Christian Claim:
Long ago – the Jewish religion taught that only the Chief Priests could approach the “Holy of Holies” and make supplication for people. That people could approach God only through the priests by bringing birds and animals to be offered as burnt sacrifices to appease God for the “sins” of people. By these means – the Jews obtained the “forgiveness of sins.”
Jesus repeatedly taught people that they would receive the forgiveness of sins from God according to the willingness of people to forgive others – because it would be done to them according to their own “sowing.” Jesus also taught people to approach God directly and pray in simple terms – asking for what they needed in life – and assured them that they would be heard and their prayers answered – providing they prayed with total faith – with no doubt in their minds.
Priests and Sacrifices
What you are parroting are talking points from the church and contain nothing but falsehoods according to the Tanach. I feel sorry for people who are so stuck in their own mindlessness and fear that they won’t even think about asking true questions and seeking for answers.
Yes, the Chief Priest was the only one who could enter the Holy of Holies on certain days and under very certain conditions. However, this is NOT where the sacrifices were made.
Also, are you really sure that one can go directly to the “father” without going through anyone else?
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6 – NKJV)
That really sounds like one CANNOT go directly to the “father” according to Christianity’s own book. This is the complete opposite to what is taught in Tanach.
No Sacrifice Needed
Nowhere in the Tanach does it say that individuals could not approach God without a priest interceding. There are tons and tons of examples throughout the Tanach of people praying and receiving forgiveness and assistance.
Here are just a few examples:
So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. (II Samuel 12:13 – NKJV)
David was forgiven without any sacrifice. He was forgiven because he confessed his sin and repented.
When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (II Chronicles 7:13-14 – NKJV)
Once again, there is no blood sacrifice needed for forgiveness of sin!
David even stated that God never desired offerings and did not require them.
Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require. (Psalm 40:6[7] – NKJV)
God only asks for Israel’s obedience to His covenant.
Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.” (Exodus 19:5-6 – NKJV)
Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices and eat meat. For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices. But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.’ (Jeremiah 7:21-23 – NKJV)
Also, it was not necessary to bring a blood sacrifice. One could also offer grain.
‘When anyone offers a grain offering to the Lord, his offering shall be of fine flour. And he shall pour oil on it, and put frankincense on it. He shall bring it to Aaron’s sons, the priests, one of whom shall take from it his handful of fine flour and oil with all the frankincense. And the priest shall burn it as a memorial on the altar, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord. (Leviticus 2:1-2 – NKJV)
The “sin offerings” were only for UNINTENTIONAL sin!
‘If anyone of the common people sins unintentionally by doing something against any of the commandments of the Lord in anything which ought not to be done, and is guilty, or if his sin which he has committed comes to his knowledge, then he shall bring as his offering a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has committed. (Leviticus 4:27-28 – NKJV)
Solomon even prophesied during the dedication of the Temple (through his prayer) that God would forgive His people even when there is no Temple and no sacrifice.
“When they sin against You (for there is no one who does not sin), and You become angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, and they take them captive to the land of the enemy, far or near; yet when they come to themselves in the land where they were carried captive, and repent, and make supplication to You in the land of those who took them captive, saying, ‘We have sinned and done wrong, we have committed wickedness’; and when they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies who led them away captive, and pray to You toward their land which You gave to their fathers, the city which You have chosen and the temple which I have built for Your name: then hear in heaven Your dwelling place their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause, and forgive Your people who have sinned against You, and all their transgressions which they have transgressed against You; and grant them compassion before those who took them captive, that they may have compassion on them…” (I Kings 8:46-50 – NKJV)
We can see this emphasized by Hosea.
Take words with you, And return to the Lord. Say to Him, “Take away all iniquity; Receive us graciously, For we will offer the sacrifices of our lips. (Hosea 14:2 – NKJV)