following notes about Asam:

'Asam = the Trespass offering. Relates to sins of omission, while chattath relates to sins of commission = sin in general; 'Asham sin in relation to Mosaic Law; sins of error arising from ignorance or negligence.

We see from the footnote in Psalm 69 that this Psalm is tied to Messiah as the trespass offering, redeeming us from sin.

From our confession of sins we know we can be reconciled back to God the Father and enjoy and benefit from the peace that follows from keeping God’s Law.

Peace offering

The word for peace in the Old Testament is sometimes SHD 7965; it occurs 429 times in 400 verses in the KJV. Bullinger makes the following comments from Appendix 43.

Shelem = the Peace offering, from the root Shalam, which conveys the idea of peace on the ground of perfection of compensation or recompense. Hence connected with the thought of rendering payment of vows or praises because of peace enjoyed. Sometimes combined with Zebach (No. xii, below). It is eucharistic rather than propitiatory.

Messiah made peace for us by allowing us access to the Father through his sacrifice (Eph. 2:4; Col. 1:20). Messiah is the Prince of peace from (Isa. 6:2l); he gives peace (2Thes. 3:16), guides us into peace (Lk 1:79) and leaves us peace from (Jn. 14:27).

John. 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

God gives peace to those who obey Him (Lev. 26:6); please Him (Psa. 16:7); and endure His chastisements (Job 5:17,23,24).

Drink offering

Nesek = the Drink offering. From nasak, to pour out. Compare Psalm 2:6 (set). Philippians 2:17. 2Timothy 4:6.

Messiah was poured out as a drink offering. So too were the saints poured out as drink offerings to God in their tribulation and they lay under the altar crying “how long O lord” until they are avenged as part of the Fifth Seal of the sequence in Revelation 6:9-11.

Freewill

N^edabah = Free-will or Voluntary offerings. See Leviticus 22:18, etc. It refers not to the nature or mode of the offering, but to the motive. Not the same as Leviticus 1:4, "voluntary will", which = "for his acceptance".

Though the Scriptures seem so clear on how Messiah is the complete and perfect sacrifice, some people attempt to make his sacrifice and the Plan of God invalid or of no effect. For more information see the paper Ways People Attempt to do away with or Limit the Sacrifice of Christ (No. CB122).

Before we close, let us look at what type of sacrifices we are to be offering now.

Spiritual sacrifices we should be offering now

Our bodies are to be a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:1) with a broken or humble and contrite spirit (Ps. 51:17).

We are to obey the voice of the Lord (1Sam. 15:22) and do just/righteous acts (Prov. 21:3; Ps. 4:5; 51:19).

We are to live the second Great Commandment and lay down our lives for our brother (Mk. 12:33).

Other forms of sacrifice include: prayer (Ps. 141:2); thanksgiving (Ps. 27:6; 107:22; 116:17; Heb. 13:15); praise (Ps. 116:17; Jer 33:11; Heb. 13:15); faith (Phil. 2:17); doing good (Phil. 4:18; Heb. 13:16).

We are to present our body as an acceptable sacrifice (Phil. 4:18) and a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:1), to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of our faith (Phil. 2:17).

Future sacrifice and guests

We see the Father has a future sacrifice planned and guests invited to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb described in Zephaniah 1:1-8.

Zephaniah 1:7 Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.

These spirit beings will also be spiritual priests under their High Priest, Messiah, administering God’s Laws on the planets.

Summary

As we have learned, Yoshua (Joshua) the Christ freely gave up his spiritual existence and became a man. He lived a perfect sinless life and became the perfect complete sacrifice restoring us all and reconciled us with the Father.

We too are to follow Christ’s example by being willing to lay down our lives for our brother and continually offer spiritual sacrifices to Eloah.

Let us all be about assisting our High Priest and elder brother, Yoshua, the Messiah, or Jesus the Christ, in offering sacrifices to Eloah and assist in bringing many sons to glory as this spiritual Temple is being built.

Ephesians 5:1-2 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

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Trespass offering

Drink offering

Freewill

Summary