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This Month's Subject: The Blood - Its Value and Meaning (#88927)
This Month's Subject: The Blood - Its Value and Meaning
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Bible Student: Volume 3, 1883
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This Month's Subject: The Blood - Its Value and Meaning
From:
Monthly Subjects
• 5 min. read • grade level: 9
The subject worked out for this month is—The Blood—its value and meaning.
In the Old Testament, the great thought presented to us in the Old Testament concerning blood is that it represents life: the passages which show this are too numerous to cite. Two however are prominent—
Genesis 9:4
4
But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. (Genesis 9:4)
, “the life thereof which is the blood thereof,” and
Leviticus 17:11, 14
11
For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. (Leviticus 17:11)
14
For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off. (Leviticus 17:14)
, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood.” To the former of these passages is added the solemn warning as to murder, as to which read Numbers 35, and to the latter the important truth that “it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” It is in connection with this truth we find the blood used in a figurative sense.
The directions in Exodus 12 as to the blood of the passover lamb are of the deepest interest: in our number for June last the various aspects in which this sacrifice was typical of our Lord were clearly brought before us, and we may now notice the manner in which its blood was to be used. The blood was to be sprinkled on the two sideposts and the lintel of each house in which the passover lamb was eaten, and this ensured the safety of the inmates, for God said “When I see the blood I will pass over you.”
Exodus 12:13
13
And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. (Exodus 12:13)
.
In
Exodus 24:6-8
6
And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.
7
And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient.
8
And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words. (Exodus 24:6‑8)
we find the blood used in connection with and as the basis of the covenant of works under which the people of Israel voluntarily placed themselves. This is called the old covenant (Hebrews 8.53), and may be contrasted with the terms in which the Lord speaks of the new covenant (
Matthew 26:28
28
For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (Matthew 26:28)
, etc.) See also
Zechariah 9:11
11
As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water. (Zechariah 9:11)
margin.
In Exodus 29 it is used in connection with the consecration of the priests. Here the blood of the ram of consecration was to be put on the tip of Aaron’s right ear, the thumb of his right hand and the great toe of his right foot, and similarly with his sons; and it was further to be sprinkled upon the altar and some taken therefrom and sprinkled upon them and upon their garments. See also
Leviticus 14:25
25
And he shall kill the lamb of the trespass offering, and the priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering, and put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot: (Leviticus 14:25)
.
We now come to the offerings and sacrifices of Leviticus where the fullest teaching is presented: In the burnt offering, the blood was to be sprinkled round about upon the altar,
Leviticus 1:5
5
And he shall kill the bullock before the Lord: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. (Leviticus 1:5)
.
In the
peace offering—,
the blood was to be sprinkled in a similar manner round about upon the altar (Chapter 3:2).
In the
trespass offering,
the blood was to be sprinkled seven times before the Lord, before the vail of the sanctuary (Chapter 4:6), some was to be put upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense (4:7) and the rest was to be poured out at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering (4:7),—these instructions were for the cases in which a priest, or the whole congregation sinned: when a ruler or one of the common people sinned the blood was not sprinkled before the vail of the sanctuary.
If any garment was sprinkled with the blood of
a
sin offering it was to be washed in the holy place (Chapter 6:27).
Blood was on no account to be eaten, the penalty being death. This important injunction is frequently repeated (Chapter 3:17; 7:26, 27, etc., also
Acts 15:20, 29
20
But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. (Acts 15:20)
29
That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. (Acts 15:29)
). Notice the failure of Israel in this respect, 1 Samuel 32-34.
In the cleansing of the leper, the living bird, the cedar wood, the scarlet and the hyssop were dipped in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water, and the leper was to be sprinkled seven times,
Leviticus 14:6-17
6
As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water:
7
And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.
8
And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, and shall tarry abroad out of his tent seven days.
9
But it shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off: and he shall wash his clothes, also he shall wash his flesh in water, and he shall be clean.
10
And on the eighth day he shall take two he lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish, and three tenth deals of fine flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and one log of oil.
11
And the priest that maketh him clean shall present the man that is to be made clean, and those things, before the Lord, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation:
12
And the priest shall take one he lamb, and offer him for a trespass offering, and the log of oil, and wave them for a wave offering before the Lord:
13
And he shall slay the lamb in the place where he shall kill the sin offering and the burnt offering, in the holy place: for as the sin offering is the priest's, so is the trespass offering: it is most holy:
14
And the priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering, and the priest shall put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot:
15
And the priest shall take some of the log of oil, and pour it into the palm of his own left hand:
16
And the priest shall dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand, and shall sprinkle of the oil with his finger seven times before the Lord:
17
And of the rest of the oil that is in his hand shall the priest put upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the blood of the trespass offering: (Leviticus 14:6‑17)
.
In the
sin offering
of the great day of atonement, the blood of the sacrifice was to be sprinkled upon the mercy seat eastward, and before the mercy seat seven times: the altar of burnt offering was also to be sprinkled seven times, and blood to be put upon its horns.
The blood of the red heifer (Numbers 19), whose ashes were to be kept for a water of separation, was to be sprinkled directly before the tabernacle of the congregation seven times.
“And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar, to make an atonement for all Israel.”
2 Chronicles 29:24
24
And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar, to make an atonement for all Israel: for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel. (2 Chronicles 29:24)
.
Human blood was not to be offered in sacrifice,
Psalms 106:38
38
And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood. (Psalm 106:38)
.
In the New Testament:
The Blood Of Christ:
Is the basis of the
new
covenant or testament.
Matthew 26:28
28
For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (Matthew 26:28)
;
Mark 14:24
24
And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. (Mark 14:24)
;
Luke 22:20
20
Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. (Luke 22:20)
; “Shed for many for the remission of sins.” For the application of this to the
Christian,
see
1 Corinthians 11:25
25
After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. (1 Corinthians 11:25)
, and to the
Jew,
see Hebrews 8, also
Hebrews 10:29
29
Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10:29)
and 13:20.
Rests upon the Jews nationally,
Matthew 27:25
25
Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. (Matthew 27:25)
;
Acts 5:28
28
Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. (Acts 5:28)
;
Deuteronomy 19:10
10
That innocent blood be not shed in thy land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be upon thee. (Deuteronomy 19:10)
. To be (spiritually) drunk by the believer,
John 6:53,63
53
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. (John 6:53)
63
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. (John 6:63)
.
Came forth from His side,
John 19:34
34
But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. (John 19:34)
;
1 John 5:6
6
This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. (1 John 5:6)
.
Is the means through faith of blessing,
Romans 3:25
25
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (Romans 3:25)
.
And the basis of communion,
1 Corinthians 10:16
16
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? (1 Corinthians 10:16)
;
1 John 1:7
7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)
.
By it He entered in once into the Holy Place,
Hebrews 9:12
12
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. (Hebrews 9:12)
.
As the blood of sprinkling, it speaks better things than that of Abel,
Hebrews 12:24
24
And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. (Hebrews 12:24)
.
Bears witness on earth,
1 John 5:8
8
And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. (1 John 5:8)
.
Those who come out of the great tribulation washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb,
Revelation 7:14
14
And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 7:14)
.
By the blood of the Lamb and the word of testimony Satan is overcome,
Revelation 12:11
11
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. (Revelation 12:11)
.
Avails for,
Purchase,
Acts 20:28
28
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. (Acts 20:28)
.
Justification,
Romans 5:9
9
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (Romans 5:9)
—
Redemption,
Ephesians 1:7
7
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7)
,;
Colossians 1:14
14
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (Colossians 1:14)
;
1 Peter 1:19
19
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (1 Peter 1:19)
.
Bringing nigh,
Ephesians 2:13
13
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:13)
.
Peace,
Colossians 1:20
20
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (Colossians 1:20)
.
Purging of the conscience,
Hebrews 9:14
14
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:14)
.
Entrance into the holiest,
Hebrews 10:19
19
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (Hebrews 10:19)
.
Sanctification,
Hebrews 13:12
12
Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. (Hebrews 13:12)
.
Cleansing,
1 John 1:7
7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)
;
1 Peter 1:2
2
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. (1 Peter 1:2)
.
Washing (or freeing) from sin,
Revelation 1:5
5
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (Revelation 1:5)
.
Blood also signifies that which is of nature,
Matthew 16:17
17
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 16:17)
;
John 1:13
13
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:13)
.
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