Sacrifice in the Messianic Era

[Augustine]

From what I reckoned, it’s been prophesied that after the Messiah came, sacrifices would still be offered, but sacrifices of thanksgiving of bread and wine, which can easily be identified with the Holy Eucharist.

However, since the Temple has been destroyed, the Jews have not been offering sacrifices. And since those who identify themselves as Jews today as Jews because they don’t see Jesus as the Messiah. Was the end of the Temple and of sacrifices prophesied anywhere? If not, isn’t it yet another proof that Jesus is the Messiah?

 

[Robbinson]

From what I reckoned, it’s been prophesied that after the Messiah came, sacrifices would still be offered, but sacrifices of thanksgiving of bread and wine, which can easily be identified with the Holy Eucharist.

However, since the Temple has been destroyed, the Jews have not been offering sacrifices. And since those who identify themselves as Jews today as Jews because they don’t see Jesus as the Messiah. Was the end of the Temple and of sacrifices prophesied anywhere? If not, isn’t it yet another proof that Jesus is the Messiah?

I agree with you. In fact, in Yoma 39 (Babylonian Talmud), there is a remarkable passage where the rabbis are pondering why for the 40 years immediately preceding the destruction of the second temple, the normal “signs” indicating forgivness of sins suggested that the Jewish people’s sins were not being forgiven. Significantly, 40 years preceding the destruction of the second temple coincides with the death of Jesus Christ. So we have the abolition of the efficacy of the sacrificial system coinciding with the death and sacrifice of Christ, followed ultimately by the destruction of the temple 40 years later and the inability to even conduct levitical sacrifices for over 2,000 years. Now that is remarkable!

Blessings,

Brian

 

[ryanoneil]

Was the end of the Temple and of sacrifices prophesied anywhere? If not, isn’t it yet another proof that Jesus is the Messiah?

Jesus prophesied the end of the Temple.

**He said to them in reply, “You see all these things, do you not? Amen, I say to you, there will not be left here a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.” (Mat 24:2) **

Sacrificial worship is not expected to disappear from Israel.

**To it people will come from the cities of Judah and the neighborhood of Jerusalem, from the land of Benjamin and from the foothills, from the hill country and the Negeb, to bring holocausts and sacrifices, cereal offerings and incense and thank offerings to the house of the LORD.
(Jer 17:26)

For thus says the LORD: Never shall David lack a successor on the throne of the house of Israel, nor shall priests of Levi ever be lacking, to offer holocausts before me, to burn cereal offerings, and to sacrifice victims.This word of the LORD also came to Jeremiah (Jer 33:17-18)**

But Temple sacrifice won’t necessarily endure.

Hear the word of the LORD, princes of Sodom! Listen to the instruction of our God, people of Gomorrah! What care I for the number of your sacrifices? says the LORD. I have had enough of whole-burnt rams and fat of fatlings; In the blood of calves, lambs and goats I find no pleasure. When you come in to visit me, who asks these things of you? Trample my courts no more! Bring no more worthless offerings; your incense is loathsome to me. New moon and sabbath, calling of assemblies, octaves with wickedness: these I cannot bear. Your new moons and festivals I detest; they weigh me down, I tire of the load. When you spread out your hands, I close my eyes to you; Though you pray the more, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood! (Isa 1:10-15)

Instead, a pure offering is anticipated.

For from the rising of the sun, even to its setting, my name is great among the nations; And everywhere they bring sacrifice to my name, and a pure offering; For great is my name among the nations, says the LORD of hosts. (Mal 1:11)

Which is fulfilled by Christ.

(Hebrews 8-10)