Pod Prep: 10-12-18
Do The Prophets Disavow the Sacrificial System Of Moses ?
DO THE LATTER PROPHETS REALLY CONTRADICT MOSES?
If the latter prophets contradict Moses it seems as if the Bible contradicts itself. Critics, of course, love to focus on seeming contradictions. However the critics just do not understand. If one does not understand God and His thinking and is looking for excuses to undercut the Bible, there are verses that can be misused for this purpose. For instance, we can look at the latter prophet Hosea's remarks.
Hosea 6:6-7 NKJV 6 For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
Remember the prophets are speaking God's words to the people. God is not pleases with the people, and even though they make sacrificial offerings to God as given to Moses by God, it is not what He ultimately wants. This scripture is not a contradiction of God's messages to Moses regarding sacrifices as a method to show commitment to God. Clearly giving valuable material things like oxen and sheep are a method to show commitment to God. However, God also wanted also a deeper level of worship more. Note David's understanding.
Psalms 51:15-17 NKJV 15 O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise. 16 For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offerings. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart-these, O God, You will not despise.
David would gladly have offered many bulls to clear his sins but he realized that God really desired deep, true repentance and a turning away from sin. God wanted heartfelt repentance. But this does not mean that God had rejected or repudiated the sacrifices or the giving of material things in worship.
Jeremiah 6:19-20 NKJV 19 Hear, O earth! Behold, I will certainly bring calamity on this people-The fruit of their thoughts, Because they have not heeded My words, Nor My law, but rejected it. 20 For what purpose to Me Comes frankincense from Sheba, And sweet cane from a far country? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, Nor your sacrifices sweet to Me."
Sacrifices given to God by disobedient people are not sweet to Him anymore.
GOD DEMANDS INWARD OBEDIENCE NOT JUST MERE OUTWARD OBSERVANCES
These verses that seem to condemn sacrifices and the outward show of religion do not condemn the sacrifices; just the vain way in which they were conducted. They also condemn the hypocrisy shown. How can one make an offering to the true God while also worshiping superstitions idols. Often times the Israelites had a form of religion but denied the power. It was the ritual without reality that was condemned by God.
2 Timothy 3:4-5 NKJV 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
God requires deep true repentance and not denying that he has power.
He wants worshipers who truly respect His power and majesty and greatness. Those who are just following along ritually, are condemned, not what Moses wrote regarding sacrifices and rules for worship. Note what the Apostle Paul says regarding circumcision. The Bible does not contradict itself. Critics are looking for excuses to downgrade God's word so they can do whatever they wish.
Romans 2:28-29 NKJV 28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.
It is our heart that counts. Does this mean the physical side of obedience is done away? NO! Paul had Timothy circumcised. This was not done for his salvation but to reassure Israelites that Paul and Timothy were not advocating disobedience from the physical requirements. The people of the area considered Timothy an Israelite because of his mother. Paul even volunteered to lead and pay for some Temple rituals as proof that he was not against those basic laws. Now, gentiles only had to circumcise their hearts. Adult circumcision was used as a barrier to keep most gentiles away from worshiping the true God. While Israelites were circumcised as infants not so for gentiles.
Acts 21:18-21 NKJV 18 On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. 19 When he had greeted them, he told in detail those things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, "You see, brothers, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law; 21 "but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs.
When Paul arrived in Jerusalem, after his successful missionary journeys thru out the Roman Empire, he was met with false accusations. The accusers falsely claimed that he taught against much of the writing of Moses. He and the others did make an exceptions for gentiles regarding circumcision, but did not undermine the OT. How did all the leading Apostles in God's church want Paul to address these false allegations? Note the answer from our own Bibles.
Acts 21:22-24 NKJV 22 "What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come. 23 "Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow. 24 "Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law.
Paul joined in a Temple ritual to express re-dedication to God and purity. Paul found nothing wrong with this ritual. The outward ritual is good if one also has the inward deep reverent, repentance to go with it. Paul would of course have both. It would demonstrate to the ungodly critics that what they were saying was NOTHING. Paul kept all the laws. The man who wrote much of the NT is not in contradiction of the OT as many believe. They just do not understand Paul. Paul and others knew that gentiles would learn all about the OT laws and obey all those that are appropriate. They were not in a theocracy anymore.
Acts 15:20-21 NKJV 20 "but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. 21 "For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath."
The gentiles were told to immediately give up some of the over top, unclean behavior that gentiles were known for among Jews. Then they would learn all the others things they needed to learn because MOSES IS READ IN EVERY CITY at the local synagogue. Therefore the gentiles would learn more and more of what is required. We can see that the Bible does not contradict itself. Neither the latter prophets nor Paul have a problem with the Pentateuch which is the core of the OT and is the testimony of God which should be obeyed. Paul taught that it should be obeyed both outwardly and more importantly inwardly. What kind of sacrifices does Paul want from all converts?
Romans 12:1-2 NKJV 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Offering material things to God as a sacrifice is good and appropriate but offering ourselves as a living sacrifice is also needed. Both are appropriate. When people of God took a lamb to the temple or sold it for money and took the money to the Temple as a sacrifice, is was a good thing. Note the words of Jesus.
Luke 12:33-34 NKJV 33 "Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”.
TRUE, SINCERE, WORSHIP OF GOD IS MANKINDS' FUTURE
God knows that it is best to do both. Give outward sacrifices to God and most of all a deep, inward commitment to God. The outward helps with the inward. The outward efforts help though. For instance if one outwardly attends services on the Sabbath or goes to annual Sabbaths, it helps one give his heart to God, but it is not a guarantee. One can attend church in such a ritualistic attitude as to benefit little from the exercise. Such were some of Israelites in their offerings so God rejected the offerings. The rituals and sacrifices just reminded God of their insincerity so he rejected their actions. God was not rejecting His laws, just their attitudes.
Zephaniah 3:10-11 NKJV 10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers, The daughter of My dispersed ones, Shall bring My offering. 11 In that day you shall not be shamed for any of your deeds in which you transgress against Me; For then I will take away from your midst those who rejoice in your pride, And you shall no longer be haughty In My holy mountain.
It is prophesied that in the future God's people will return to Him in a sincere spirit and offer sacrifices to God again. God will put His Laws in the hearts of the entire world someday, thru His spirit and we will all learn to worship Him in spirit and in truth. All will be guided toward sincere worship.
John 4:23-24 NKJV 23 "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
Physical rituals are good and especially when accompanied by sincere obedience and worship of God. No contradictions exist between various parts of the Bible when properly understood.
