Question on Judaism?

Question

New to Judaism. If Ancient Jews were made acceptable to God through sacrafices done at the temple, how are todays Jews justified? Thank you!

Answer 1

Jews were never made acceptable through sacrifice at the Temple. They were made acceptable through doing "teshuvah". Recognition of the sin, owning it, repenting of it and living a new life without it. It means, "turning away (from the sin)".

HaShem is the author of the requirements of righteousness. They are not the same as Christianity. You EITHER do teshuvah or you rely on Jesus.

Christians say you have to rely on Jesus AND repent, but the Original Torah says righteousness is achieved through your effort to "get right" with G-D on His terms.

Sacrifices in the Temple were for many reasons. Some were sin sacrifices, as a penalty paid and a public acknowledgement that you had sinned and were coming to HaShem to reconcile with Him, according to His dictates. (an act of obedience after an act of disobedience--the sin).

Answer 2

The majority of the types of sacrifices offered had nothing to do with the remediation of sin, and those that did only atoned for some unintentional sins and then only after the individual had sincerely repented and resolved any other outstanding issue associated with it...such as paying restitution. And even then, sacrificing an animal was not always required, again depending on the individual.

Intentional sins could not be atoned for via the sacrifices but only through complete and sincere repentence. As complte and sincere repentence is the major element in gaining atonement, it becomes obvious that the sacrifice for the unintentional sin served a purpose greater than simply for atonement.

So, aside from the atonement aspects what is the greater purpose? The is concept that through repentence, one's sins can come to be considered as merits. This is where the sacrifices came in. The obligation for a sin sacrifice falls to an individual when the sin is committed, but can only be carried out after repentence. So all the merits gained in the repentence process, plus all the commandments (literally hundreds) that have to be fulfilled just to properly conduct the sacrifice come into existence only because of that one momentary slip-up. This attests to the greatness of God and his mercy towards his chosen people.

Therefore, when the Jews merit having the Temple and the sacrificial service, it enhances the greatness of God's name even due to sin. Without the Temple, Jews still have the process of repentence, called Teshuvah, which literally means 'to return'....something Jews, and all people, have had since the very beginning.

May it be that we merit to see the Holy Temple rebuilt, speedily in our days.

Answer 3

The Jews no longer sacrafice animals like they did in the past. I am not sure what method they use for atonement.

That is a very good question, you may want to talk to a Rabbi or do a google search on Jewish atonement, and I am sure you will get the answers that you are seeking.

Answer 4

This is really a discussion to have privatly because of the nature of the subject.

The simple answer is, is that they were never really made more acceptable to god because of the sacrifices but rather improved the world as a whole with them. Certain of the sacrifices were as a sin offering, which would be accompanied by repentance in the form of a true regret of the wrongdoing, a confession before god and god alone, and an acceptance on themselves not to do it in the future. The repentance took away the "stench" of the sin, but you were still left with the affect that it had on the world. This and really only this was taken care of by the sacrifices.

If you are still curious shoot me an email.

Answer 5

Through prayer, repentance, and fasting.

In the Bible only unintentional sins are covered by sacrifice. There were those who were too poor or lived to far away from the temple to sacrifice and that was fine. Since the temple was destroyed sacrifices are no longer used. A sacrifice doesn't mean anything if the person doesn't repent anyways.

Answer 6

Hi,
I actually have something I'd like you to consider - if you're up to it.

When you get the chance etc, find out why the Ancient Jews made sacrifices in the temples, and how beautifully sacred they were.

When you find that out, that 'covenant' was made complete with the last required sacrifice made on Golgotha (Mount Calvary) when Jesus died.

The Jews have been waiting for a Mesiah for centuries and many still do not see that their Messiah came and fulfilled the Abrahamic Covenant.

Sorry I couldn't actually answer your question. But I found your question an interesting one.

Answer 7

That is the point Ancient Jews were never made acceptable though sacrifices.

Rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy, and repenteth him of the evil" (Joel 2:13).

Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams" (I Samuel 15:22)

That is the point. Sacrifices never did anything without repentance. Sacrifices helped one repent because he gave something of himself, but that dose not mean without sacrifice a person cannot repent.

Answer 8

Since there is no longer a Temple, our sacrafice to G-d is prayer, fasting and performing mitzvot.

Answer 9

That was then. This is now. The idea that god needs a goat killed and burned is a little silly, isn't it?

We (most of us) realize that there is a lot of things in the Torah that do not apply today. At the temple that my family attends they are much more interesting in self-development and community service as ways to "justify yourself".

Answer 10

Good question, I pray that this is not too long of a response that you won't read it...Here it goes:

Jesus is the awaited messiah of Judaism.

When He came, He tore the veil that separated man from God and offered Himself as the FINAL sacrifice for ALL men. So apart from believing in Him, the Jews cannot be justified before God...no man can.

That was the point of the Law in the first place: To show man that he could not live up to God's standard for holiness. But God did not want His beloved creation to become discouraged, for there would be a day when He would make the final sacrifice for ALL men that would draw them to Himself:

"...not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” (Jeremiah 31:32-34)

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord for His mercy endures forever! He didn't want us living under a yoke that we couldn't bear. (Mt. 11:30)

That's why He sent His one and only son, so that whoever believed in Him would not perish, but have ever-lasting life! (John 3:16)

Please search out the Scriptures on this, He desires our hearts...not our sacrifice!

"For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings." (Hosea 6:6)

He wants you to know Him, not just perform "religious duties" in order to keep some tradition that you think will make you justified in His sight! Listen to what Jesus told the religious leaders of Israel about their so-called traditions:

"He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:

‘ This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.” He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition." (Mark 7:6-9)

Don't let your pursuit of some religious tradition keep you from truely knowing God. Please use the sources I've listed in your search for the Truth.


I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. AMEN.