What does the Bible say about sacrifices?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that sacrifices reveal both the seriousness of sin and God’s provision of atonement, while calling his people to faith-filled obedience and wholehearted worship. Under the old covenant, blood sacrifices taught that forgiveness requires life given in the sinner’s place, as Leviticus 17:11 and Hebrews 9:22 explain. Yet God never desired empty ritual: 1 Samuel 15:22, Psalm 51:16-17, Isaiah 1:11, and Mark 12:33 stress obedience, love, and a contrite heart. The offerings of Leviticus 1:1-9 pointed forward to Christ, who gave himself as a fragrant offering (Ephesians 5:2). Therefore believers, made a holy priesthood through him (1 Peter 2:5), offer spiritual sacrifices and present their whole lives to God (Romans 12:1).
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Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Romans 12:1
Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.
- 1 Samuel 15:22
Samuel said, Has Yahweh as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of Yahweh? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.
- Ephesians 5:2
Walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance.
- Psalms 51:16-17
[16] For you don't delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You have no pleasure in burnt offering. [17] The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
- Mark 12:33
and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."
- 1 Peter 2:5
You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
- Hebrews 9:22
According to the law, nearly everything is cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission.
- Leviticus 17:11
For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that makes atonement by reason of the life.
- Isaiah 1:11
"What are the multitude of your sacrifices to me?," says Yahweh. "I have had enough of the burnt offerings of rams, And the fat of fed animals. I don't delight in the blood of bulls, Or of lambs, Or of male goats.
- Leviticus 1:1-9
[1] Yahweh called to Moses, and spoke to him out of the Tent of Meeting, saying, [2] "Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, 'When anyone of you offers an offering to Yahweh, you shall offer your offering of the cattle, from the herd and from the flock. [3] "'If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without blemish. He shall offer it at the door of the Tent of Meeting, that he may be accepted before Yahweh. [4] He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. [5] He shall kill the bull before Yahweh. Aaron's sons, the priests, shall present the blood and sprinkle the blood around on the altar that is at the door of the Tent of Meeting. [6] He shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into pieces. [7] The sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar, and lay wood in order on the fire; [8] and Aaron's sons, the priests, shall lay the pieces, the head, and the fat in order on the wood that is on the fire which is on the altar; [9] but its innards and its legs he shall wash with water. The priest shall burn the whole on the altar, for a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor to Yahweh.
Study outline
Curated topical outlines from classic public-domain study works.
Nave's Topical Bible
- FIGURATIVE Isaiah 34:6; Ezekiel 39:17; Zephaniah 1:7; Zephaniah 1:8; Romans 12:1; Philippians 2:17; Philippians 4:18
- Of self-denial Philippians 3:7; Philippians 3:8
- Of praise Psalms 116:17; Jeremiah 33:11; Hosea 14:2; Hebrews 13:15
- “;Calves of the lips” signifying praise Hosea 14:2
- See OFFERINGS
Torrey's New Topical Textbook
- Divine institution of Genesis 3:21; Genesis 1:29; Genesis 9:3; Genesis 4:4; Genesis 4:5; Hebrews 11:4
- To be offered to God alone Exodus 22:20; Judges 13:16; 2 Kings 17:36
- When offered to God, an acknowledgement of his being the supreme God 2 Kings 5:17; Jonah 1:16
- Consisted of
- Clean animals or bloody sacrifices Genesis 8:20
- The fruits of the earth or sacrifices without blood Genesis 4:4; Leviticus 2:1
- Always offered upon altars Exodus 20:24
- The offering of, an acknowledgment of sin Hebrews 10:3
- Were offered
- From the earliest age Genesis 4:3; Genesis 4:4
- By the patriarchs Genesis 22:2; Genesis 22:13; Genesis 31:54; Genesis 46:1; Job 1:5
- After the departure of Israel from Egypt Exodus 5:3; Exodus 5:17; Exodus 18:12; Exodus 24:5
- Under the Mosaic age Leviticus 1:1-7:38; Hebrews 10:1-3
- Daily Exodus 29:38; Exodus 29:39; Numbers 28:3; Numbers 28:4
- Weekly Numbers 28:9; Numbers 28:10
- Monthly Numbers 28:11
- Yearly Leviticus 16:3; 1 Samuel 1:3; 1 Samuel 1:21; 1 Samuel 20:6
- At all the feasts Numbers 10:10
- For the whole nation Leviticus 16:15-30; 1 Chronicles 29:21
- For individuals Leviticus 1:2; Leviticus 17:8
- In faith of a coming Saviour Hebrews 11:4; Hebrews 11:17; Hebrews 11:28
- Required to be perfect and without blemish Leviticus 22:19; Deuteronomy 15:21; Deuteronomy 17:1; Malachi 1:8; Malachi 1:14
- Generally the best of their kind Genesis 4:4; 1 Samuel 15:22; Psalms 66:15; Isaiah 1:11
- Different kinds of
- Burnt offering wholly consumed by fire Leviticus 1:1-17; 1 Kings 18:38
- Sin offering for sins of ignorance Leviticus 4:1-35
- Trespass offering for intentional sins Leviticus 6:1-7; Leviticus 7:1-7
- Peace offering Leviticus 3:1-17
- To be brought to the place appointed by God Deuteronomy 12:6; 2 Chronicles 7:12
- Were bound to the horns of the altar Psalms 118:27
- Were salted with salt Leviticus 2:13; Mark 9:49
- Often consumed by fire from heaven Leviticus 9:24; 1 Kings 18:38; 2 Chronicles 7:1
- When bloody, accompanied with meat and drink offering Numbers 15:3-12
- No leaven offered with, except for Exodus 23:18; Leviticus 7:13
- Fat of, not to remain until morning Exodus 23:8
- The priests
- Appointed to offer 1 Samuel 2:28; Ezekiel 44:11; Ezekiel 44:15; Hebrews 5:1; Hebrews 8:3
- Had a portion of, and lived by Exodus 29:27; Exodus 29:28; Deuteronomy 18:3; Joshua 13:14; 1 Corinthians 9:13
- Were typical of Christ’s sacrifice 1 Corinthians 5:7; Ephesians 5:2; Hebrews 10:1; Hebrews 10:11; Hebrews 10:12
- Were accepted when offered in sincerity and faith Genesis 4:4; Hebrews 11:4; Genesis 8:21
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