Epistle of Barnabas 2

He Abolished Sacrifice to End the Yoke of Necessity

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Seeking the Lord’s Ordinances in Evil Days

2:1Since the days are evil and the one at work holds authority, we ought to attend to ourselves and seek out the Lord’s righteous ordinances.

2:2Fear and endurance are helpers of our faith; patience and self-control are our allies.

2:3When these remain pure in matters concerning the Lord, wisdom, understanding, learning and knowledge rejoice together with them.

Sacrifices God Does Not Need

2:4For through all the prophets He has shown us that He needs neither sacrifices nor whole burnt offerings nor offerings, saying on one occasion:

2:5“What is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?” says the Lord. “I am full of whole burnt offerings, and I do not desire the fat of lambs or the blood of bulls and goats, even if you come to appear before Me. For who required these things from your hands? You shall no longer tread My court. If you bring fine flour, it is futile. Incense is an abomination to Me. I cannot endure your new moons and sabbaths.”

2:6He therefore abolished these things so that the new law of our Lord Jesus Christ, being free from a yoke of compulsion, might have an offering not made by human hands.

2:7Again He says to them: “Did I command your fathers, when they came out of the land of Egypt, to bring Me whole burnt offerings and sacrifices?”

2:8But this is what I commanded them: “Let none of you harbor malice against your neighbor in your heart, and do not love a false oath.”

A Contrite Heart

2:9We therefore ought to perceive, without being uncomprehending, the kindly purpose of our Father when He speaks to us. He wishes us to seek how we may approach Him, without wandering astray as they did.

2:10Thus He speaks to us: “A sacrifice to the Lord is a crushed heart; a fragrant aroma to the Lord is a heart glorifying the One who formed it.” We must therefore take careful thought, brothers and sisters, for our salvation, so that the evil one may not gain an entrance for deception among us and fling us away from our life.

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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.