Relevant Verses: Hebrews 9-10

Leading Question: “Why were sacrifices needed?

Our leading question comes from one of the sections of the official study guide. And it triggers several more questions. And one of them focuses on the question of why sacrifices were necessary.

Question: Is it possible that sacrifices were not God’s idea in the first place?

Comment: One of the tantalizing verses of that great penitential Psalm, Psalm 51, suggests that animal sacrifices were, in fact, not God’s idea, certainly not his ideal:

Psalm 51:15-17 Lord, open my lips,

and my mouth will declare your praise.

16 For you have ...