Yeshua: His Better Covenant ~ Part 7b

Messianic Jews 10:1-10
Letter to the Messianic Jews

In my last post, we began to examine Messianic Jews 10:1-10 ~ The Superiority and Finality of the New Covenant by focusing Yeshua As the Once for All Sacrifice. In this post, we’ll conclude digging into Messianic Jews 10:1-10 ~ The Superiority and Finality of the New Covenant by examining Yeshua As the Once for All Sacrifice. Once again, I broke this passage into two parts. In this post, we will cover verses 8-10.

Yeshua As the Once for All Sacrifice

¹ For the Torah has in it a shadow of the good things to come, but not the actual manifestation of the originals. Therefore, it can never, by means of the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, bring to the goal those who approach the Holy Place to offer them. ² Otherwise, wouldn’t the offering of those sacrifices have ceased? For if the people performing the service had been cleansed once and for all, they would no longer have sins on their conscience. ³ No, it is quite the contrary — in these sacrifices is a reminder of sins, year after year. ⁴ For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. ⁵ This is why, on coming into the world, he says, “It has not been your will to have an animal sacrifice and a meal offering; rather, you have prepared for me a body. ⁶ No, you have not been pleased with burnt offerings and sin offerings. ⁷ Then I said, ‘Look! In the scroll of the book it is written about me. I have come to do your will.’” ⁸ In saying first, “You neither willed nor were pleased with animal sacrifices, meal offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings,” things which are offered in accordance with the Torah; ⁹ and then, “Look, I have come to do your will”; he takes away the first system in order to set up the second. ¹⁰ It is in connection with this will that we have been separated for God and made holy, once and for all, through the offering of Yeshua the Messiah’s body. ~ Messianic Jews 10:1-10 (CJB)

Recall in the last post we learned that verses 5-7 refer to Psalm 40:7-9(6-8). Notice that God does not take away the Torah; rather, he takes away the first system of sacrifices and priesthood in order to set up the second within the framework of the one eternal Torah.

So the author of Messianic Jews says in essence: “The sacrifice of animals is powerless to purify humanity and give them access to God. All that such sacrifices can do is to remind us that we are unredeemed sinners and that the barrier of our sin is between us and God.” So far from erasing our sin, the sacrifices underline it.

God does not want animal sacrifices but obedience to His will. Yeshua’s sacrifice meant that we take something dear to us (time, talent and treasures) and give it to God to show our love. But human nature being what it is, it becomes easy for the idea to slip into a “works” mentality which is a way of buying God’s forgiveness.

The author to the Hebrews was not saying anything new when he said that obedience was the only true sacrifice. Long before him, the prophets had seen how sacrifice had deteriorated and had told the people that what God wanted was not the blood and the flesh of animals but the obedience.

“Sh’mu’el said, “Does Adonai take as much pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying what Adonai says? Surely obeying is better than sacrifice, and heeding orders than the fat of rams.” ~ 1 Samuel 15:22 (CJB)

“Offer thanksgiving as your sacrifice to God, pay your vows to the Most High.” Psalm 50:14 (CJB)

“For you don’t want sacrifices, or I would give them; you don’t take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; God, you won’t spurn a broken, chastened heart.” ~ Psalm 51:16-17 (CJB)

“For what I desire is mercy, not sacrifices, knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” ~ Hosea 6:6 (CJB)

“Why are all those sacrifices offered to me?” asks Adonai. “I’m fed up with burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fattened animals! I get no pleasure from the blood of bulls, lambs and goats! Yes, you come to appear in my presence; but who asked you to do this, to trample through my courtyards? Stop bringing worthless grain offerings! They are like disgusting incense to me! Rosh-Hodesh, Shabbat, calling convocations— I can’t stand evil together with your assemblies! Everything in me hates your Rosh-Hodesh and your festivals; they are a burden to me— I’m tired of putting up with them! “When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; no matter how much you pray, I won’t be listening; because your hands are covered with blood. “Wash yourselves clean! Get your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing evil, learn to do good! Seek justice, relieve the oppressed, defend orphans, plead for the widow. “Come now,” says Adonai, “let’s talk this over together. Even if your sins are like scarlet, they will be white as snow; even if they are red as crimson, they will be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you will be eaten by the sword”; for the mouth of Adonai has spoken.” ~ Isaiah 1:11-20 (CJB)

“With what can I come before Adonai to bow down before God on high? Should I come before him with burnt offerings? with calves in their first year? Would Adonai take delight in thousands of rams with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Could I give my firstborn to pay for my crimes, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” Human being, you have already been told what is good, what Adonai demands of you — no more than to act justly, love grace and walk in purity with your God.”~ Micah 6:6-8 (CJB)

Always there had been voices crying out for God that the only sacrifice was obedience to His will. Nothing but obedience could open the way to God; disobedience set up a barrier that no animal sacrifice could ever take away. Yeshua was the perfect sacrifice because He perfectly did God’s will. He took Himself and said to God: “Do with me as you will.” He brought to God what no person had been able to bring – the perfect obedience, that was the perfect sacrifice.

If we are ever to have fellowship with God, obedience is the only way. What we cannot offer, Yeshua offered. In His perfect personhood, He offered the perfect sacrifice of the perfect obedience. Obedience by believing in Yeshua is the only way!

We have been and continue to be redeemed by His Blood.

In my next post, we conclude our mini-series Yeshua: His Better Covenant by examining Messianic Jews 10:11-18 ~ The Evidence of Yeshua’s Finished Work.

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