Ancient Jews and Mortal Sin

[Nelka]

Hiw did the Jews before Jesus’ time receive sanctifying grace after committing a mortal sin?

They didn’t have confession.

Thanks.

 

[AdherentToRome]

The short answer would be animal sacrifice, but grace is slightly different in the OT. I would suggest reading Levitivus with the Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture alongside it. There are a few stances on how the sacrifice worked. Primarily as a substitution or the other view putting emphasis on the sacrifice and the blood itself. Two very different camps exist on the matter and I can’t quite give it due justice here. Leviticus 17 has a few direct verses on sacrifice. Although also remember some sins the OT were not forgivable or hideable and resulted in stoning.

 

[Verdanty]

Mortal sin doesn’t really apply to Judaism, because Judaism then and today has no dogmatic opinion on the afterlife, sacrifices etc serve to prevent God pouring his wrath upon you in this world, there is no motivation to do so for the next. There is speculation certainly, but you will find Orthodox Jews who subscribe to a range of opinions from resurrection, oblivion; even to reincarnation in some circles.

The law will mandate the death sentence in this world, but it makes no claims regarding the next world if there is one.

 

[Kaninchen]

Just to point out that these are Christian concepts and, obviously, can have Christian answers but they’re not Jewish concepts - an example of where the two religions don’t ‘work’ in the same way.

 

[PJM]

GREAT Question, thanks,

The reality is that Jesus did not invent Sacramental Confession [John 20:19-23; 1: Jn. 1: 6-7, 1 Jn. 5:16-27]

Yahweh too used His Priest for the forgiveness of sins; which several NOTABLE differences

There were “just” [if I can use that term] “sins” with no distinction. Certainly they knew in their hearts the seriousness of their actions, BUT all .failure to fully OBEY the LAWS were seen as serious offenses; [Sort of if you break one Commandment you HAVE theologically “broken” all of them by Failing GOD].

And their sins in a literal sense were NOT forgiven by the Priest; BUT merely covered over; which Yahweh then ACCEPTED as they were a people being FORMED [educated] about God and God’s expectations for them at THAT time and place; as God meets all of “where we are” spiritually.

Exodus 28:1
Take unto thee also Aaron thy brother with his sons, from among the children of Israel, that they may minister to me in the priest’ s office: Aaron, Nadab, and Abiu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

Leviticus 5:16
And he shall make good the damage itself which he hath done, and shall add the fifth part besides, delivering it to the priest, who shall pray for him, offering the ram, and it shall be forgiven him.

Leviticus 5:18
He shall offer of the flocks a ram without blemish to the priest, according to the measure and estimation of the sin: and the priest shall pray for him, because he did it ignorantly: and it shall be forgiven him,

NOW “Under GRACE” [Romans 6:14], so NT Priest DO have the Power and Authority [Mt 16:18] to FORGIVE SINS [john 17:17-20, John 20:19-23**]

Hope this helps you,
God Bless
Patrick

 

[thephilosopher6]

There were sin and guilt offerings for unintentional sins, but they only covered their sins, they weren’t actually forgiven.

“It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” - Hebrews 10:4

 

[De_Maria]

Hiw did the Jews before Jesus’ time receive sanctifying grace after committing a mortal sin?

The short answer is, they didn’t.

They didn’t have confession.

They didn’t have any Sacraments. The had sacramentals, sacred things, but Sanctifying grace did not come to us until Jesus Christ died upon the Cross and ascended into heaven. At that point, the Holy Spirit could come down and indwell the Baptized believer. It is the Holy Spirit who pours sanctifying grace into our souls.

1999 The grace of Christ is the gratuitous gift that God makes to us of his own life, infused by the Holy Spirit into our soul to heal it of sin and to sanctify it. It is the sanctifying or deifying grace received in Baptism. It is in us the source of the work of sanctification:

Therefore if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself.

2020 Justification has been merited for us by the Passion of Christ. It is granted us through Baptism. It conforms us to the righteousness of God, who justifies us. It has for its goal the glory of God and of Christ, and the gift of eternal life. It is the most excellent work of God’s mercy.

 

[thephilosopher6]

Indeed, it’s a Latin Catholic concept. Orthodox and Eastern Catholics don’t have a conception of it, and of course, neither do Protestants.

 

[StGerardMajella]

Hiw did the Jews before Jesus’ time receive sanctifying grace after committing a mortal sin?

In addition to the daily offerings at the outer sacrificial altar, all the people’s sins could be forgiven annually on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), a biblical and eternal commandment explained in the Leviticus, 16:1-34, and 23:26.

 

[runningdude]

They could not be redeemed without Christ’s grace. The righteous were held in essentially purgatory, until Christ died and “descended into Hell” to free them.