What was the purpose of animal sacrifices in the Old Testament?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Bible teaches that the purpose of animal sacrifices in the Old Testament was to serve as a temporary atonement for sins, covering sin through the shedding of blood (Leviticus 17:11). They highlighted the seriousness of sin and the need for a perfect substitute to make atonement, pointing toward Christ's sacrificial death on the cross, which fulfilled and surpassed the temporary nature of the Old Testament system (Hebrews 9:22)​. Through Christ's ultimate sacrifice, the need for animal sacrifices was fulfilled. They are no longer required because Jesus provided a perfect and complete atonement, unlike the repeated sacrifices of the Old Testament, which were insufficient to fully cleanse sin (Hebrews 7:27; Hebrews 8:6–7). Hebrews 9:12–14 emphasizes the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ, which offers forgiveness and freedom from sin's guilt and shame, making animal sacrifices obsolete. Ultimately, the purposes of the animal sacrifices in the Old Testament were a foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, who would provide complete and eternal atonement for sin (Hebrews 10:1–10). ​Today, all who believe in Christ’s death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins can experience the full impact of a fulfilled atonement. We can stand before God with confidence, fully forgiven and free from the guilt and shame of sin (Hebrews 9:12–14).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The first animal sacrifice was made by God when He clothed Adam and Eve with garments of skins in Genesis 3:21, foreshadowing the ultimate atonement through Christ's sacrifice to cover our sin and shame.
• In Genesis 4, Abel's offering of an animal was acceptable to God, pointing to the necessity of a blood offering as a symbol of faith and the future atonement through Jesus.
• Both Noah (Genesis 8:20) and Abraham (Genesis 22:13) offered animal sacrifices to the Lord prior to the Law of Moses, demonstrating the importance of blood sacrifices in seeking favor and forgiveness from God, pointing to Christ's ultimate sacrifice.
• In the time of Moses, the sacrifice of a spotless Passover lamb was required on the night that God sent death upon the firstborn males of Egypt (Exodus 12:5–13). Those who obeyed were spared from this plague and were freed from slavery, foreshadowing how Christ, our Passover Lamb, spares us from death and frees us from the slavery of sin (1 Corinthians 5:7).
• The Mosaic Law was developed during the 40 years in the wilderness and included the Passover (Exodus 12:14–27) as well as many other animal sacrifices (Leviticus 1–7), emphasizing the need for atonement through the shedding of blood.
• The instructions for the sacrifices included many details to ensure that only an acceptable animal was sacrificed at an acceptable location in an acceptable method, typically through a priest in the presence of the Lord (Leviticus 17:1–9), symbolizing the perfection and holiness required in approaching God.
• Leviticus 17:11 emphasizes the significance of blood by stating, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.” Blood represents life and is uniquely designated by God as the means for atoning for sin, illustrating its redemptive role in the covenant relationship with Him​.
• The sacrificial system was meant to be a temporary measure to address sin, as implied in several passages that highlight its inability to permanently address the problem of sin (Psalm 40:6–8; 1 Samuel 15:22). Hosea 6:6 also emphasizes that God values steadfast love and knowledge of Him over burnt offerings, showing that the sacrificial system was insufficient to restore our relationship with God. These passages point toward the ultimate fulfillment of atonement through Christ.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The regulations of the sacrificial system in the Mosaic Law were so specific because of what the sacrificial system foreshadowed—the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus (Hebrews 10:1–10), who was completely without sin (1 Peter 2:22) and through whom we are able to be made pure before God (2 Corinthians 5:21).
• Hebrews 9:22 explains the importance of blood: "Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins." Blood is vital in biblical teachings because it represents life itself, as stated in Leviticus 17:11, where God explains that "the life of the flesh is in the blood." This symbolism underpins the sacrificial system, where the shedding of blood signifies the giving of life to atone for sin. In a spiritual context, blood represents life and redemption; Jesus's blood, shed on the cross, fulfilled the ultimate atonement, replacing the temporary sacrifices of the Old Testament with a perfect and eternal solution for sin (Hebrews 9:22; Hebrews 10:4)​
• Jesus fulfilled the Law (Matthew 5:17), making the previous practice of animal sacrifice obsolete. Though the Law is considered good, salvation is only through Jesus Christ (John 3:16; Acts 4:12). No actions or sacrifices made by humans can provide salvation; what matters is faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8–9).
• John the Baptist made the connection between Jesus and the sacrificial system when God revealed Jesus as the Messiah to him. He said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29).
• Jesus is the ultimate sacrificial lamb. Second Corinthians 5:21 adds, "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
• Hebrews 7:27 helps to explain why sacrifices are no longer necessary today: "He [Jesus] has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself." Jesus paid the price and was the one-time substitute for our sins. There is no longer a need to seek atonement or forgiveness through another method.
• Hebrews 8:6–7 points out that the system of animal sacrifice was incomplete, as it required repeated sacrifices. Instead, "Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second." Animal sacrifices provided a picture and temporary covering for what Jesus accomplished on the cross.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Through Christ’s sacrifice, we are not just covered but can experience true forgiveness that frees us from the guilt and shame of sin. Unlike the temporary atonement of the Old Testament sacrifices, which only symbolically addressed sin, Jesus's sacrifice on the cross offers complete and lasting redemption. This means we can stand before God with confidence, knowing that we are fully forgiven and freed from the burden of our past mistakes (Hebrews 9:12–14). The power of His blood cleanses us completely and allows us to live without the weight of guilt, empowered by the Holy Spirit to live a transformed life in Him. All who believe in Him for the forgiveness of sins can experience this life and forgiveness.

UNDERSTAND

• Animal sacrifices provided a temporary atonement for sins through the shedding of blood.
• The animal sacrifices were insufficient for complete cleansing of sin, as seen in their need to be repeatedly made.
• Jesus's death offered a complete atonement, making animal sacrifices obsolete.

REFLECT

• How does understanding the temporary nature of animal sacrifices highlight the need for a perfect atonement through Christ in your own life?
• When you struggle with guilt and shame over past sins, how can you apply the truth of Christ’s complete atonement in those areas?
• How does the truth of standing before God with confidence, fully forgiven, influence your view of worship and relationship with God today?

ENGAGE

• What symbolism is found and understood in God using blood to provide the means of atonement?
• How did the temporary animal sacrifices serve as a foreshadowing of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice, and how does this help us understand the continuity between the Old and New Testaments?
• In the millennial kingdom, sacrifices are reinstated (Ezekiel 43–46), likely as symbolic reminders of Christ's ultimate sacrifice. The reinstatement of sacrifices in the millennial kingdom reflects a remembrance practice for the nations, reminding the people of the consequences of sin and pointing toward the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ as the final atonement (Ezekiel 45:15–17; Isaiah 56:6–7), especially for those who are born during the millennial kingdom and are not yet saved. How can we understand this reinstatement in light of Christ's final sacrifice, especially in light of the purposes they could serve?