The Altar
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Introduction
Introduction
The altar was the place for presenting sacrifices to God. It was the place where bulls, goats, lambs, and other animals gave their lives for the sins of their presenters. It was a place of death, but also the pathway to life.
The price for sin is death, and God would ultimately send his Son, Jesus, to pay that price on our behalf as he was sacrificed on the cross.
People in the OT, however, looked forward to the sacrifice of Jesus, the true Lamb of God, by offering the animal sacrifices God commanded in his law. As says...
For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
reiterates the truth of ...
And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
Now, someone may ask, “If these animal sacrifices were ineffective; if they could never take away sins, then why were they commanded?” The answer is in , which we’ve already read...
The answer is in , which we’ve already read...
But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.
These repetitive, ineffective animal sacrifices were commanded by God in his law as a reminder to his people that they were sinners, that the price for sin is death, so their sin required a sacrifice.
That’s why brings us to the sacrifice of Jesus, saying...
But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
The sacrifice of Jesus was the perfect sacrifice because Jesus was perfect. He was without blemish or spot. He never sinned. Therefore, he qualified as the once-for-all sacrifice for sin.
On the cross, Jesus died so that through faith in him as the sacrifice for our sin, we could live. Just as he was raised from the dead on the third day, so through faith in him we are raised from ‘dead in sin’ to 'new life with God.’ No further sacrifice is needed. In , God says...
then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
The once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus having been made on the cross, we should not expect to one day be making the sacrifices mentioned here in .
Rather we should praise God that the perfect sacrifice has already been made! As Matthew Henry wrote on this passage...
“…Christ is both our Altar and our Sacrifice, to whom we must look with faith in all approaches to God...”
And that’s what we want to see tonight, how this passage points us to Jesus as altar and sacrifice.
[CONTEXT] Before it was destroyed by the Babylonians, the altar in Solomon’s temple was made a place for the worship of idols.
As Ezekiel was given a tour of Judah’s sinfulness in the temple, he says in ....
And he brought me into the inner court of the house of the Lord. And behold, at the entrance of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men, with their backs to the temple of the Lord, and their faces toward the east, worshiping the sun toward the east.
Because of such idolatry, Jerusalem was sacked, the temple was destroyed, and the people were exiled to Babylon.
But had not left his people without hope. Through Ezekiel he told a day when his people would be restored to the Promised Land and a new temple would be built.
The plans for that new temple and the renewed worship of God’s people are revealed in Ezekiel 40-48.
[CIT] tells us about the measurements and ordinances for the altar in Ezekiel’s temple vision.
[PROP] As we’ll see, all this points us to Christ who is our altar, our atonement, our acceptance with God.
[INTER]
[TS] That will serve as our outline tonight.
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Now, there are some who say that the temple which Ezekiel sees in Ezekiel 40ff is a literal temple that will be built and used during the 1,000 year reign of Jesus once he returns. They may be right.
There is enough detail in to make us think that these are literal blueprints for the construction of a huge, glorious temple and everything in it.
If that’s the case, then the offerings commanded in our passage tonight would commemorate Jesus’ atoning work on the cross rather than literally atone for sins.
not be to literally atone for sin but to symbolically remind us of God’s grace, which has covered our sin through the sacrifice of Jesus.
However, I am not entirely comfortable with that interpretation because their is no mention of these sacrifices as commemorative or memorial offerings in this passage.
Furthermore, there is no mention of a temple during the 1,000 year reign of Jesus in , which is the only passage to specifically mention a “1,000 year” reign of Jesus.
And, what bothers me most about the 1,000 year (i.e., millennial) temple interpretation, is that says...
Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
Thus, there is no longer any literal offering for sin because Jesus the once-for-all sacrifice has been offered.
And there is no longer any commemorative or memorial offering for sin.
And there is no longer any memorial offering for sin.
I agree with Matthew Henry who said...
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That’s what every sacrifice on every altar every commanded by God was looking forward to... except the sacrifices commanded by God on this altar in .
These sacrifices don’t look forward to Jesus’ sacrifice. Rather, they look back upon it.
The lowest point of Israel’s sin in the old temple was at the altar.
And he brought me into the inner court of the house of the Lord. And behold, at the entrance of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men, with their backs to the temple of the Lord, and their faces toward the east, worshiping the sun toward the east.
Major Ideas
Major Ideas
#1: The Altar ().
#1: The Altar ().
“These are the measurements of the altar by cubits (the cubit being a cubit and a handbreadth): its base shall be one cubit high and one cubit broad, with a rim of one span around its edge. And this shall be the height of the altar: from the base on the ground to the lower ledge, two cubits, with a breadth of one cubit; and from the smaller ledge to the larger ledge, four cubits, with a breadth of one cubit; and the altar hearth, four cubits; and from the altar hearth projecting upward, four horns. The altar hearth shall be square, twelve cubits long by twelve broad. The ledge also shall be square, fourteen cubits long by fourteen broad, with a rim around it half a cubit broad, and its base one cubit all around. The steps of the altar shall face east.”
[Exp] As you can tell from the graphic I’ve provided you, this altar was big. Not as big as the altar, which had been destroyed along with Solomon’s temple, but big nonetheless. The hearth was to be 21 feet x 21 feet, which is only one foot more than the largest standard size for a boxing ring inside the ropes.
There are many other details here regarding this big, ornate altar but two that I want to mention specifically.
One is the four horns that project upward from the hearth. The strength of an animal was thought to be in its horns, and perhaps these horns symbolized the strength of the altar. God’s people could be forgiven not based on their own strength, but based on the strength of the sacrifices made on the altar.
A more practical purpose for the horns is that sacrifices would be tied to them. says...
The Lord is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us. Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar!
The other detail I want you to notice is the direction of the steps. As it says at the end of v. 17, “The altar’s steps face east.” This meant that as the priests went up to make sacrifices they would always be facing the Lord in his sanctuary. It’s was a reminder that the sacrifice was made to God because it was his wrath that had to be satisfied.
[App] Now, this points to Christ in so many ways.
One, he is the altar and the one bound to the horns of the altar; the one who has won for us everlasting forgiveness based on the strength of his sacrifice. His death satisfied the wrath of God that was due to us because of our sins.
speaks of Jesus as our altar. The priests in the temple got to eat from many of the sacrifices they made on behalf of the people. But speaks of Jesus when it says of believers...
We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat.
That is, those who don’t trust in the sacrifice of Jesus have no benefit from his sacrifice. They cannot eat from the altar of Christ’s sacrifice.
And then a bit later says...
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
Hebrews 13:15
So we see that Jesus is at once the sacrifice by which we are forgiven and the altar upon which all our sacrifices to God are now made.
So we see that Jesus is at once the sacrifice by which we are forgiven and the altar upon which all our sacrifices to God are made.
We do not make sacrifices of animals, but we do make sacrifices of praise, testimony, doing good, and sharing what we have as says.
There are many sacrifices such as these that Christians are called to make, but none of those sacrifices will be accepted by God unless they are laid upon the altar of Jesus’ sacrifice upon the cross.
All our praise, doing good, and sharing must flow from our own experience of the cross of Christ, it must point others toward their own experience of faith in Jesus’ sacrifice as well.
That’s what it means to have Christ as our altar.
[TS] >
#2: The Atonement ().
#2: The Atonement ().
And he said to me, “Son of man, thus says the Lord God: These are the ordinances for the altar: On the day when it is erected for offering burnt offerings upon it and for throwing blood against it, you shall give to the Levitical priests of the family of Zadok, who draw near to me to minister to me, declares the Lord God, a bull from the herd for a sin offering. And you shall take some of its blood and put it on the four horns of the altar and on the four corners of the ledge and upon the rim all around. Thus you shall purify the altar and make atonement for it. You shall also take the bull of the sin offering, and it shall be burned in the appointed place belonging to the temple, outside the sacred area. And on the second day you shall offer a male goat without blemish for a sin offering; and the altar shall be purified, as it was purified with the bull. When you have finished purifying it, you shall offer a bull from the herd without blemish and a ram from the flock without blemish. You shall present them before the Lord, and the priests shall sprinkle salt on them and offer them up as a burnt offering to the Lord. For seven days you shall provide daily a male goat for a sin offering; also, a bull from the herd and a ram from the flock, without blemish, shall be provided. Seven days shall they make atonement for the altar and cleanse it, and so consecrate it.
[Exp] The family of Zadok was a Levitical family, (i.e., a family of priests). Zadok was faithful to King David and King Solomon so Zadok’s sons are depicted here as serving as priests in the future temple of God’s people.
The first thing they were to do is purify, make atonement for, cleanse, and consecrate the altar in the new temple.
This was done through a series of sacrifices that took place over the course of seven days. There were burnt offerings, which represented total dedication to God, and sin offerings, which sought forgiveness from God. Seven being a number representing perfection in Jewish thought, the cleansing of the altar for seven days meant that it was perfectly cleansed and ready for use.
But notice too the salt in v. 24...
You shall present them before the Lord, and the priests shall sprinkle salt on them and offer them up as a burnt offering to the Lord.
Salt was a sign of the permanence of God’s covenant with his people. Thus, he told his people in ...
You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. You shall not let the salt of the covenant with your God be missing from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt.
God’s covenant with his people was an everlasting covenant.
[App] Now, again, all this points to Christ in many ways.
[App] Christ the Atonement
One, Christ our altar, having never sinned had no need to be purified, cleansed, atoned for, or consecrated. He was, is, and always will be perfect.
Two, even though Jesus became sin in our place upon the cross, he died to sin and was raised in righteousness. So any sacrifice of praise or good works that we lay upon him is laid upon the only altar that is fit for use.
Three, the everlasting or eternal covenant is the covenant in Christ who was crucified and resurrected. And this eternal covenant is not represented by literal salt but being the salt of the earth, the light of the world, letting our light shine before others that they may see our good works and give glory to our Father who is in heaven (, ).
brings together these ideas of “eternal covenant” and “good works.” It says...
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Christ is our atonement with God and through him we can offer good works to God that demonstrate to the world that we are in everlasting covenant with him.
[TS] Christ our altar; Christ our atonement; and now Christ our acceptance with God.
#3: The Acceptance ().
#3: The Acceptance ().
And when they have completed these days, then from the eighth day onward the priests shall offer on the altar your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, and I will accept you, declares the Lord God.”
[Exp] What a great promise this was for God’s people cutoff from the Promised Land, cutoff from Jerusalem, cutoff from the temple. One day in a new temple on a new altar, burnt offerings and peace offerings would be made and God would accept them!
Their sins would be atoned for. They would be wholly dedicated and reconciled to God through renewed burnt offerings and peace offerings.
For those in exile, that day couldn’t get their fast enough.
On Zadok
MacArthur Study Bible NASB Commentary
40:46 sons of Zadok. Proper names tie the vision to historical reality, calling for literal interpretation. This Levitical family descended from Levi, Aaron, Eleazar, and Phinehas (1Ch 6:3–8). In accord with God’s covenant with Phinehas (Nu 25:10–13), and because of Eli’s unfaithfulness (cf. 1Sa 1, 2) and Zadok’s faithfulness to David and Solomon (1Ki 1:32–40), Zadok’s sons serve as priests in the millennial temple. Other references to sons of Zadok are in 43:19; 44:15 and 48:11.
[App] But that day only came when Christ came.
MacArthur Study Bible NASB Commentary
44:10 Levites … shall bear the punishment for their iniquity. God makes distinctions. Levites in the line of those unfaithful in days before the judgment can minister in temple services but they cannot make offerings or enter the Most Holy Place (vv. 11–14). Only Zadok’s line can fulfill these ministries (vv. 15, 16). The reason for this is the value which God attaches to the faithfulness of Zadok in the past (1Sa 2:35; 2Sa 15:24ff.; 1Ki 1:32–40; 2:26–35). See note on 40:46.
He was the ultimate burnt offering for only he was sinless, wholly dedicated to God.
On Salt
You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. You shall not let the salt of the covenant with your God be missing from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt.
Leviticus 2:13
He was the ultimate peace offering for only he was perfectly at peace with God.
MacArthur Study Bible NASB Commentary
2:13 the salt of the covenant. This was included in all of the offerings in 2:4–10, 14–16 since salt was emblematic of permanence or loyalty to the covenant.
It is only through faith in Jesus’ ultimate atoning sacrifice that our sins are forgiven, we find peace with God, and he accepts us not as we are, but as Christ is - perfect!
[TS] >
A standard boxing ring is between 16-20 feet between the ropes with another 2 feet serving as ledge outside the ropes.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Conclusion
Have you come to God through faith in Christ? Have your sins been atoned for by his righteous blood poured out on the cross? Has God accepted you as you’ve trust Christ?
Are you offering your praises and good works on the altar of Christ? Are your praises and good works aimed at the glory of Christ and the good of others as they trust in him?
The only way to have everyone of these question answered with a resounding “yes,” is to have Christ as our altar, our atonement, and our acceptance.