God commanded the Israelites, after he had delivered them from Egypt, to offer animal sacrifices (Leviticus Chapters 4 and 5). These animal sacrifices were used to wash oneself from sin.
This law was abolished by Jesus by sacrificing himself. Thus, no one has to sacrifice animals anymore to be saved, but only believe in Jesus.
Later, however, God reported through the prophets that he had never asked for animal sacrifices:
Jeremiah 7:21-22 KJV
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Put your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices, and eat flesh.
For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices:
Psalms 51:16-17 KJV
For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Isaiah 66:3 KJV
He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.
Micah 6:6-8 KJV
Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?
Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
_____
How do you explain this contradiction? Did God never mean the animal sacrifices literally, but rather spiritually, as Psalms 51:16-17 says?
This law was abolished by Jesus by sacrificing himself. Thus, no one has to sacrifice animals anymore to be saved, but only believe in Jesus.
Later, however, God reported through the prophets that he had never asked for animal sacrifices:
Jeremiah 7:21-22 KJV
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Put your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices, and eat flesh.
For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices:
Psalms 51:16-17 KJV
For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Isaiah 66:3 KJV
He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.
Micah 6:6-8 KJV
Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?
Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
_____
How do you explain this contradiction? Did God never mean the animal sacrifices literally, but rather spiritually, as Psalms 51:16-17 says?
