Merely a Pointer to Christ?
Merely a Pointer to Christ?
In computer programming, a pointer does nothing by itself, but merely points to the actual, real thing of interest. We often hear that the Levitical system of sacrifices, which included both animal and grain sacrifices, was merely meant to teach us something, that it was a mere pointer to Christ. Is that what thousands of years of animal death at the hands of priests was really all about? Nothing in itself, but merely pointing us to the real, actual thing of interest, that being Christ and His sacrifice?
We should note first of all that this does not even make sense under its own terms, because if animal and grain sacrifices achieved nothing, in what way could they teach us anything? What would be the lesson, actually? That Christ’s sacrifice achieved nothing also??
So, some say that the Levitical sacrifices were merely an instructional device to “point us” toward Christ, and that the blood of sacrifices can never result in forgiveness of sins, but God’s Word contradicts them. Not only is forgiveness of sins the result of Levitical sacrifices, but the blood thereof also purges the Temple of sin or impurity, and this will be in the future.
Leviticus 4:20 And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them.
Leviticus 4:26 And he shall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him.
Leviticus 4:31 And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat is taken away from off the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour unto Yahweh; and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him.
Leviticus 4:35 And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat of the lamb is taken away from the sacrifice of the peace offerings; and the priest shall burn them upon the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto Yahweh: and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath committed, and it shall be forgiven him.
Leviticus 5:10 And he shall offer the second for a burnt offering, according to the manner: and the priest shall make an atonement for him for his sin which he hath sinned, and it shall be forgiven him.
Leviticus 5:13 And the priest shall make an atonement for him as touching his sin that he hath sinned in one of these, and it shall be forgiven him: and the remnant shall be the priest’s, as a meat offering.
Leviticus 5:16 And he shall make amends for the harm that he hath done in the holy thing, and shall add the fifth part thereto, and give it unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and it shall be forgiven him.
Leviticus 5:18 And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his ignorance wherein he erred and wist it not, and it shall be forgiven him.
Leviticus 6:7 And the priest shall make an atonement for him before Yahweh: and it shall be forgiven him for any thing of all that he hath done in trespassing therein.
Leviticus 19:22 And the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering before Yahweh for his sin which he hath done: and the sin which he hath done shall be forgiven him.
Numbers 15:25-28 And the priest shall make an atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and it shall be forgiven them; for it is ignorance: and they shall bring their offering, a sacrifice made by fire unto Yahweh, and their sin offering before Yahweh, for their ignorance: And it shall be forgiven all the congregation of the children of Israel, and the stranger that sojourneth among them; seeing all the people were in ignorance. And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering. And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before Yahweh, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him.
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