The Atonement and Sacrifice, Part 2

2. Sin sacrifices
Hebrews 7:26-28 alludes to sin sacrifices—“ For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.”

This passage is not actually about the sacrifices themselves, but the distinction between levitical priests and Jesus. Jesus didn’t have to offer a sacrifice for himself, because He was already innocent. Instead, Jesus offered up himself. There is an implication that the sin offering was inadequate, but Jesus’ was complete, but this isn’t saying that Jesus’ death is LIKE the sin offerings, but rather UNLIKE them.

3. The Day of Atonement
In Hebrews 9, Jesus’ death is compared to the high priest’s sacrifice, specifically on the day of atonement, which is only offered once a year. The main point being made is that Jesus is greater than the high priest because the high priest is in God’s presence only once a year, while Jesus, after one offering, is eternally in God’s presence. The point is his greatness compared to the high priest.