Q: Where in the Torah does the God of Israel ever express His demand for human sacrifice for forgiveness of sin?

[This timely resurrection of this article first posted in 2012 is reposted every year  during this  season when a major world religion commemorates the sacrifice of  representative ‘human-divinity’ or ‘divine-humanity’ to satisfy the justice of God who himself chooses to be  the ‘sacrifice’ because no mere human fits the bill, or so the NT posits.

 

In the country base of Sinaite 6000, hundreds of ‘penitents’ flog themselves, carry crosses during the Passion Week of the Christian Easter celebration. A few are actually nailed to the cross.  Why do they do this? To fulfill a vow they have made to God, to atone for their sins, to emulate what their Savior did for their redemption, and—as I overheard one penitent over the radio, to win the ‘yes’ of a woman he proposed to.   Lately, heavy crosses are no longer the prop, replaced by light portable wooden crosses so that the penitent could just carry it on his/her shoulder during the days prior to Good Friday crucifixion hour, that would be about 3 PM.  

 

How could some religious adherents stray so far from the original requirements of the One True God?  Tradition and culture predominate over study and scriptural re-education, unfortunately.  

 

Is the One True God, YHWH, pleased with all these misguided efforts to placate and appease Him, mostly out of ignorance of His real and simpler requirement–i.e., repent and return to Him?  Is His original Sinai Revelation inaccessible so that man has no way of seeking and learning His revealed Truth?  Every Christian Bible has Part I where this Truth could be verified.  Is there any excuse to continue to be ignorant in this day and age?  What think you, dear reader? —Admin1]

 

———————————

 

 To borrow the title of a Hollywood epic:  The Greatest Story Ever Told. 

 

The Eternal Invisible Immortal God decides to take on human flesh to be born as a helpless baby, from a virgin mother impregnated by the Holy Spirit, with utter disregard for the reputation of Mary, with no consideration of the embarrassment of her betrothed Joseph, in violation of His own commandment #7.

 

Why?  So that at age 30 in human time and in human flesh (“incarnation”), God Himself can teach another Way for humans to reach Himself:  that Way is belief in Him as human first, then later as human-divine, a totally new personality from how He revealed Himself consistently in His previous revelation in the TNK, the Hebrew Scriptures which became obsolete according to the teachings of the New Testament; hence TNK was retitled “Old Testament.”

 

Why?  Because supposedly,  the first human couple violated His one command not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, and therefore all their progeny have been tainted with “original sin” which cannot be forgiven except by the shedding of blood, specifically human blood of a divinity . . . sounds contradictory but that’s part of the greatest story ever told.

 

So?  Well, God made temporary provisions for animal blood to be acceptable until such time that the perfect human being can shed his blood to erase original sin once and for all time. It’s part of the OT symbolism and prophecy to be fulfilled in NT as taught in ‘progressive revelation’.

 

And?  Since there is no perfect man, obviously God Himself had to become man and sacrifice Himself to satisfy His own demand for His own perfect divine justice.

 

Really? Yes, and in the process He started revealing Himself as not ONE  [which He had been drumming repeatedly and consistently into the Israelite hardheads who kept going after other gods] but He suddenly changed His own equation to accommodate two more persons within Himself to create a Trinity. This, despite His nonstop repeated declarations in the OT that He is One, He does NOT CHANGE, there is NO OTHER God but He, none before and none after. ‘Immutable’ is the word for this divine attribute.

 

WOW! Indeed, and so He functions on earth alternating or simultaneously as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, take your pick on which one you want to deal with at any time; but since we relate best to the human 2nd person who did all the work from creation to crucifixion [as we are later made to believe by the author of John], He as 2nd person is to be the focus of our worship, with the consent of the practically ignored [except by pentecostals] 3rd person and the overshadowed and almost forgotten 1st person.

 

No problem! Just believe, have faith!

 

Not so fast.  There are so many problems we now see in the simple salvation story but let’s focus on just one here:

 

 

Where in the original revelation of God does He ever express His demand for human sacrifice?

 

Apologists will immediately bring up Abraham and the sacrifice of Isaac as commanded by God Himself. But when that story is carefully read in the context of Abraham’s life of faith and the unique and never to be repeated test of obedience that God subjects Abraham to, it becomes clear from its happy ending  that it was simply no more than that—a test. Divine intervention at just the crucial moment and the provision of a ram in Isaac’s stead were obviously pre-arranged.

 

 Is there any recurrence or specific statement of God that human sacrifice  pleases Him?  On the contrary, there is instead clear and repeated condemnation of human sacrifice, one of the abominable practices of the nations. What kind of a God would lay out a law that He HImself would on occasion violate ?  That’s not our Adonai YHWH Who revealed His Will on Sinai, as recorded in the Torah and the Hebrew Scriptures.

 

 

So on what does the New Testament base its justification of the sacrifice of the human-divine Jesus as the only way to satisfy God’s justice, so that all sins might be forgiven, including original sin?  

 

The best way to understand is always to read the verses that directly refer to human sacrifice in the Tanach; however, there are none to be found except Abraham’s preempted sacrifice of Isaac.

 

 

 There are references to Jephthah’s vow in Judges 11:30-40 and in 2 Samuel 21:1-11, the incident between David and the Gibeonites [please read these for background on your own].  These incidents are debatable, since the human sacrifice resorted to appear to be more the result of men’s unwise decisions and not God’s explicit demand. God detests human sacrifice which the pagans were doing in sacrificing their children to the fire god Molech [Jeremiah 7:31 and others].

 

Let us not forget that when we read scripture, isolated incidents that seem to go counter to the overall understanding or teaching are exactly that–isolated—and not to be made a prooftext against the general and sure declaration from the mouth of God and certainly not to be made into a doctrine.  There is usually a reasonable explanation for these isolated texts, but for sure, what God condemns, He is consistent throughout Scripture and does not’ suddenly change to confuse us.  

 

Much is made of the shedding of Jesus’ blood in the New Testament

[RED for CAUTION!]

 

Hebrews 9:22

And according to the Law, one may almost say,  all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

 

So let us then follow the blood symbolism, this time starting with the New Testament, then trace it back to the Tanach.

 

This article was originally meant to be #5 in the series on the biblical diet of Leviticus 11 where blood consumption is strictly prohibited; however, you will understand why it has been separated from simple diet issues, even if symbolic blood in the New Testament is substituted by the fruit of the vine in Communion/Lord’s Supper.

 

 

In conjunction with this article, please read 

TORAH 101: What were the animal sacrifices all about? – Jewish Perspective

 to put the Temple offerings (specifically animal ‘sacrifices’ and blood symbolism in its proper perspective since it is often misunderstood. We can only cover so much in each article so we try to keep each discussion simple, easy to follow, in digestible doses which readers can swallow or spit out.]

 

Compare these verses from NT with the verses in OT:

 

Mt. 26:27-29 – And when he had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying “Drink from it all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

 

Mk. 14:23-25 – And when He had taken a cup, and given thanks, He gave it to them; and they all drank from it. And He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly I say to you, I shall never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

 

Lk. 22:20 – And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”

 

1 Cor. 10:16 – The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

 

1 Cor 11:25-34 – For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”  In the same way, He took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood: do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. Therefore whoever eats the bread and drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.  But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.  For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself, if he does not judge the body rightly.  For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep.  But if we judged ourselves rightly, we should not be judged.  But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord in order that we may not be condemned along with the world.  So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.  If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that you may not come together for judgment. And the remaining matters I shall arrange when I come.

 

Eph. 1:7 – In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace . . .

 

Eph. 2:13 – But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

 

Col. 1:19-20 – For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fulness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

 

Heb. 9:6-7 – Now when these things have been thus prepared, the priests are continually entering the outer tabernacle, performing the divine worship, but into the second only the high priest enters, once a year, not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance.Heb. 9:14 – How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

 

Hebrews 9:11-15  But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation;and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood.  He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.  For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, santify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.  And for this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, in order that since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

 

Heb. 10:18- – Therefore, even the first covenant  was not inaugurated without blood.  For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, “THIS IS THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT WHICH GOD COMMANDED YOU.” And in the same way he sprinkled both tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood.  And according to the Law, one may almost say,  all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.  

 

 

Heb. 10:29 – Of how much sorer punishment , suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

 

Heb. 12:24 – And to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.

 

Heb. 13:20 – Now the God of peace , that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

 

1 Pet. 1:2 –  according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in fullest measure.

 

1 Pet. 1:19 – But with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot:

 

1 Jn 1:7 – But if we walk in the light, as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with  one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

 

Rev. 1:5 – And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, and the first born of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us, and released us from our sins by His blood.

 

Rev. 5:9 – And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy art Thou to take the book, and to break its seals: for Thou wast slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood men  from every tribe an tongue and people and nation. . .”

 

Rev. 12:11 – And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives even to the death.

 

What does God require according to the Hebrew Scriptures?

 

[AST]  Exodus 12:13 –

And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood , I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

 

[EF]  Exodus 12

YHWH said to Moshe and to Aharon in the land of Egypt, saying:  

Let this New-Moon be for you the beginning of New-Moons, the beginning-one let it be for you of the New-moons of the year.  

Speak to the entire community of Israel, saying:  

On the tenth day after this New-Moon

they are to take them, each-man, a lamb, according to their Father’s House, a lamb per household.  

And if there be too few in the house for a lamb,

he is to take (it), he and his neighbor who is near his house, by the computation according to the (total number of) persons;

each-man according to what he can eat you are to compute for the lamb.  

A wholly-sound male, year-old lamb shall be yours, from the sheep and from the goats are you to take it.  

It shall be for you in safekeeping, until the fourteenth day after this New-Moon,

and they are to slay it—the entire assembly of the community of Israel—between the setting times.  

They are to take some of the blood and put it onto the two posts and onto the lintel,

onto the houses in which they eat it.  

They are to eat the flesh on that night, roasted in fire, and matzot,

with bitter-herbs they are to eat it.  

Do not eat any of it raw, or boiled, boiled in water,

but rather roasted in fire, its head along with its legs, along with its innards.  

You are not to leave any of it until morning;

what is left of it until morning, with fire you are to burn.  

And thus you are to eat it:  

your hips girded, your sandals on your feet, your sticks in your hand;

you are to eat it in trepidation—

it is a Passover-Meal to YHWH.  

I will proceed through the land of Egypt on this night

and strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from man to beast,

and on all the gods of Egypt I will render judgment,

I, YHWH.  

Now the blood will be a sign for you upon the houses where you are;

when I see the blood, I will pass over you,

the blow will not become a bringer-of-ruin to you, when I strike down the land of Egypt.  

This day shall be for you a memorial,

you are to celebrate it as a pilgrimage-celebration for YHWH,

throughout your generations, as a law for the ages you are to celebrate it!  

 

Exodus 24:8   “And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.

 

[EF] Exodus 24:1-8

 

Now to Moshe he said:  

Go up to YHWH,

but they, they are not to approach,

and as for the people—they (too) are not to go up with him.

So Moshe came

and recounted to the people all the words of YHWH and all the regulations.  

And all the people answered in one voice, and said:  

All the words that YHWH has spoken, we will do.  

And Moshe wrote down all the words of YHWH.  

He started-early in the morning,

building a slaughter-site beneath the mountain

and twelve standing-stones for the twelve tribes of Israel.

 Then he sent the (serving-) lads of the Children of Israel,

that they should offer-up offerings-up, slaughter slaughter-offerings of shalom for YHWH—bulls.  

Moshe took half of the blood and put it in basins,

and half of the blood he tossed against the slaughter-site.  

Then he took the account of the covenant

and read it in the ears of the people.  

They said:

All that YHWH has spoken, we will do and we will hearken!  

Moshe took the blood, he tossed it on the people

and said:

Here is the blood,of the covenant

that YHWH has cut with you

by means of all these words.                                   

 

Exodus 29:16 

And thou shalt slay the ram, and thou shalt take his blood, and sprinkle it round about upon the altar.

Ex. 30:10 – And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year with the blood of the sin-offering of atonements: once in the year shall he make atonement upon it through your generations: it is most holy unto the LORD.

(Please read the whole chapter 30 of Exodus/Shemoth to understand the context of the isolated verse.)

 

Leviticus 1:5 – And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

(Please read the whole chapter of Leviticus/Waiqrah 1 to get to the context of the verse.)

 

Leviticus 16:5 – And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin-offering, and one ram for a burnt-offering.

(Please read through the whole chapter 16 of Leviticus for the context of the verse.)

 

Leviticus 17:11 – For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

(Please read through Chapter 17 of Leviticus for the context of the verse.)

 

Zech. 9:11 – As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.

 (Please read the whole chapter of Zechariah 9 to understand the context of the verse.)