Leviticus 17: Holiness in Everyday Life and the Significance of Blood
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
Speak unto Aaron, and unto his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them; This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded, saying,
What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth it out of the camp,
And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the Lord before the tabernacle of the Lord; blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people:
To the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they offer in the open field, even that they may bring them unto the Lord, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest, and offer them for peace offerings unto the Lord.
And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and burn the fat for a sweet savour unto the Lord.
And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations.
And thou shalt say unto them, Whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers which sojourn among you, that offereth a burnt offering or sacrifice,
And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer it unto the Lord; even that man shall be cut off from among his people.
And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people.
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.
Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood.
And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust.
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.
And every soul that eateth that which died of itself, or that which was torn with beasts, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even: then shall he be clean.
But if he wash them not, nor bathe his flesh; then he shall bear his iniquity.
Leviticus 17 marks a crucial turning point in the book. Beginning here, the focus shifts from ritualistic purity to the practical application of holiness in the daily lives of the Israelites. Chapters 17-26 are often referred to as the "Holiness Code," emphasizing how God's people were to reflect His character in their interactions, worship, and dietary habits. God spoke to Moses, delivering instructions intended for Aaron, his sons, and the entire community of Israel (Leviticus 17:1-2), highlighting the importance of these regulations for all of God's people.
Centralization of Sacrifices
The initial command addresses the location of sacrifices. God prohibited the Israelites from offering sacrifices anywhere other than at the tabernacle (Leviticus 17:3-6). This wasn't merely a matter of convenience; it was a direct command to ensure the proper worship of the holy God of Israel. Sacrifices were to be performed by the Lord's authorized priests, following the prescribed rituals. Centralizing sacrifices served several crucial purposes:
- Ensuring Proper Worship: It prevented the Israelites from engaging in the detestable practices of offering sacrifices to the false gods of the surrounding nations, thus safeguarding the purity of their devotion to Yahweh.
- Maintaining Order: It ensured that sacrifices were performed correctly, according to God's specific instructions.
- Supporting the Priesthood: Bringing animals to the tabernacle also ensured that the needs of God’s priests were met, since they consumed some sacrifices.
Prohibition Against Sacrificing to Goat-Demons
Tragically, some Israelites had fallen into the grievous sin of offering sacrifices to goat-demons (Leviticus 17:7). The Lord viewed this as spiritual prostitution, a betrayal of the covenant relationship He had established with Israel. He considered Israel His people, His bride, and they were to remain committed to Him alone. Offering sacrifices to other gods was a heinous act of unfaithfulness. Anyone who offered a sacrifice outside the tent of meeting, without bringing it to the Lord, was guilty of a severe transgression and was to be cut off from the community (Leviticus 17:8-9; see also Leviticus 17:4, 10, 14).
The Sanctity of Blood
A second crucial prohibition was against the consumption of blood (Leviticus 17:10-12). This command had been previously stated (Leviticus 3:17; 7:26-27), but here, the reason for the prohibition is explicitly given: "For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have appointed it to you to make atonement on the altar for your lives, since it is the lifeblood that makes atonement" (Leviticus 17:11).
This verse reveals the profound significance of blood in God's redemptive plan. Blood is not merely a biological fluid; it represents life itself. God appointed blood as the means of atonement, the way for sins to be covered and forgiven. The shedding of blood symbolized the sacrifice of a life in place of another.
This prohibition instilled a deeper respect for life in general among the Israelites, as well as a reverence for blood as the divinely ordained means of atonement for sin. The author of Hebrews emphasizes this truth, stating that "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" (Hebrews 9:22). The animal's death served as a substitute for the sinner.
It is vital to remember that these animal sacrifices were ultimately shadows, foreshadowing the ultimate sacrifice that was to come. They pointed to Jesus, the Savior who fulfilled Israel's sacrificial system (see Hebrews 9:25-26). Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29, 36; Revelation 5:6; 7:10, 14; 12:11). His blood, shed on the cross, is the perfect and final atonement for the sins of all who believe.
Proper Handling of Animals for Consumption
The chapter concludes with instructions on the proper handling of animals intended for consumption (Leviticus 17:13-16). If an animal was hunted and killed, its blood had to be drained and covered with dirt (Leviticus 17:13). This act symbolized a recognition of the sanctity of life and a separation of the blood from the meat. If a person ate an animal that had died of natural causes or had been killed by another animal, that person was considered unclean until evening and had to undergo ceremonial cleansing (Leviticus 17:15). These regulations reinforced the importance of maintaining ritual purity and avoiding the consumption of anything that could be considered defiled.
Leviticus 17 provides profound insights into God's character and His desire for His people to live holy lives. It highlights the importance of proper worship, the sanctity of blood, and the need for reverence in all aspects of life. By adhering to these principles, the Israelites were to demonstrate their commitment to God and their separation from the idolatrous practices of the surrounding nations. Ultimately, this chapter points us to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, whose blood cleanses us from all sin and makes us holy in God's sight.
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
Speak unto Aaron, and unto his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them; This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded, saying,
What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth it out of the camp,
And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the Lord before the tabernacle of the Lord; blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people:
To the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they offer in the open field, even that they may bring them unto the Lord, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest, and offer them for peace offerings unto the Lord.
And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and burn the fat for a sweet savour unto the Lord.
And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations.
And thou shalt say unto them, Whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers which sojourn among you, that offereth a burnt offering or sacrifice,
And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer it unto the Lord; even that man shall be cut off from among his people.
And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people.
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.
Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood.
And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust.
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.
And every soul that eateth that which died of itself, or that which was torn with beasts, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even: then shall he be clean.
But if he wash them not, nor bathe his flesh; then he shall bear his iniquity.
Leviticus 17 marks a crucial turning point in the book. Beginning here, the focus shifts from ritualistic purity to the practical application of holiness in the daily lives of the Israelites. Chapters 17-26 are often referred to as the "Holiness Code," emphasizing how God's people were to reflect His character in their interactions, worship, and dietary habits. God spoke to Moses, delivering instructions intended for Aaron, his sons, and the entire community of Israel (Leviticus 17:1-2), highlighting the importance of these regulations for all of God's people.
Centralization of Sacrifices
The initial command addresses the location of sacrifices. God prohibited the Israelites from offering sacrifices anywhere other than at the tabernacle (Leviticus 17:3-6). This wasn't merely a matter of convenience; it was a direct command to ensure the proper worship of the holy God of Israel. Sacrifices were to be performed by the Lord's authorized priests, following the prescribed rituals. Centralizing sacrifices served several crucial purposes:
- Ensuring Proper Worship: It prevented the Israelites from engaging in the detestable practices of offering sacrifices to the false gods of the surrounding nations, thus safeguarding the purity of their devotion to Yahweh.
- Maintaining Order: It ensured that sacrifices were performed correctly, according to God's specific instructions.
- Supporting the Priesthood: Bringing animals to the tabernacle also ensured that the needs of God’s priests were met, since they consumed some sacrifices.
Prohibition Against Sacrificing to Goat-Demons
Tragically, some Israelites had fallen into the grievous sin of offering sacrifices to goat-demons (Leviticus 17:7). The Lord viewed this as spiritual prostitution, a betrayal of the covenant relationship He had established with Israel. He considered Israel His people, His bride, and they were to remain committed to Him alone. Offering sacrifices to other gods was a heinous act of unfaithfulness. Anyone who offered a sacrifice outside the tent of meeting, without bringing it to the Lord, was guilty of a severe transgression and was to be cut off from the community (Leviticus 17:8-9; see also Leviticus 17:4, 10, 14).
The Sanctity of Blood
A second crucial prohibition was against the consumption of blood (Leviticus 17:10-12). This command had been previously stated (Leviticus 3:17; 7:26-27), but here, the reason for the prohibition is explicitly given: "For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have appointed it to you to make atonement on the altar for your lives, since it is the lifeblood that makes atonement" (Leviticus 17:11).
This verse reveals the profound significance of blood in God's redemptive plan. Blood is not merely a biological fluid; it represents life itself. God appointed blood as the means of atonement, the way for sins to be covered and forgiven. The shedding of blood symbolized the sacrifice of a life in place of another.
This prohibition instilled a deeper respect for life in general among the Israelites, as well as a reverence for blood as the divinely ordained means of atonement for sin. The author of Hebrews emphasizes this truth, stating that "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" (Hebrews 9:22). The animal's death served as a substitute for the sinner.
It is vital to remember that these animal sacrifices were ultimately shadows, foreshadowing the ultimate sacrifice that was to come. They pointed to Jesus, the Savior who fulfilled Israel's sacrificial system (see Hebrews 9:25-26). Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29, 36; Revelation 5:6; 7:10, 14; 12:11). His blood, shed on the cross, is the perfect and final atonement for the sins of all who believe.
Proper Handling of Animals for Consumption
The chapter concludes with instructions on the proper handling of animals intended for consumption (Leviticus 17:13-16). If an animal was hunted and killed, its blood had to be drained and covered with dirt (Leviticus 17:13). This act symbolized a recognition of the sanctity of life and a separation of the blood from the meat. If a person ate an animal that had died of natural causes or had been killed by another animal, that person was considered unclean until evening and had to undergo ceremonial cleansing (Leviticus 17:15). These regulations reinforced the importance of maintaining ritual purity and avoiding the consumption of anything that could be considered defiled.
Leviticus 17 provides profound insights into God's character and His desire for His people to live holy lives. It highlights the importance of proper worship, the sanctity of blood, and the need for reverence in all aspects of life. By adhering to these principles, the Israelites were to demonstrate their commitment to God and their separation from the idolatrous practices of the surrounding nations. Ultimately, this chapter points us to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, whose blood cleanses us from all sin and makes us holy in God's sight.