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Hebrews

Hebrews 
Day 
Day 237

"In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin..."

Text: Hebrews 10:6a

THE MINISTRY OF THE LEVITICAL PRIESTS

It would not be incorrect to say that the main ministry of the Levitical priesthood centered in “burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin”!

1. The sacrifices yielded rich symbolic meaning.

2. The only way in which the congregation of Israel could offer sacrifices would be through the priests.

THE REJECTION OF BURNT OFFERINGS

When Isaiah the prophet began his ministry, he uttered these deeply sobering words!

“‘To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?’
Says the LORD. ‘I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams
And the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls
Or of lambs or goats.'”
Isaiah 1:11

1. The wrong understanding of how the sacrificial system worked meant that offerings were made in vain.

2. The lack of a righteous life made the offerings given to God flat and empty.

3. There was only one answer left: A declaration that God’s delight was not in the blood of lambs or goats!

THE CONTEXT OF THE HIGH PRIESTLY MINISTRY OF JESUS

Jesus understood, right from the start, that His high priestly ministry would be vastly different from that of the Levitical priesthood where “burnt offerings and sacrifices” were concerned.

“In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin,
You had no pleasure.”
Hebrews 10:6

1. In burnt offerings and sacrifices

a) There was knowledge of the old system.
b) But this was not going to be the ministry of Jesus.

2. You had no pleasure

a) Jesus knew the heart of His Father.
b) He took no pleasure in the mere offering of burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin.