10 Reasons Why Jesus Isn’t An

Acceptable Sacrifice For Sins

Written by Dr. JosephG, retired physicist and practicing Jew residing in America.
 10 Reasons Why Jesus Isn’t An
Acceptable Sacrifice For Sins

Given that, at the time of Jesus’ death, the second

Temple was still standing in Jerusalem and the
Hebrew Bible was the Scripture in force, here are
some of the reasons why the death of Jesus on
the cross cannot be a valid sacrificial offering:
 10 Reasons Why Jesus Isn’t An
Acceptable Sacrifice For Sins
FIRST, the Hebrew Bible requires that the
sacrificial ritual be administered by a Priest (see
Leviticus Chapters 1-7). According to the accounts
in the New Testament, Jesus was crucified by
Roman soldiers (Mt 27:35; Mk 15:24; Lk 23:33; Jn
19:18, 23).

SECOND, the Hebrew Bible requires that the

blood of the sin sacrifice had to be sprinkled by the
Priest on the veil of the sanctuary and on the altar
in the Temple (Lev 4:5-6). There is no evidence in
the New Testament that this was done.
 10 Reasons Why Jesus Isn’t An
Acceptable Sacrifice For Sins
THIRD, the Hebrew Bible requires that the sin
sacrifice be without any physical defects or
blemishes (Lev 4:3). According to the accounts in
the New Testament, Jesus was beaten, whipped,
and dragged on the ground before being crucified
(Mt 26:67, 27:26, 30-31; Mk 14:65, 15:15-20; Lk
22:63; Jn 18:22, 19:1, 3). Moreover, as a Jew by
birth, Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day
after being born, a ritual that leaves a scar (sign of
the covenant). According to the NT, circumcision
is tantamount to mutilation (Phil 3:2, Gal 5:12).
 10 Reasons Why Jesus Isn’t An
Acceptable Sacrifice For Sins
FORTH, the Hebrew Bible requires that the
Passover sin sacrifice, a male-goat, be offered on
an individual (per household) basis (Num 28:22),
not as a communal offering. According to the New
Testament, Jesus’ death (termed a sin sacrifice)
expiated the sins of mankind (Ro 6:10; He 9:12,
10:10, 10:18).

FIFTH, the Hebrew Bible directs that the Paschal

Lamb wasn’t to be offered for the removal of sins-
it was a commemorative/festive offering. A more
appropriate time for a sin offering would have been
Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement; Num 29:11
 10 Reasons Why Jesus Isn’t An
Acceptable Sacrifice For Sins
[individual sin-offering – male goat]; Lev 16:15
[communal sin-offering – male goat]).

SIXTH, the Hebrew Bible requires that the

sacrificed Paschal Lamb had to be roasted and
eaten, and its blood used to place markings on the
side-posts and lintel of the doors (Exod 12:7-8).
There is no record in the New Testament that this
was, in fact, done (lest it be suggested that
Christianity promotes cannibalism).
 10 Reasons Why Jesus Isn’t An
Acceptable Sacrifice For Sins
SEVENTH, the Hebrew Bible states that the
sacrificial sin offering could only atone for
unintentional sins, with few notable exceptions as
stated in Lev 5:1-6, 20-26 [Lev 6:1-7 in Christian
Bibles] (Num 15:27-31).

EIGHTH, the Hebrew Bible teaches that sacrifices

can atone only for sins committed prior to the
offering of the sacrifice; no sacrifice could ever
atone for sins committed after the sacrifice was
offered and, thus, no sacrifice could ever atone for
people born after the sacrifice was offered
 10 Reasons Why Jesus Isn’t An
Acceptable Sacrifice For Sins
(Leviticus 1-7). So, even if it were true that Jesus
was some kind of super-sacrifice that atoned for all
sins of all mankind, then his death could only
atone for the sins committed before his death, not
for any sins committed after his death by people
who were born after he died.

NINTH, the Hebrew Bible strictly forbids human

vicarious atonement (Exod 32:31-33; Num 35:33;
Deut 24:16; 2 Kgs 14:6; Jer 31:29 [30 in Christian
Bibles]; Ezek 18:4, 20; Ps 49:7).
 10 Reasons Why Jesus Isn’t An
Acceptable Sacrifice For Sins
TENTH, the Hebrew Bible strictly prohibits human
sacrifices (Lev 18:21, 24-25; Deut 18:10; Jer 7:31,
19:5; Ezek 23:37, 39).

It is simply astonishing that so many people

believe what their preachers “feed” them, as well
as how the New Testament writings contradict the
teachings of the Hebrew Bible.
 Examination Of These 10 Reasons

FIRST, the Hebrew Bible requires that the sacrificial ritual be administered by a Priest
(see Leviticus Chapters 1-7). According to the accounts in the New Testament, Jesus
was crucified by Roman soldiers (Mt 27:35; Mk 15:24; Lk 23:33; Jn 19:18, 23).

Matthew 27:1-2 – the high priest handed Jesus

over to be crucified.

Psalm 110:4 – Jesus is a high priest.

John 10:17-18 – Jesus lays down His life, no one

takes it.
 Examination Of These 10 Reasons

SECOND, the Hebrew Bible requires that the blood of the sin sacrifice had to be
sprinkled by the Priest on the veil of the sanctuary and on the altar in the Temple (Lev
4:5-6). There is no evidence in the New Testament that this was done.

Hebrews 9:23-24 – Jesus entered the heavenly

temple to fulfill the blood sprinkling for the sin
sacrifice in that temple.

Hebrew 10:20-22 – Jesus sprinkled our hearts

since we are temples of God (1 Cor. 6:19).
 Examination Of These 10 Reasons
THIRD, the Hebrew Bible requires that the sin sacrifice be without any physical defects or
blemishes (Lev 4:3). According to the accounts in the New Testament, Jesus was
beaten, whipped, and dragged on the ground before being crucified (Mt 26:67, 27:26, 30-
31; Mk 14:65, 15:15-20; Lk 22:63; Jn 18:22, 19:1, 3). Moreover, as a Jew by birth, Jesus
was circumcised on the eighth day after being born, a ritual that leaves a scar (sign of the
covenant). According to the NT, circumcision is tantamount to mutilation (Phil 3:2, Gal
5:12).

Hebrews 9:14 – Jesus was unblemished until His

slaughter began. (Isaiah 53:7 – led like lamb to the
slaughter) In the same way a bull is only
unblemished until they begin the slaughter.
Romans 4:11 – Circumcision is a seal of
righteousness, not a blemish.
John 7:21-24 – Jesus explained that circumcision
is special in not breaking the Law.
 Examination Of These 10 Reasons

FORTH, the Hebrew Bible requires that the Passover sin sacrifice, a male-goat, be
offered on an individual (per household) basis (Num 28:22), not as a communal offering.
According to the New Testament, Jesus’ death (termed a sin sacrifice) expiated the sins
of mankind (Ro 6:10; He 9:12, 10:10, 10:18).

Leviticus 4:13-18 – Jesus fulfills the communal sin

offering as well as the Passover sin offering, and in
fact every sin offering.

Isaiah 53:12 – Old Testament explains that the

Messiah takes upon Himself the sins of many.
 Examination Of These 10 Reasons

FIFTH, the Hebrew Bible directs that the Paschal Lamb wasn’t to be offered for the
removal of sins- it was a commemorative/festive offering. A more appropriate time for a
sin offering would have been Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement; Num 29:11 [individual
sin-offering – male goat]; Lev 16:15 [communal sin-offering – male goat]).

Numbers 28:22 – Male goat as part of Passover

for removal of sins.

Exodus 12:12-13 – Passover for escaping

judgment and wrath (John 3:36, Romans 5:9).

Leviticus 4:1-3 – No time constraint on when a sin

offering should be.
 Examination Of These 10 Reasons

SIXTH, the Hebrew Bible requires that the sacrificed Paschal Lamb had to be roasted
and eaten, and its blood used to place markings on the side-posts and lintel of the doors
(Exod 12:7-8). There is no record in the New Testament that this was, in fact, done (lest it
be suggested that Christianity promotes cannibalism).

1 Corinthians 5:7 – Jesus is the Passover Lamb.

The placing of blood isn’t significant; rather the
purpose for it (Exo. 12:13).

John 6:51-57 – Jesus’ flesh and blood completely

fulfill the Passover requirements

Luke 22:19-20 – Just as the Passover is

commemorated, so Jesus’ sacrifice is also.
 Examination Of These 10 Reasons

SEVENTH, the Hebrew Bible states that the sacrificial sin offering could only atone for
unintentional sins, with few notable exceptions as stated in Lev 5:1-6, 20-26 [Lev 6:1-7 in
Christian Bibles] (Num 15:27-31).

Hebrews 10:26-29 – The author is absolutely right

and Christians should remember this.

1 John 1:7-9 – There’s grace from Jesus’ sacrifice

that pays the price for ALL sins.
 Examination Of These 10 Reasons

EIGHTH, the Hebrew Bible teaches that sacrifices can atone only for sins committed prior
to the offering of the sacrifice; no sacrifice could ever atone for sins committed after the
sacrifice was offered and, thus, no sacrifice could ever atone for people born after the
sacrifice was offered (Leviticus 1-7). So, even if it were true that Jesus was some kind of
super-sacrifice that atoned for all sins of all mankind, then his death could only atone for
the sins committed before his death, not for any sins committed after his death by people
who were born after he died.

Hebrews 9:25-28 – His one sacrifice is enough to

fulfill the yearly atonement required.

Hebrews 4:15-16 – Jesus remains High Priest

forever, so we can always come to Him at His
throne to ask for grace (Psalm 110:4).
 Examination Of These 10 Reasons

NINTH, the Hebrew Bible strictly forbids human vicarious atonement (Exod 32:31-33 the
one who sins deserves to die; Num 35:33 if you shed blood, your blood will be shed; Deut
24:16 fathers don’t die for kids, kids don’t die for fathers, each dies for own sin; 2 Kgs
14:6 same as Deut. verse; Jer 31:29 [30 in Christian Bibles] everyone dies for own sin;
Ezek 18:4, 20 everyone dies for own sin; Ps 49:7 No man can redeem the life of another
or give to God a ransom for him).

Colossians 2:9 – Psalm 49:7 is true, man can’t

save himself or others. But Jesus, being God, can
save us. (Isaiah 1:18, 43:25, 59:16 – God works
out salvation).

Isaiah 53:12 – The Old Testament doesn’t forbid

human vicarious atonement. Jesus’ sacrifice was
able to bring salvation to all (Isaiah 49:6).
 Examination Of These 10 Reasons

TENTH, the Hebrew Bible strictly prohibits human sacrifices (Lev 18:21, 24-25 don’t
sacrifice children to molech; Deut 18:10 don’t sacrifice children to molech by fire; Jer
7:31, 19:5 sacrifice of children by fire wasn’t something God commanded, nor did it enter
His mind; Ezek 23:37, 39 they sacrificed children to idols and desecrated His house).

Judges 11:29-39 – Radical story (read through).

Genesis 22:2 – God told Abraham to sacrifice

Isaac.

Isaiah 53 – We’ve already seen that the Messiah

would take the sins of many upon Himself.
 Examination Of These 10 Reasons

It is simply astonishing that so many people believe what their preachers “feed” them, as
well as how the New Testament writings contradict the teachings of the Hebrew Bible.

1 Thessalonians 5:21 – Test everything, hold on to

the good.

Proverbs 30:5 – Every word of God is flawless;

there are no Bible contradictions (Hebrews 4:12, 2
Timothy 3:16).