Leviticus 17.

 

 

The Regulations Concerning Blood, the Source of Life (Leviticus 17:1-16)

 

Verse 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.”

 

 

Leviticus 16 can be seen as the central chapter within the overall structure of Leviticus.

Following that, Leviticus 17, which we are looking at today, can be called the central chapter concerning “atonement.”

In particular, it gives us important teachings about “the meaning and function of blood.”

This passage focuses on the “issue of blood” that has been continuously mentioned earlier.

Hebrews 9:12 states, “He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves;

but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.”

 

 

1. The central message about blood (verse 11)

1) He said that the life of a creature is in the blood.

2) He said that God gave the blood of the sacrifice to the altar.

3) The covenant of Christ in Genesis 3:15 is a blood covenant.

4) God made blood the basis for sustaining life.

 

2. The central message of blood sacrifice is “life for life.”

1) The blood sacrifice is a ritual in which the blood of an animal symbolizing life is exchanged for the life of a sinner.

2) This is the most important belief that can lead to forgiveness and restoration from eternal punishment in hell.

3) In Old Testament times, people personally slaughtered and offered the sacrifices themselves.

4) The completion of the blood sacrifice in the Old Testament era is the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

 

3. You must not eat the blood of any creature (Verse 14)

1) Verse 14 says, “You must not eat the blood of any creature, because the life of every creature is its blood.”

2) The early church also resolved, “You must avoid blood, meat from strangled animals, and sexual immorality.”

3) The Lord of all life is God alone.

4) The Lord of life came in the flesh to save us.

 

Conclusion: The Lord offered an eternal sacrifice once and for all

1) Christ gave us eternal life by being crucified and dying (1 Corinthians 10:16).

2) We who believe now gain eternal life by eating and drinking Jesus' body and blood.

3) Blood means the life of the body, but Jesus' blood means eternal life.

4) The fact that must never be forgotten when taking the Holy Communion is John 6:54.

 

 

The fundamental principle of the Bible is to transform self-centered people into those who are God-centered.

A person can only find rest and happiness by relying on God and living in the truth that He is at the center of the world.

Today's passage directly impresses a God-centered value system through the regulations regarding blood,

which is the source of all life. He said, "For the life of every creature is its blood. That is why I have said to the Israelites,

'You must not eat the blood of any creature.'" Not eating blood is acknowledging that God is the one who gives life.

Not eating blood is protecting the foundation of respecting life. At the same time, it is about allowing the blood of Christ,

who gives eternal life, to flow within us. May you always be thankful for and enjoy the path of salvation and eternal life

that the Lord has opened for us.

Also, I bless you to be preciously used in serving those you are commissioned to evangelize and in leading them

onto the path of blessing.