The Gospel of Barnabas · Chapter 67
The Origin of Sacrifice
'For ye say unto them: "Bring of your sheep and bulls and lambs to the temple of your God, and eat not all, but give a share to your God of that which he hath given you"; and ye do not tell them of the origin of sacrifice, that it is for a witness of the life granted to the son of our father Abraham, so that the faith and obedience of our father Abraham, with the promises made to him by God and the blessing given to him, should never be forgotten. But by Ezekiel the prophet saith God: "Remove from me these your sacrifices, your victims are abominable to me." For the time draweth near when that shall be done of which our God spake by Hosea the prophet, saying: "I will call chosen the people not chosen." And as he saith in Ezekiel the prophet: "God shall make a new covenant with his people, not according to the covenant which he gave to your fathers, which they observed not and he shall take from them a heart of stone, and give them a new heart": and all this shall be because ye walk not now in his law. And ye have the key and open not: rather do ye block the road for those who would walk in it.'
The priest was departing to report all to the high priest, who stood nigh unto the sanctuary, but Jesus said: 'Stay, for I will answer thy question.'
'For you tell them: "Bring sheep, bulls, and lambs to the temple of your God. Do not eat all of them, but give your God a share of what he has given you." Yet you do not tell them the origin of sacrifice: that it serves as a witness to the life granted to the son of our father Abraham, so that Abraham’s faith and obedience, together with God’s promises and blessing to him, may never be forgotten. But through the prophet Ezekiel God says: "Remove these sacrifices from me; your offerings are abominable to me." The time is drawing near when what our God spoke through the prophet Hosea will be fulfilled: "I will call the people who were not chosen my chosen people." And through the prophet Ezekiel he says: "God will make a new covenant with his people, not like the covenant he gave to your fathers, which they did not observe. He will take from them a heart of stone and give them a new heart." All this will happen because you do not now walk in his law. You possess the key but do not open the way; instead, you block the road for those who wish to walk in it.'
The priest began to leave in order to report everything to the high priest, who stood near the sanctuary, but Jesus said: 'Stay, for I will answer your question.'
'For ye say unto them: "Bring of your sheep and bulls and lambs to the temple of your God, and eat not all, but give a share to your God of that which he hath given you"; and ye do not tell them of the origin of sacrifice, that it is for a witness of the life granted to the son of our father Abraham, so that the faith and obedience of our father Abraham, with the promises made to him by God and the blessing given to him, should never be forgotten. But by Ezekiel the prophet saith God: "Remove from me these your sacrifices, your victims are abominable to me." For the time draweth near when that shall be done of which our God spake by Hosea the prophet, saying: "I will call chosen the people not chosen." And as he saith in Ezekiel the prophet: "God shall make a new covenant with his people, not according to the covenant which he gave to your fathers, which they observed not and he shall take from them a heart of stone, and give them a new heart": and all this shall be because ye walk not now in his law. And ye have the key and open not: rather do ye block the road for those who would walk in it.'
The priest was departing to report all to the high priest, who stood nigh unto the sanctuary, but Jesus said: 'Stay, for I will answer thy question.'