The greatest sacrifice in the Bible is Jesus giving Himself: "now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself" (Hebrews 9:26). He said, "I lay down my life for the sheep" (John 10:15). In response, believers "offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:5).
To sacrifice is to give up something precious for something that matters more. We see it in parents who go without, in soldiers, nurses and first responders, in missionaries, and in friends who show up at great cost. The Bible is full of sacrifice, from the altars of Genesis to the cross, and its message is that God Himself paid the greatest price. People look up Bible verses about sacrifice for a sermon or Bible study, for Lent and Good Friday, for a memorial or Veterans Day service, or in the season of Advent and Christmas, when we remember that the Son of God came to give His life. These twelve King James verses show the sacrifice of Jesus, the Old Testament pictures that point to Him, and what it means to live as a living sacrifice today. For the meaning of the cross, see the cross; for giving to God, see offering.
The sacrifice of Jesus
1. Hebrews 9:26
"For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself."
For centuries priests offered animal sacrifices day after day and year after year. Hebrews keeps returning to one small word: once. Jesus offered Himself a single time, and it was enough to put away sin. Elsewhere Hebrews says we are sanctified "through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (Hebrews 10:10). Nothing needs to be added to it.
2. Hebrews 10:12
"But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;"
The verse before says that "every priest standeth daily" (Hebrews 10:11), offering the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. The tabernacle had no chair for the priests, because their work was never done. Jesus sat down on the right hand of God. Sitting is the posture of a finished work. You cannot add to what He completed. See the blood of Jesus.
3. John 10:15
"As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep."
Jesus, the Good Shepherd, says He lays down His life for the sheep. His death was not an accident or a defeat: "No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself" (John 10:18). The sacrifice was freely chosen, out of love for people who did not deserve it. See the love of Jesus.
4. 1 Corinthians 5:7
"Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:"
At the first Passover, the blood of a lamb on the doorposts protected Israel's firstborn. Jesus was crucified at Passover, and Paul says plainly, Christ our passover is sacrificed for us. Getting rid of old leaven, the yeast of sin, is the response of people who have been rescued. See Good Friday.
Pictures of sacrifice in the Old Testament
5. Genesis 22:2
"And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of."
This is the first time love is mentioned in the King James Bible, in the word lovest: thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest. God asked Abraham for the most precious thing he had. Mount Moriah, where this happened, is later named as the site of Solomon's temple (2 Chronicles 3:1). Christians have long seen the story as a preview of the Father giving His only Son.
6. Genesis 22:13
"And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son."
God stopped Abraham's hand and provided a ram in the stead of his son. That small phrase holds the heart of the gospel: a substitute dies so that the son can live. Earlier Abraham had told Isaac, "God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering" (Genesis 22:8). See God providing.
7. 1 Chronicles 21:24
"And king David said to Ornan, Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings without cost."
Ornan offered David his threshing floor and animals for free, but David refused to offer burnt offerings without cost. A sacrifice that costs nothing is not really a sacrifice. That threshing floor later became the site of the temple (2 Chronicles 3:1), so the place where David paid full price became the place where Israel worshipped for centuries. See giving.
8. Psalms 51:16
"For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering."
David wrote Psalm 51 after his sin with Bathsheba. He knew that animal sacrifices could not fix a heart that refused to repent. The next verse tells us what God does want: "a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise" (Psalm 51:17). The first sacrifice God asks of us is honesty. See repentance.
Living sacrifices today
9. Mark 12:33
"And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."
A scribe agreed with Jesus that loving God with everything and loving your neighbour as yourself is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. Jesus told him, "Thou art not far from the kingdom of God" (Mark 12:34). Religious activity without love misses the point. Love is the sacrifice God values most.
10. 1 Peter 2:5
"Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ."
Lively means living. Peter says every believer is a living stone in God's house and a priest who offers spiritual sacrifices. The New Testament names several: praise, "the fruit of our lips" (Hebrews 13:15); doing good and sharing, "for with such sacrifices God is well pleased" (Hebrews 13:16); and our whole selves (Romans 12:1).
11. Philippians 4:18
"But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God."
The church at Philippi sent a gift to Paul in prison by the hand of Epaphroditus. Paul calls it an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, using the language of temple worship for an ordinary act of generosity. Supporting a missionary, helping a family in need or giving at Christmas can be worship.
12. Mark 8:34
"And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."
Jesus invites anyone to follow Him, but He is honest about the cost: deny yourself, take up your cross, follow. In the Roman world a person carrying a cross was on the way to die. Following Jesus means putting His will above our comfort. The next verse promises that whoever loses his life for His sake will save it. See the cross.
A short prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for laying down Your life for me, once for all. I could never repay what it cost You. Take my life as a living sacrifice. Give me a broken and honest heart, a love for You and my neighbour that is more than religious activity, and a willingness to give when it costs me something. Let my praise, my kindness and my generosity be a sweet offering to You. Amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
New to this method? See our Bible study guide or pick a Bible reading plan.
Study the sacrifice of Jesus with the SOAP Bible Study Journal · Follow our free Advent reading plan to Christmas · Memorize Hebrews 10:12 with the Scripture Memory Cards
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about sacrifice?
The Old Testament describes many sacrifices that dealt with sin and expressed worship, but Hebrews explains that "it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins" (Hebrews 10:4). They pointed forward to Jesus, the final sacrifice. Now believers respond with the sacrifices of praise, love, generosity and lives given to God.
What does it mean to be a living sacrifice?
Paul urges believers to "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God" (Romans 12:1). A dead sacrifice was offered once; a living sacrifice keeps offering itself every day: your time, your choices, your body and your plans. It is not earning God's love but answering it. See surrender and worship.
Why did God require animal sacrifices?
Leviticus explains, "it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul" (Leviticus 17:11). Sin is serious and costly, and the sacrifices taught Israel that life is the price of sin and that God provides a substitute. They were a shadow pointing to Jesus, "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).
What Bible verse speaks of sacrifice and love?
Jesus said, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). It is often read at memorials for soldiers, police officers, firefighters and others who gave their lives. Ephesians 5:2 connects love and sacrifice too. For those who serve, see military.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: The cross · Good Friday · The blood of Jesus · Offering · Giving · Surrender · The love of Jesus · Lent · Bible verses about selfishness
Explore more: All Bible verses by topic · KJV Bible verses · Verse of the day · Prayers · Bible study · Bible reading plans
