In the context of biblical theology, the concept of pardon refers to the forgiveness of sins and the restoration of a right relationship with God. The Old Testament law prescribed a system of sacrifices as a means for the Israelites to atone for their sins. However, these legal sacrifices were ultimately ineffectual in providing true and lasting pardon.

The sacrificial system, as outlined in the Mosaic Law, included offerings such as burnt offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings. These were intended to cover the sins of the people and maintain their covenant relationship with God. Leviticus 17:11 states, "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul." This verse underscores the importance of blood in the sacrificial system as a means of atonement.

Despite the centrality of sacrifices in the Old Testament, the prophets and other biblical writers recognized their limitations. In Psalm 51:16-17 , David declares, "For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You take no pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise." Here, the emphasis is placed on the internal condition of the heart rather than the external act of sacrifice.

The prophet Isaiah also speaks to the inadequacy of sacrifices in Isaiah 1:11 : "What is your multitude of sacrifices to Me? says the LORD. I am full of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I have no delight in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats." This passage highlights God's desire for genuine repentance and righteousness over ritualistic offerings.

The New Testament further clarifies the ineffectual nature of legal sacrifices in providing true pardon. Hebrews 10:1-4 states, "The law is only a shadow of the good things to come, not the realities themselves. It can never, by the same sacrifices offered year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. Instead, those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins."

The author of Hebrews points to the insufficiency of the sacrificial system, which served as a temporary measure and a foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice to come. The sacrifices were a reminder of sin rather than a complete removal of it. They could not cleanse the conscience or provide lasting forgiveness.

The ultimate fulfillment of the sacrificial system is found in Jesus Christ, whose once-for-all sacrifice on the cross provides true and complete pardon for sin. Hebrews 10:10 affirms, "And by that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Christ's sacrifice is the perfect and final atonement, rendering the old system obsolete and providing believers with full assurance of pardon and reconciliation with God.

In summary, while the legal sacrifices of the Old Testament were instituted by God as a means of atonement, they were ultimately ineffectual in providing true pardon. They pointed forward to the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who alone can cleanse from sin and restore a right relationship with God.Hebrews 10:4
For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Difference Between the Two Testaments.
... may see in what respect the legal is compared ... of confirming the covenant comprehended
under ceremonies and sacrifices. ... them to do good, and pardon imparted as ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 11 the difference between.htm

Useful Phrases
... expiatory sacrifices. explicit injunction. ... implored pardon. imponderable air. ... leering
smile. legal perspicacity [perspicacity = perceptive, discerning]. ...
/.../kleiser/fifteen thousand useful phrases/section i useful phrases.htm

Penitence, as Explained in the Sophistical Jargon of the Schoolmen ...
... the efficacy of Christ's death, and the sacrifices under the ... when Christ declares
that he left the legal right of ... lest he should doubt of the pardon, which, by ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 4 penitence as explained.htm

Latitudinarian Churchmanship.
... contemporary, Chillingworth, who said that 'To ask pardon of simple ... the Atonement
with a kind of legal, or even ... from the multitude of their own sacrifices.'[254 ...
/.../chapter iv latitudinarian churchmanship.htm

The Jerusalem Sinner Saved;
... Come; pardon, and a part in heaven and glory ... God's house, God's high-priest, God's
sacrifices accepted, and ... sister to good, and all proved ineffectual, at last ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the jerusalem sinner saved.htm

Beginning at Jerusalem. --Luke xxiv. 47.
... God's house, God's high-priest, God's sacrifices accepted, and ... sister to good, and
all proved ineffectual, at last ... in any circumstance, I beg pardon of those ...
/.../bunyan/jerusalem sinner saved/beginning at jerusalem luke xxiv 47.htm

The Work of Jesus Christ as an Advocate,
... If one wait till things come to a legal issue.-Quest ... against them; with one that
pleads for pardon, while Satan ... that is always mixed with those sacrifices in the ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the work of jesus christ.htm

Footnotes
... he did not hesitate to explain he did not mean thereby a legal impugning of ... after
the Restoration, "Gillespie had made great efforts for a pardon, and offered ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/footnotes.htm

Light for them that Sit in Darkness;
... There were also divers other sacrifices, as bulls, goats, and birds, which were
types of him, which I here omit. 3. Insensible creatures were his types. As,. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/light for them that sit.htm

A Holy Life the Beauty of Christianity: Or, an Exhortation to ...
... you desirous of having your hopes of pardon, and of ... more than all whole burnt-offerings
and sacrifices.' (Mark 12 ... done to us already has been ineffectual as to ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a holy life the beauty.htm

What does it mean that God speaks in a still small voice? | GotQuestions.org

What is penitence? What does the Bible say about penitence? | GotQuestions.org

What is the danger/consequence of unconfessed sin? | GotQuestions.org

Pardon: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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