Why Were Sacrifices Needed?
Hebrews 9:15 explains that the death of Jesus as a sacrifice had the
purpose of providing “redemption of the transgressions that were com-
mitted under the first covenant,” in order that the people of God might
“receive the promise of the eternal inheritance” (NASB).
In the ancient Near East, a covenant between two persons or nations
was a serious matter. It involved an exchange of promises under oath.
It implied the assumption that the gods would punish those who broke
the oath. Often, these covenants were ratified through the sacrifice of
an animal.
For example, when God made a covenant with Abraham, the cere­
mony involved cutting animals in half (Gen. 15:6–21). The parties
would walk between the parts as an acknowledgment that those animals
represented the fate of the party who broke the covenant. Significantly,
only God walked between the animals, for the purpose of communicat-
ing to Abraham that He would not break His promise.
Compare Genesis 15:6–21 and Jeremiah 34:8–22. What do these
texts teach about the covenant?
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The covenant with God gave Israel access to the Promised Land as
their inheritance. It involved, however, a set of commandments and the
sprinkling of blood upon an altar. This sprinkling implied the destiny
of the party who broke the covenant. This is why Hebrews says that
“without the shedding of blood there is no remission [of sins]” (Heb.
9:22, literal translation).
When Israel broke the covenant, God faced a painful dilemma. The
covenant demanded the death of the transgressors, but God loved His
people. If God should simply look the other way or refuse to punish the
transgressors, His commandments would never be enforceable, and this
world would descend into chaos.
The Son of God, however, offered Himself as a Substitute. He died
in our place so that we “may receive the promised eternal inheritance”
(Heb. 9:15, 26, ESV; Rom. 3:21–26). That is, He was going to uphold
the sanctity of His law while at the same time saving those who broke
that law. And He could do this only through the Cross.
How can we see here why the law is so central to the gospel mes­
sage?