Now, this we spoke about at length already. We don’t have time now to repeat it all – I’ll say it bekitzur.
A korban is actually a vicarious sacrifice of yourself. That’s why a korban olah, its skin needs hefshet; we take off its skin. When you take off the skin, it looks human. With the skin, you see it’s an animal, but when the skin is removed the limbs resemble human limbs. And the purpose of the korban is, “I am offering myself to Hashem.”
Like Hakodosh Boruch Hu wanted Avrohom to offer Yitzchok; only that He doesn’t allow us to do it; like He said, “אל תשלח ידך אל הנער ואל תעשה לו מאומה – Don’t do anything to him.”
So Hashem says, “Don’t do anything to yourself.” But when the kohen slaughters the korban, the person who owns the korban is watching and he feels he’s being slaughtered too. He’s willing to slaughter himself out of gratitude to Hashem.
It’s a thrill, a tremendous experience. When the blood is put in the vessel and sprinkled on the mizbeyach, it’s his blood on the mizbeyach. Hakodosh Boruch Hu says, “Keep your blood. Keep your life. Be happy. Don’t cut yourself. לא תתגדדו – no, don’t cut yourself. Live happily.” But the experience elevates you to such a greatness of loyalty to Hashem, that you’re ready to do anything for Him.
And the fact that a person is ready to sacrifice everything for Hashem, that in itself is מעלה עליו הכתוב as if he was makriv himself. This was explained at length elsewhere.
TAPE # E-186 (May 6, 1999)