How do these offerings connect to Christ's ultimate sacrifice in the New Testament? A temple overflowing with sacrifice “ And the consecrated offerings were six hundred bulls and three thousand sheep.” (2 Chronicles 29:33) King Hezekiah’s reopened temple looked, sounded, and smelled like a vast pasture. Six hundred snorting bulls, three thousand bleating sheep—an army of animals wholly devoted to God. It was worship you could see, hear, and touch. Why the huge numbers mattered • The nation had drifted into idolatry. Quantity underscored the people’s wholehearted return. • Each animal cost something—real wealth placed on the altar. • More sacrifices meant more blood, and blood was God’s chosen picture of life poured out for sin (Leviticus 17:11). Old-Covenant offerings in miniature The bulls and sheep didn’t just cover one type of sacrifice. They fed several: • Burnt offerings – entire animal consumed (Leviticus 1) → total surrender. • Sin offerings – blood applied for atonement (Leviticus 4) → forgiveness. • Fellowship offerings – part burned, part eaten (Leviticus 3) → restored communion. Every category sketched a different angle of atonement—like facets on a single diamond. The shadow pointing forward Hebrews draws a straight line from “bulls and goats” to Jesus: “For if the blood of goats and bulls … sanctify … how much more will the blood of Christ … purify our consciences” (Hebrews 9:13-14). “It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” (Hebrews 10:4) So why command animal sacrifice at all? God was teaching: • Sin demands death. • A substitute may die in the sinner’s place. • Only innocent blood satisfies divine justice. Yet the very repeatability of temple offerings whispered, “A better sacrifice is coming.” Christ fulfills every category • Burnt offering fulfilled – “Christ … gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.” (Ephesians 5:2) • Sin offering fulfilled – “We have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:10) • Passover lamb fulfilled – “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) • Spotless requirement fulfilled – “with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.” (1 Peter 1:19) What happened on Hezekiah’s altars in one intense day happened once for all at Calvary. No repeat required. Living in the light of the finished work • Confidence—our standing with God rests on a sacrifice He Himself provided. • Gratitude—Hezekiah’s people gave their best; Christ gave Himself. We answer with wholehearted worship and obedience. • Fellowship—sin no longer blocks access. We draw near “with a sincere heart and full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:22). The six hundred bulls and three thousand sheep were impressive. The cross is immeasurable. Hezekiah’s temple overflowed for a day; Christ’s sacrifice flows with eternal power. |
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