How does Ezekiel 45:23 foreshadow Christ's ultimate sacrifice for our sins? The Verse in Focus “ For the seven days of the feast he is to provide seven bulls and seven rams without blemish daily as a burnt offering to the LORD, and a male goat daily for a sin offering.” (Ezekiel 45:23) Key Details in the Text • Seven-day span – a full week of worship • Daily sacrifices – every single day • Seven bulls + seven rams – completeness, abundance • “Without blemish” – perfect, spotless animals • A male goat each day – the specific sin offering Why the Repetition Matters • A continual stream of blood underscored the seriousness of sin. • Daily offerings kept Israel mindful that yesterday’s sacrifice could not cover today’s guilt. • The unending pattern pointed to the need for a once-for-all solution (Hebrews 10:1-4). How the Passage Foreshadows Christ • Spotless substitutes: “without blemish” anticipates the sinless Lamb of God (1 Peter 1:18-19). • Fullness of seven: seven bulls and seven rams picture perfect, complete atonement fulfilled in Jesus’ single sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10-14). • Daily goat for sin: the repeated goat offerings highlight humanity’s ongoing need; Christ becomes the greater, final sin offering (Hebrews 13:11-12). • Festival context: Ezekiel’s instruction sits in a Passover-like feast (45:21-24). Paul declares, “Christ our Passover Lamb has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7). New Testament Echoes • John 1:29 — “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” • Hebrews 7:27 — “He sacrificed for sins once for all when He offered Himself.” • Hebrews 9:26 — “Now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” • Revelation 5:6 — the Lamb standing “as though it had been slain,” the eternal reminder that the perfect sacrifice is complete. A Personal Takeaway Each bull, ram, and goat in Ezekiel 45:23 whispers, “Sin costs blood.” Day after day they streamed onto the altar because no animal could cleanse the conscience forever. Then Jesus stepped in—sinless, sufficient, final. What was illustrated in Ezekiel is accomplished at the cross, giving believers the confidence that nothing more needs to be added to His finished work. |
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