Is Sacrificial Law Ended?

When Abba first started opening me up to the Torah, it didn’t happen all at once. First, for several years, I only saw the Sabbath as necessary to keep. Then, very gradually, I started investigating the feasts. Eating clean was something I wrestled with for a while, still rationalizing that Yeshua could have indeed changed some of the Law, making parts of it no longer binding. I was still clinging to the contradictory mainstream teachings. I had one foot in and one foot out of committing to a life pursuing Torah and Yeshua united. I was frustratedly aware, though, that this viewpoint was flawed. How could I believe the laws were still binding, yet at the same time a few of them were not?

Although I don’t imagine I’ve even scratched the surface of understanding these complex subjects, I did want to share something I have come to believe. Please feel welcome to critique it scripturally as I am in no way teaching anyone anything here, but rather sharing my current perspective and am openminded to changing it should a better viewpoint be shared.

It’s nothing new to hear Christians say the law was abolished by Yeshua’s sacrifice. However, I’m continually hearing people within the Torah community talk similarly, saying how animal sacrifices are no longer necessary for atonement because of His sacrifice. Of course, I said the same thing at one time. I had to ask myself, though, were sacrifices ever able to atone for sin? If they were, Yeshua’s sacrifice wouldn’t have been necessary.

Animal sacrifices were only ever there as a reminder for our need of atonement. The Israelite’s obedience to these laws was more important than the sacrifices themselves. Their obedience was what justified them in God’s sight, not the blood of the animals. (And you might be thinking, Paul said no one is justified by works of the law. I believe Paul was speaking of those who had no faith in Yeshua. James confirms the importance of both faith and obedience together – which is the kind of justification I’m speaking of here.)

James 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works [and faith] when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?

Romans 2:13 For not the hearers of the Law are just with God, but the doers of the Law shall be justified [as long as it is done in faith].

So, could these sacrifices cleanse? No. The only ones who were justified or righteous were those who obeyed these laws with faith, believing that they depended fully on the future blood of the Messiah to atone for their sin. That faith is what saved them. God despised the sacrifices of the Israelites when they did it as a show of obedience but had no fear of God and lived wicked, idolatrous lifestyles.

When Yeshua died and the temple curtain was torn in two, many inside as well as outside the Torah community say this symbolized the end of the sacrificial law. If this were the case, however, we wouldn’t even need His sacrifice anymore once it was finished. Faith wouldn't be necessary.

We must have continual faith in the fact that Yeshua is currently fulfilling the sacrificial law with His sacrifice in order for the law not to be broken. For years after His death and resurrection, the apostles and early Christians continued to go up to the temple in obedience while it was still standing. I guess they didn’t get the memo? Actually, they went up because they still could. Wherever and whenever it is possible, we are to obey. Even the Israelites of the Old Testament faced what we face now when they were held captive without a temple, unable to obey the sacrificial laws. They had to put their faith in the future atonement for them through the Messiah.

Yeshua said, “not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” We know all things certainly have not been accomplished yet, so according to Yesua we can be sure the entire law, including sacrifices, still stands. You can’t have it both ways – it’s either all the law remains, or none of it.

Matthew 5:18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Daniel predicts a time when the sacrifices would cease, which I believe began around 70 A.D. when the temple was destroyed by the Romans.

Daniel 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week, he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. 

The Strongs word “for” where it says, “for the overspreading,” describes it as “because of”. I believe the sacrifices have ceased since around 70 A.D. because of the widespread wickedness.

 Read now the previous verses:

Daniel 9:24-26 Seventy weeks are determined upon your people and upon your holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the anointed one [messiah in Hebrew] the prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. [Herod rebuilt the temple for the Jews in 19 B.C.] And after threescore and two weeks shall the anointed be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come [I believe it refers to a different prince than the one just mentioned] shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 

"Titus [the Roman emperor in 70 A.D.] himself, in a council of war, had decided that the temple must be destroyed, in order that the religion of the Jews and of the Christians might be more completely abolished; for these religions, although opposed to each other, had nevertheless proceeded from the same founders; the Christians had arisen from among the Jews; if the root were extirpated, the offshoot would speedily perish." – Sulpicius Severus, Chronicles II, 30.6-7

Albert Barnes: The series of events under the Romans which led to the destruction of the city and temple, in fact, began very soon after the death of the Lord Jesus, and ceased only when the temple was wholly demolished and the city was razed to its foundations.

Adam Clarke: By the “prince” Titus, the son of Vespasian, is plainly intended; and “the people of that prince” are no other than the Romans, who, according to the prophecy, destroyed the sanctuary, הקדש hakkodesh, the holy place or temple, and, as a flood, swept away all, till the total destruction of that obstinate people finished the war.

Strongs defines the Hebrew word for “flood” as such: From H7857; a deluge (literally or figuratively): - flood, outrageous, overflowing.

Yeshua referred to this prophecy as well, mentioning the "abomination of desolation". As we can see, the temple was completely desolated at this time, and you can read in historical records about the horrible atrocities committed by both the Jews and the Romans during this gruesome struggle.

Adam Clarke comments: "The Roman army is called an abomination, for its ensigns and images, which were so to the Jews. Josephus says, (War, b. vi. chap. 6), the Romans brought their ensigns into the temple, and placed them over against the eastern gate, and sacrificed to them there. The Roman army is therefore fitly called the abomination, and the abomination which maketh desolate, as it was to desolate and lay waste Jerusalem; and this army besieging Jerusalem is called by St. Mark, Mark 13:14, standing where it ought not, that is, as in the text here, the holy place; as not only the city, but a considerable compass of ground about it, was deemed holy, and consequently no profane persons should stand on it."

I believe all of this prophecy was fulfilled around Yeshua’s time. Yeshua warned his disciples, saying that that very generation would see these things take place.

So, the sacrifices were indeed prophesied to cease, but this does not mean the sacrificial law ceased, otherwise we have a problem – Yeshua abolished His own word which He specifically said He did not come to do. I believe He, the anointed one, caused them to temporarily cease because of the overspreading wickedness.

I just want to share now the interpretation I have about the temple curtain being torn in two as I don't believe it has anything to do with sacrificial law being ended. Where Daniel mentions the covenant being confirmed in verse 27, I believe this is likely the new covenant brought by Yeshua – the confirming of the old covenant – and is symbolized by the ripping of the temple curtain.

Albert Barnes comments this: “And he shall confirm the covenant - literally, “he shall make strong” - והגביר vehı̂gebı̂yr. The idea is that of giving strength, or stability; of making firm and sure. The Hebrew word here evidently refers to the “covenant” which God is said to establish with his people - so often referred to in the Scriptures as expressing the relation between Him and them, and hence used, in general, to denote the laws and institutions of the true religion - the laws which God has made for his church; his promises to be their protector, etc., and the institutions which grow out of that relation.”

Remember when God made a covenant with Abraham? Abraham cut the heifer, goat, and ram all into two halves, and the fire of God passed between the two halves, sealing the covenant. The temple curtain divided the people from the Holy of Holies, man from God, but with Yeshua bringing in the new covenant, that division was torn in two, and the Holy Spirit [which is often symbolized by fire] could pass through, creating a new and special relationship or covenant between God and man. In my mind I am picturing this: man standing in the outer courts and God behind the curtain. The curtain is torn in two by the blood of Yeshua’s sacrifice. In the middle of this gap stands the Holy Spirit. The two halves of the curtain could denote the old and new covenant on either side of the Holy Spirit.

Throughout millennial prophecy in the Old Testament, we are told that there will be priests and sacrifices. This is possible under Yeshua’s rule because He will purge the land of its abominations, and, as long as sin remains, so does the need for a reminder of sin. In the millennial kingdom, these sacrifices will also point to the ultimate sacrifice that paid our debt, Yeshua.

Hebrews 10:3,4 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 

Sacrificial law cannot be done under the government of lawless judges. A more current example of just why this kind of thing is so abominable in God’s eyes would be the Salem Witch Trials. These judges were using “obedience” to God’s law as justification to put to death anyone they deemed to be a sorcerer and witch. They were using the law as a way of satisfying their bloodthirst. God is not bloodthirsty, and He despises this kind of behavior as it is demonic. Many innocent women were put to death merely because they had a mole on their back, something people claimed was proof that they were witches.

I know this is controversial, but I believe even God's death penalty laws still stand, but such laws can only be enacted by a righteous government that is fully submitted to God. In the millennial reign, Yeshua will rule with a rod of iron. I know He will not kill the innocent or those who repent and turn away from wickedness. There will still be those, though, who despise Him, practice sorcery, adultery, etc., who refuse to submit, who blaspheme His name, and who will not repent, so these laws will still be necessary in the millennial kingdom. We are going to see justice administered like never before!

That’s why I believe we need to toughen ourselves up. Death will exist as long as sin does. We are all groaning and crying out for justice now, but if we want justice, we have to recognize the cost. I don’t like to see the death of animals or people by any means, I feel such grief over it, but we can’t be weak-minded as long as sin resides. I see post after post of people claiming the Bible was altered because they can’t bear the seriousness of animal sacrifice or the death penalty, but this is because we’ve let ourselves grow too soft. Let’s be soldiers of the King and endure bravely this war against sin! Let’s be like the Prophet Isaiah who set his face like flint.

I think the following verses perfectly summarizes what I've shared:

Hebrews 10:19-31 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Holy of Holies by the blood of Yeshua, by the new and living way that He opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh [remember again the flesh of the animals Abraham cut in two?], and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. 

For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

---

I have written a more detailed article on why I believe the death of animals is even necessary, but I’m still working on making it readable. I’ll share it if there’s interest!

Feel free to leave a comment below! You don't need to login or give any information to leave one.