The books of the Old Testament give detailed directions for sacrifices to be offered to God. There was the Burnt offering (Leviticus 1), the Grain offering (Leviticus 2), the Peace offering (Leviticus 3), the Sin offering(Leviticus 4) and the Guilt offering (Leviticus 5). These had to be carried out with specific animals, on certain days, for certain acts, among others. In addition, the sacrifices were usually not performed personally, the Levitical priests held the special post of offering the special sacrifices to God.
The Burnt offering was for atonement. It was to be either a bull without blemish or a ram/he-goat without blemish (male animals from cattle, sheep or goats) or select birds from the turtledoves or young pigeons. Whoever is bringing the offering would have to lay his hand on the head of the offering so it can be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him (Leviticus 1:4). The Sin offering had to be given in the event of a person committing a sin unintentionally. If it was a priest who sinned or the entire Israel, an unblemished young bull was to be offered. If it was one of the leaders who sinned, then he was to bring an unblemished he-goat. If it was any of the common people, an unblemished she-goat or lamb was to be brought. In the case of intentional sins, the guilty person was to first confess his sin and then bring a female lamb or she-goat or two turtledoves/ young pigeons, or a certain measurement of fine flour, depending on which of these options he could afford. The Levitical priests would then perform the sacrifices in order that the sins may be forgiven.
All these sacrifices had to be performed constantly because God detests iniquity. It was very important that the people of Israel remained pure and without sin at all times. Each point in time when iniquity was found among them, they were punished. Remember when the Israelites made a golden calf and bowed to it, the Lord ordered that the Levites kill those who bowed to the image and in addition, He inflicted the people with plagues (Exodus 32). And when Achan coveted and took what God had condemned, the Israelites suffered defeat at Ai (Joshua 7). The book of Judges gives account of multiple times the Israelites sinned and were subjected to oppression under their enemies or other punishment. Deliverance from their enemies only came after each repentance.
Another important point to note is that there was a need for a go-between, someone to stand before God on behalf of the people. Firstly, there were the Levitical priests who offered the various sacrifices to God on behalf of the people. Next, in the time of the judges, the judges were sent by God to save the people from their enemies. So it was like a continuous bid to bring salvation to the people. But this salvation was only temporary as various judges had to rise up at different periods to save the people over and over again. Usually, this lasted throughout the lifespan of a certain judge. At his death, the people would sin, punishment would follow and another judge would be needed.
Othniel was the first judge who had to deliver the people from Mesopotamia after they had been in bondage for eight years, afterwards Israel had rest for 40 years (Judges 3:7-11). After his death, Israel sinned and they had to serve Moab for eighteen years, Ehud was the next judge to deliver them from Moab (Judges 3:12-30). Next came Shamgar who had to deliver Israel from the Philistines (Judges 3:31). Next came Barak who with the help of Deborah and Jael, delivered Israel from Sisera the captain of the Canaanite army (Judges 4). Then came Gideon to deliver Israel from Midian after Israel had served them for seven years (Judges 6-8). Next came Tola who judged Israel for twenty-three years, and Jair who judged for twenty-two years (Judges 10:1-3). After him, Israel went back to servitude under the Philistines and the Ammonites because of sin and Jephthah had to arise to save them (Judges 10:6-Judges 11-12). Ibzan, Elon and Abdon were the next judges at different times (Judges 12:8-15). And Samson who came after Israel had been under the Philistines for forty years (Judges 13-16).
Next came the era of the prophets who were the messengers of God, trying to keep the people from sinning and maintaining the communication lines between God and the people, such as the likes of Prophets Samuel, Elijah and Elisha. But with all these, there was no permanency as these were only mere mortals struggling to save fellow mortals.
After so many centuries of man's struggle with sin, God came down Himself. Out of the love He had and still has for mankind, He decided to send His only begotten Son to put an end to the era of sin. Because the actual slave master wasn’t the Philistines or the Ammonites or Canaanites or Moabites, the actual slave master was sin. For it was only when the people sinned that the sin and guilt offerings were needed. It was only when the people sinned that they were opened up to oppression from other nations. Where sin's hold can be permanently broken then everything else that accompanies it would come to an end.
And so Christ came to put an end to sin. In putting an end to sin, there was no more need for animal sacrifices, no need for Levitical priests to stand before God on behalf of the people. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke record that before Jesus died, the veil in the temple was divided into two. The curtain had previously separated the inner court where previously only the priests had access to in order to approach God, from the outer court. The Gospel of John records that Jesus' last words on the cross were “It is finished”. Because Christ is the final priest, the final judge and Redeemer. And whoever believes in Him will be saved.
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