A Sacrifice of Praise to God

Let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. —Hebrews 13:15

As New Testament believers, we no longer need to offer animal sacrifices like the Jews. Those were just a picture of the sacrifice that was yet to come in Jesus Christ. When He went to the cross, He was the Lamb of God giving His life—a sacrifice that was once and for all.

The blood of animals that the Jews shed in the Old Testament couldn’t take away people’s sins. It just covered them until they had the next Day of Atonement and the priest offered sacrifices again. But the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.

As we come into the Lord’s presence to offer thanks, we don’t bring animal sacrifices. We come in the name and by the merits of Jesus’ shed blood. Then we offer up to God the sacrifice of a broken and a contrite heart, the sacrifice of praise, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name. With such sacrifices, the Scripture says, God is well pleased.