What role do sacrifices play in understanding God's holiness in Ezekiel 43:25? Setting the Scene Ezekiel’s vision in chapters 40–48 describes a future temple where the LORD’s glory returns. Before worship can begin, the altar must be consecrated, and Ezekiel 43:25 instructs how that happens. Reading Ezekiel 43:25 “For seven days you are to provide a male goat for a sin offering daily; you are also to provide a young bull and a ram from the flock, both without blemish.” Sacrifices Highlight God’s Holiness • Holiness means “set apart,” morally perfect, blazing purity. • Sin cannot mix with holiness; it must be covered or removed. • Repeated sacrifices drive home how radically different the LORD is from fallen humanity. Three Key Insights 1. Duration—Seven Days • Seven symbolizes completeness. • A full week of offerings underscores that every facet of worship life must be saturated with holiness. 2. Daily Sin Offering—The Male Goat • “Sin offering” (ḥaṭṭāʾt) focuses on purging impurity. • Each day the altar is cleansed afresh, displaying God’s relentless demand for moral purity (cf. Leviticus 4:27–31). 3. Unblemished Bull and Ram—Positive Devotion • “Without blemish” points to perfection (Leviticus 1:3). • These animals picture wholehearted surrender to a flawless God, not mere avoidance of sin. Echoes Across Scripture • Leviticus 16:16—The sin offering “makes atonement… because of the uncleanness of the sons of Israel.” • Isaiah 6:3—“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts.” Continuous praise mirrors continual offerings. • Hebrews 9:22—“Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” The NT affirms the same principle. • 1 Peter 1:16—“Be holy, because I am holy.” The call to holiness remains constant. Implications for Today • God’s standard has not relaxed; His holiness is unchanged. • Sacrifices in Ezekiel show that holiness requires cleansing and consecration—fulfilled ultimately in Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10). • Believers live in reverent awe, remembering the cost of approaching a holy God and responding with lives “without blemish” in grateful devotion (Romans 12:1). |
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