What connections exist between Ezekiel 45:20 and Christ's atoning sacrifice in the New Testament? Setting the Scene Ezekiel 45:20: “And you shall do the same on the seventh day of the month for anyone who sins unintentionally or through ignorance; so you are to make atonement for the temple.” What Ezekiel’s Instruction Emphasizes • A real sacrifice of a real animal—blood had to be shed. • The focus is “unintentional or ignorant” sin—offenses people didn’t even realize they had committed. • A priest acts on behalf of the people, applying the blood to cleanse the very place where God dwells. How the New Testament Draws the Line to Christ • Hebrews 9:7 echoes Ezekiel: “the sins the people had committed in ignorance.” • Hebrews 9:11-12: “He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption.” • Hebrews 9:22: “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” • 1 John 2:2: “He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” • Acts 3:17-19 shows that even sins done “in ignorance” needed the cross. Parallels You Can’t Miss 1. Anointed Priest → Jesus the ultimate High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16). 2. Blood of a bull → Blood of the Lamb of God (John 1:29). 3. Yearly, repeated ritual → One-time, never-to-be-repeated sacrifice (Hebrews 10:11-14). 4. Cleansing the physical temple → Cleansing a better temple: • Heavenly sanctuary (Hebrews 9:23-24). • Believers as God’s temple (1 Corinthians 3:16). 5. Focus on unintentional sin → Christ covers every category—ignorant, willful, past, present, future (Colossians 2:13-14). The Significance of the Seventh Day • Seven in Scripture signals completeness. • On that “seventh day” the priest wrapped up the congregation’s hidden sins; at Calvary Jesus shouted, “It is finished” (John 19:30), announcing complete atonement in one decisive moment. Why This Matters Today • No sin—known or unknown—escapes the reach of Christ’s blood (1 Peter 1:18-19). • Because the temple is now the believer, purity is a gift secured by the cross, not a status we must earn (2 Corinthians 5:21). • The prophetic picture in Ezekiel assures us God always planned a concrete, literal remedy for sin, climaxing in the historical death and resurrection of Jesus. Summary Snapshot Ezekiel 45:20’s ritual for hidden offenses foreshadows the all-sufficient, once-for-all atonement of Christ. The same God who demanded blood in Ezekiel provided His own Son’s blood to cleanse not just a building, but every person who trusts Him. |
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