Leviticus 17 Commentary
We first learn about blood when Abel is killed. And this blood is talking! In this chapter, we are told that blood is the life itself or represents the life of an individual. It must not be eaten!
It is clear: Blood is important!
One who sacrifices to demons is as good as one who sheds blood. This is serious!
Blood must not be eaten. Never. But again, there is a meal of blood and flesh that we are commanded to enjoy. The Holy Communion is nothing but a meal of blood!
These symbols probably mean more than we can immediately guess! “Don’t eat blood” could as well be, “Eat or drink Jesus’ blood exclusively.” This chapter underlines exclusivity.
Israel is forbidden from conducting sacrifices outside the Tabernacle system. They are specifically banned from sacrificing to demons. For many saints, these regulations are boring. But there are still many people, including some saints, who feel witch doctors are options. Universalism is convincing us that we are the same – that we worship the same God. There is still the need to watch!
The instructions here are exclusive. We worship at a designated place and in a prescribed way.
These instructions are repeated more forcefully when the scripture tells us, “No one comes to the Father except through me.” Calvary is the physical place, and the procedures and rituals are the fruit of the Holy Spirit resident in every saint.
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. Verse 11.
Finally, we can begin to put a finger on the mystery of blood. We know why it shouldn’t be eaten. We know why it should be splashed against the altar. We know why monthly periods for women are here looked at with ‘closed eyes’ as they, in part, represent lost life opportunities. They resemble the shedding of blood which the LORD forbade. Seeing blood on the ground is like seeing life being terminated.
Blood must not be eaten. A dead animal still has blood in it. An opportunity to spill blood is symbolically an opportunity to ensure that people don’t eat life. It belongs to God. These symbols have deeper spiritual realities that the saint must ponder.
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