“”A son naturally honors his father and a slave respects his master. If I am your father, where is my honor? If I am your master, where is my respect? The Lord who rules over all asks you this, you priests who make light of my name! But you reply, ‘How have we made light of your name?’ You are offering improper sacrifices on my altar, yet you ask, ‘How have we offended you?’ By treating the table of the Lord as if it is of no importance! But now plead for God’s favor that he might be gracious to us. “With this kind of offering in your hands, how can he be pleased with you?” asks the Lord who rules over all…… “There will be harsh condemnation for the hypocrite who has a valuable male animal in his flock but vows and sacrifices something inferior to the Lord. For I am a great king,” says the Lord who rules over all, “and my name is awesome among the nations.“” cMalachi 1:6-7, 9, 14 NET https://bible.com/bible/107/mal.1.6-14.NET
We deceive ourselves when we believe our religious practices please God, but our hearts remain far from Him. We deceive ourselves when we practice religion but ignore God’s work, which is establishing His kingdom upon the earth as it is in heaven through the sharing of the gospel and the discipling of the saints. Would our businesses be successful if the investment of time and money we put into them was the equivalent of the time and money we put into God’s business of seeking and saving the lost? Our efforts at His work are reflected in our society’s obedience to His commands. The church is the salt and light, the leaven influencing the whole dough. We mustn’t deceive ourselves further by blaming the church’s leaders for the church’s failure to complete its mission. In Jesus, all of His people are made priests and ministers for witnessing His work for our lives and helping others to love Him as we do, as proven by our obedience to everything He commands. The Lord is not honored in society because the church poorly honors Him in society. If we truly honor God, we will love God first and most by loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Then we will love our neighbor as ourselves, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to everlasting life.
question for you.
In 2 Chron, Chapt 1, Solomon offered 1,000 sacrifices as an offering (above the Tithe) right before God granted him wisdom. Ezekiel 45:17 talks about 5 different types of offerings: 1) Sin, 2) Burnt, 3) Grain, 4) Drink, 5) Peace.
My question is: How can we apply this to our life today? What is the point of God laying out 5 different types of sacrifices? Why not just one type of sacrifice? What is the meaning of sacrifice 1-5, and what does this mean to the 21st century American church today? I know that Jesus is our Great High Priest and once and for all time sacrifice, but still, I’m not satisfied with the “because Jesus” answer and I feel like there’s more meaning to this passage and I’m not sure what that is.
Maybe applies to our confession prayer life? Any insight would be appreciated.
If you are unsatisfied with Jesus’ sacrifice is the fulfillment and finality of all required sacrifices then I am afraid you will need to keep pursuing whatever ends you are looking for. Christian orthodoxy is that Jesus is the fulfillment and final sacrifice required of humanity to pay for their sins. Rejoice in Him. You are free if indeed you remain in Him by faith.