why did the sacrifices stop?

Because with the Ultimate Sacrifice offered by Jesus Christ, the law of Moses was fulfilled. This is also why we don't observe Kosher laws and the "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth" thing. There is a higher law now, which is what we observe.

Jesus fulfilled the Law of the Old Testament by His sacrifice on the cross for those who put their faith in His righteousness which He bestowed upon us when He took our sins opon Himself.

Hebrews 10:11-18

And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,

"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them," then He adds, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

NKJV

This is a very good question. I have often wondered, if they do not believe Jesus was their final sacrificial Lamb as we Christians do, why did the Jews stop their sacrifices?

I have asked them this on Yahoo Answers and they reply, "Because the temple was destroyed." which seems to still leave the need for sacrifices whether there is a temple or not. People in the Old Testament built altars for sacrifices wherever they happen to be at the time.

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Every Catholic Mass is a journey to the Cross; the Eucharist is a re-presentation of the eternal sacrifice.

Christ said, "It is finished", meaning the sacrifice and slaughter of the lamb is complete yet Christ also told us to "do this in remembrance of me", not symbolically, but as an eternal miracle of Christ.

*edit: why would there be altars in heaven if we should stop sacrificing?

God hated the offerings of the people and so meat offerings would hardly atone then He thought about Jesus His Son's meat became one like Isaac only this time He actually went through with it after growing a pair. It's about time.

His perfect sacrifice FULFILLED the Law just like He said no it remains the only sacrifice whereby we might be saved and are promised in that same book ETERNAL LIVES with the saints our fathers the brethren Desciples Apostles and finally THE PROPHETS...and with that I bid thee farewell Loadicians FOREVER and EVER AMEN! Put that in your pipe and smoke it Big Time.

You didn't, at family meals you pray to god before you eat. If one person leads the prayer, thank of them as the priest, and the rest of the family as the congregation. The food is obviously the sacrifice, and whoever took the time to prepare it is credited with this sacrifice. Imagine a thanksgiving where the man of the family goes out to kill the fattened turkey, it is cleaned, cooked and put on the table (altar), then the family (congregation) gathers round and offers prayers to God and praises to the the butcher (priest). Then there is a celebration and rejoicing, a giving of thanks to God for the past year and you have higher expectaions for the year to come. Then, often the family who came to celebrate departs and heads for home. This entire holiday is based around a meal (sacrifice). Hope this helps

Christians never needed a sacrifice after that because Jesus was our sacrifice. The Jews stopped sacrifices when the temple was destroyed.

Because Jesus Christ was the Final sacrifice on the cross. The sacrifice of bulls and goats was only meant to be temporary. The Cross ushered us into the church age. The observance of the Lord's Supper is remembering/ being thankful for Christ's death until He returns. We celebrate Easter because Christ rose from the dead then.

The bible teaches that before Jesus was born, they sacrifices was pointing toward his coming. He has come and gone now, so we no longer need to do those ceremonies. The cutting off the fore skin, all of that was also pointing toward jesus and him dying for his chosen ones sins. We no longer need those ceremonies. Now, we are expecting him to come back very soon. On may 21, 2011. The Lord will return from heaven. The bible is teaching this. He will return.

All sacrifices were temporary until the real sacrifice came along !!!

Jesus claimed to be God - John 8:24; 8:56-59 (see Exodus 3:14); John 10:30-33

Jesus is called God - John 1:1,14; 20:28; Col. 2:9; Titus 2:13; Heb. 1:8

Jesus is the image of the invisible God - Heb. 1:3

Jesus abides forever - Heb. 7:24

Jesus created all things - John 1:1-3; Col. 1:15-17

Jesus is before all things - John 1:1-3; Col. 1:17;

Jesus is eternal - John 1:1,14; 8:58; Micah 5:1-2

Jesus is honored the same as the Father - John 5:23

Jesus is prayed to - Acts 7:55-60; 1 Cor. 1:2 with Psalm 116:41; (John 14:14)

Jesus is worshipped - Matt. 2:2,11; 14:33; John 9:35-38; Heb. 1:6

Jesus is omnipresent - Matt. 18:20; 28:20

Jesus is with us always - Matt. 28:20

Jesus is our only mediator between God and ourselves - 1 Tim. 2:5

Jesus is the guarantee of a better covenant - Heb. 7:22; 8:6

Jesus said, "I AM the Bread of Life" - John 6:35,41,48,51

Jesus said, "I AM the Door" - John 10:7,9

Jesus said, "I AM the Good Shepherd" - John 10:11,14

Jesus said, "I AM the Way the Truth and The Life" - John 14:6

Jesus said, "I AM the Light of the world" - John 8:12; 9:5; 12:46; Luke 2:32

Jesus said, "I AM the True Vine" - John 15:1,5

Jesus said, "I AM the Resurrection and the Life" - John 11:25

Jesus said, "I AM the First and the Last" - Rev. 1:17; 2:8; 22:13

Jesus always lives to make intercession for us - Heb. 7:25

Jesus cleanses from sin - 1 John 1:9

Jesus cleanses us from our sins by His blood - Rev. 1:5; Rom. 5:9

Jesus forgives sins - Matt. 9:1-7; Luke 5:20; 7:48

Jesus saves forever - Matt. 18:11; John 10:28; Heb. 7:25

The truth about Jesus is that the only way to be saved and to get into heaven and avoid being sent to eternal hell, is by believing in Jesus for salvation, believing in faith alone that Jesus, who is God, died on the cross for all our sins as FULL PAYMENT for all our sins, and then Jesus rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Believe in Jesus alone for salvation, and you will be in heaven, no matter what!

Salvation is a FREE GIFT that happens in a split second when you believe in Jesus alone to save you! It is impossible to lose or "leave" salvation (John 6:39-40, John 10:28, 1 John 5:13).

Please pray now: "Jesus, I believe that You died on the cross to pay for my sins and that You rose from the dead, and I thank You for eternal life!" You will be in heaven with Him forever when you die! :D

Jesus was the Perfect, and the only necessary, Sacrifice. He told us not to offer burnt offerings any more.