The

Sforno: Rabbi Ovadiah Sforno (1470-1550CE), Italian rabbi, philosopher and physician; born in Cesena, he went to Rome to study medicine; left in 1525 and after some years of travel, settled in Bolgna where he founded a yeshiva which he conducted until his death

Sforno also makes the obvious connection to the opening of the book of Mal'achi: "when you present the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and sick, is it not evil?" (Mal'chi 1:8, NASB). "'I am not pleased with you,' says the L-rd of Hosts, 'nor will I accept an offering from your hand'" (v.10, NASB); "'you bring what was taken by robbery, and what is lame and sick; so you bring the offering! Should I receive that from your hand?' says the L-rd" (v.13, NASB). Even a human governor would not accept defective animals at his table, so how much less will G-d accept defective sacrifices or offerings from us.

As the Cohen Gadol, Aharon had to offer a sacrifice for himself before he could offer one on behalf of the people; this is why Yom Kippur is really Yom HaKippurim, the Day of Atonements: first Aharon, then the altar and then the people. But that, as the writer to the Hebrews tells us, was only a temporary situation. The prophets tell us of G-d's search: "Run to and for through the streets of Jerusalem, look and take note! Search her squares to see if you can find a man, one who does justice and seeks truth, that I may pardon her" (Jeremiah 5:1, ESV). "I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before Me for the land ... but I found none" (Ezekiel 22:30, ESV). What was G-d to do? How could He present an offering that would be acceptable? "He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no-one to intercede; then His own arm brought Him salvation and His righteousness upheld Him" (Isaiah 59:16, ESV).

To fulfill the Torah, G-d's own offering had to be perfect. Yochanan the Immerse said: "Behold, the Lamb of G-d that takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29, ESV). God sent "His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh" (Romans 8:3, ESV); "For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of G-d" (2 Corinthians 5:21, ESV).

Further Study: Hebrews 2:14-18; Galatians 3:13-14

Application: Do you look at yourself and think: I just have too many faults and blemishes - I can never please G-d? Then take heart - G-d has already done it for you; knowing us even better that we do ourselves, He Himself has rescued us and offered Himself - in Yeshua - as our sacrifice.

© Jonathan Allen, 2006