In today’s passage Moses looked ahead to when Israel would be settled in the Promised Land and gave instructions regarding offering sacrifices once they lived far away from Yahweh’s altar. Amongst these commands is a reminder of the prohibition against eating blood. Blood was prohibited because the blood is life. The New Testament also teaches about the importance of blood. It is through the blood of Jesus that we have forgiveness and redemption.
When we stopped reading yesterday, Moses had promised Israel that they were going to cross the Jordan River and inherit the land. After they were at rest, Yahweh would appoint a place where they would need to bring their offerings and sacrifices.
Deut. 12:13 ¶ “Beware, lest you offer your burnt offerings in every cultic place you see,
Deut. 12:14 but in the place which Yahweh chooses in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I am commanding you.
Take note of the words “the place”. The word “place” is singular. There would be only one acceptable place for them to bring their burnt offerings.
Deut. 12:15 ¶ “However, you may sacrifice and eat meat within any of your gates, whatever you desire, according to the blessing of Yahweh your God which He has given you; the unclean and the clean may eat of it, as of the gazelle and the deer.
Deut. 12:16 Only you shall not eat the blood; you are to pour it out on the ground like water.
Don’t overlook the prohibition against eating blood. Blood is very important.
After Cain killed Abel, Yahweh said that Abel’s blood was crying to Him from the ground (see Genesis 4:10). After Noah and his sons came off the ark, Yahweh told them not to eat blood because blood is the life (see Genesis 9:4). Furthermore, Yahweh declared to Noah that “Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed” (Genesis 9:6). When Israel was preparing for the first Passover, they were told to put blood on their doorposts and lintels because the blood would be a sign that would protect them from death (see Exodus 12:13). Blood was used to anoint Aaron as the high priest (see Exodus 29:20). There are multiple times in the book of Leviticus when Israel was told not to eat blood (see Leviticus 3:17, 7:26, 17:10-14, and 19:26).
When Jesus inaugurated the Lord’s Supper, He declared that the cup represents His blood which was poured out for the forgiveness of sins (see Matthew 26:28). Paul wrote that we are justified by the blood of Jesus (see Romans 5:9). We have redemption through His blood (see Ephesians 1:7) and are brought near through His blood (see Ephesians 2:13). The author of Hebrews drew a contrast between the blood of the animal sacrifices which needed to be offered many times and the blood of Jesus which only needed to be offered once (see Hebrews 9). Hebrews also states that without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness (see Hebrews 9:22).
Deut. 12:17 You are not allowed to eat within your gates the tithe of your grain or new wine or oil, or the firstborn of your herd or flock, or any of your votive offerings which you vow, or your freewill offerings, or the contribution of your hand.
Deut. 12:18 But you shall eat them before Yahweh your God in the place which Yahweh your God will choose, you and your son and daughter, and your male and female slaves, and the Levite who is within your gates; and you shall be glad before Yahweh your God in all that you send forth your hand to do.
Deut. 12:19 Beware lest you forsake the Levite all your days upon your land.
Verse 19 seems somewhat random, but it is not. The Levites did not inherit land. Their living came from the tabernacle service and receiving portions of the offerings and sacrifices. Moses reminded Israel that as they brought their offerings and sacrifices, they needed to use those occasions to provide for the Levites.
Deut. 12:20 ¶ “When Yahweh your God enlarges your territory as He has promised you, and you say, ‘I will eat meat,’ because you desire to eat meat, then you may eat meat, whatever you desire.
Deut. 12:21 If the place where Yahweh your God chooses to set His name is too far away from you, then you may sacrifice of your herd and flock which Yahweh has given you, as I have commanded you; and you may eat within your gates whatever you desire.
Look at the word “If” and the words “too far away”. Once Israel settled the Promised Land, many of them would be too far away from the tabernacle to go there on a regular basis. Therefore, Yahweh made provisions for how those who were far away could obey God’s laws.
Deut. 12:22 Just as a gazelle or a deer is eaten, so you will eat it; the unclean and the clean alike may eat of it.
Deut. 12:23 Only be strong in yourselves not to eat the blood, for the blood is the life, and you shall not eat the life with the flesh.
Deut. 12:24 You shall not eat it; you shall pour it out on the ground like water.
Once again we see the prohibition against eating the blood.
Deut. 12:25 You shall not eat it, so that it may be well with you and your sons after you, for you will be doing what is right in the sight of Yahweh.
Deut. 12:26 Only your holy things which you may have and your votive offerings, you shall take and go to the place which Yahweh chooses.
Deut. 12:27 And you shall offer your burnt offerings, the flesh and the blood, on the altar of Yahweh your God; and the blood of your sacrifices shall be poured out on the altar of Yahweh your God, and you shall eat the flesh.
Certain sacrifices had to be taken to the altar of Yahweh. There was no exemption.
Deut. 12:28 ¶ “Be careful to listen to all these words which I command you, so that it may be well with you and your sons after you forever, for you will be doing what is good and right in the sight of Yahweh your God.
Murder of the born and unborn is very common today. Our society does not have proper respect for blood. We Christians must not adopt this casual attitude towards the shedding of man’s blood and the blood of Jesus which was shed for us.
Just as the Israelites had to treat blood as sacred, so too when Christians partake of the Lord’s Supper, we need to treat it with the respect and dignity it deserves (see 1 Corinthians 11:22) because the cup in the Lord’s Supper represents His blood which was shed for us. We are expressly prohibited from drinking the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner (see 1 Corinthians 11:27).
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”