Scripture Reference: Deuteronomy 12-13; 18:9-22

3. Respecting Life

Please read Deuteronomy 12:15-16; 20-28 for the background to this section.

These verses focus on the Jews’ treatment of the blood of animals that were either sacrificed at the altar or eaten at home, a theme Moses discussed in Leviticus 17:1–16. The Lord introduced this theme after Noah and his family came out of the ark, for it was then that He permitted mankind to eat meat (Genesis 9:1–7; and see Genesis 1:29; 2:9, 16). In the Genesis legislation, God prohibited the shedding of human blood and the eating of animal blood, whether the animal was domestic or wild. He also established what we today call “capital punishment.” Since humans are made in the image of God and derive their life from God, to murder someone is to attack God and to rob that person of God’s gift of life. God decreed that murderers should be punished by losing their own lives, and the right to enforce this law belonged to the officers of the state (Romans 13). By giving this law, the Lord was actually establishing human government on the earth. It’s worth noting that if an animal killed a person, that animal was to be slain (Exodus 21:28–32).

Long before science discovered the significance of blood, the Lord declared that life was in the blood and that the blood should be respected and not treated like common food. If a Jew slaughtered an animal at home, he was to drain out all the blood on the ground before the meat could be cooked and eaten. If he brought an animal to be sacrificed at the sanctuary, the priest would drain the blood beside the altar. If the ritual called for it, the priest would catch in a basin only enough blood to sprinkle on or about the altar. By following this procedure, the Jews not only showed respect for God’s gift of life, even to animals, but they also showed respect for the animal that gave its life for the worshiper. The Jews didn’t eat meat frequently because it was too costly to slay livestock, so when they did slaughter an animal, they were to do it with respect. They could take an animal to the sanctuary and offer it as a peace offering and then enjoy eating the meat as part of a special feast (Leviticus 3; 7:11–38).

This emphasis on the shedding of blood is at the heart of the message of the Gospel. We aren’t saved from our sins by the life of Christ or the example of Christ, but by the sacrificial death of Christ, “in whom we have redemption through his blood” (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14). The blood of Christ is precious to us (1 Peter 1:19) because of who shed it—the spotless Lamb of God—but also because of what it accomplishes for those who trust Him: justification (Romans 5:9), cleansing (Revelation 1:5; 1 John 1:7), eternal salvation (Hebrews 9:11–28), access to God (Hebrews 10:19–20), and reconciliation (Ephesians 2:13), to name but a few of the blessings we have through Christ’s blood.

To Be Continued

Adapted and modified excerpts from Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Equipped, “Be” Commentary Series.
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.