The Narrow Path Ministries

What was the purpose of the animal sacrifices in the OT?

1) Did they cover sin temporarily until Jesus made the final sacrifice?
2) Or were they just a symbol or shadow of the sacrifice of Jesus?

Hebrews 10 seems to point to number 2. If this is the case, why did many of the Jewish Christians still practice this before 70 AD?

Thoughts?

My understanding is that alone it was for the forgiveness of UNINTENTIONAL sins and that intentional sins required confession repentence.

Steve7150,

You said:
My understanding is that alone it was for the forgiveness of UNINTENTIONAL sins and that intentional sins required confession repentence.

How do you see Numbers 16:30-36 in regard to intentional sins?

Homer,

Number 16:30-36
30 But if the Lord creates something new, and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into Sheol, then you shall know that these men have despised the Lord.”
31 And as soon as he had finished speaking all these words, the ground under them split apart. 32 And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the people who belonged to Korah and all their goods. 33 So they and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol, and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly. 34 And all Israel who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up!” 35 And fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men offering the incense.
36 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

I'm not sure I understand the relevance of these verses.
How does this apply to intentional vs unintentional sins?

Steve150 wrote:My understanding is that alone it was for the forgiveness of UNINTENTIONAL sins and that intentional sins required confession repentence.

Is your statement aimed at OT sacrifices in general or the mindset of 1st century Jewish Christians as they continued sacrifices?

I've always assumed the atonement of Christ paid for intentional and unintentional sins.

By the way, I may be assuming that 1st century Jewish Christians continued sacrifices because they seemed to hold to other ritual aspects of the law.
Does anyone know if it can be determined if they did?

Schoel,

Oops, my goof. Its Numbers 15. Verses 22-29 regarding unintentional sins contrasted with verses 30-36 regarding intententional sin.

"And if a person sins unintentionally then he shall bring a female goat in it's first year as a sin offering. So the priest shall make atonement for the person who sins unintentionally." Numbers 15.27-28

"But the person who does anything presumptously whether he is native born or a stranger, that one brings reproach on the Lord,and he shall be CUT OFF from among his people." 15.30

CUT OFF , the same words used in Dan 9.26 "Messiah will be cut off from among the living."

Anyway thanks for the verses Homer.

Does anyone know if lambs where ever used for sacrifices for sin?

Hi Steve7150,

First post here. (woo hoo!)

Just wanted to say that the only verse I recall about sacrificing lambs for sin is Lev 4:32 "And if he bring a lamb for a sin offering, he shall bring it a female without blemish."

C~

Hi Steve7150,

First post here. (woo hoo!)

Just wanted to say that the only verse I recall about sacrificing lambs for sin is Lev 4:32 "And if he bring a lamb for a sin offering, he shall bring it a female without blemish."

Hi Nanac2 , Are you the same Nanac from THC? Anyway thanks for the answer. I just heard that lambs are supposed to be used as a sacrifice on Yom Kippor. Anyone know anything about this?