'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 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 abonimable to me." For the time draweth near when that shall be done of which our God spoke 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.' |
An Islamic Perspective and Commentary
by
Ishaq Zahid In Islam, the biggest religious holiday, Eidul-Adha, is a celebration and commemoration of the tests of Prophet Abraham and his first son, Ishmael. While animals such as lambs and goats are sacrificed and meat shared with relatives, friends and the poor, Imams tell the story of the two prophets in special morning prayers of the day. It appears that Jesus' references of quotations from prophets Hosea and Ezekiel allude to the change in religious leadership from the Israelites to Prophet Muhammad. May peace be on all the prophets.
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