EATING BLOOD FORBIDDEN
Keywords 17:11
For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life.
1.
Chapters 1-16 deal with corporal worship, and chapters 18-27 mainly regard one's personal worship and
morality. Chapter 17 is a transitional chapter that bridges the two. God
strictly commands that all sacrifices must be made at the tabernacle and only by
the priests (1-9). This was to protect the unity of worship and guard against
the pluralism of pagan cultures. God wanted them to worship him as the one true
God. He specifically rebukes their sacrificing to the goat god and prostituting
themselves. God wanted to resolve their habit of idol worship, which leads to
demonic sacrifices that ruin God’s holy image. By keeping this command, they would
preserve their identity for generations to come.
2. For a third time, God commands
them not to eat blood, or of animals that died naturally (10-16). Whoever
disobeys this command should be cut off from God’s people. Why such a stern
command? They must respect blood because life is in the blood. Pagan cultures
also made sacrifices to appease gods and drank the blood. Moreover, Holy God
authorized them to use the blood of animal sacrifices for atonement. This
looked forward to Jesus’ blood that makes atonement for our sins, which has
God’s life in it. The blood of Jesus
has real power to enable us to live holy lives by faith.
Prayer Father, help me to worship you
alone and to trust in the power of the blood of Jesus.
One Word Real
power is in Jesus’ blood
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