How does this verse connect to dietary laws in Leviticus 17:10-14? Background of the Levitical Command • Leviticus 17:10-14 forbids eating blood because “the life of the flesh is in the blood” and God has given blood “to make atonement for your souls.” • The prohibition applies to native Israelite and foreigner alike, showing its foundational, creation-rooted nature (cf. Genesis 9:4). The Verse under Study—Acts 15:20 “Instead, we should write to them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood.” Direct Links to Leviticus 17 • “Abstain…from blood” repeats Leviticus 17’s wording almost verbatim. • “Meat of strangled animals” alludes to animals killed without draining blood, again reflecting Leviticus 17’s concern. • The Jerusalem Council applies the Levitical standard to Gentile believers, demonstrating that the blood restriction remains morally significant, not merely ceremonial. Why the Apostles Echo Leviticus • Universality: Leviticus 17 addresses both Israelites and “foreigners.” Acts 15 extends the same ethic to all nations now entering God’s people. • Sanctity of Life: Because “life is in the blood,” consuming it treats life as common. The apostles uphold this God-given symbol of life and atonement. • Gospel Witness: In a pagan world where drinking blood and eating strangled animals were tied to idolatrous rites, obedience set believers apart (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:20-21). Continued Theological Weight of Blood • Blood points to Christ’s atoning sacrifice (Hebrews 9:22; 1 Peter 1:18-19). • Respecting blood underscores gratitude for redemption: we honor the symbol because we honor the reality—Jesus’ poured-out life. • Though other dietary laws were fulfilled in Christ (Mark 7:19), the blood command carries forward as a moral principle rooted in creation and the cross. Practical Takeaways for Today • Reject practices—culinary or cultural—that trivialize blood or life. • Let the uniqueness of Christ’s blood inform reverence in Communion (1 Corinthians 11:25-29). • Pursue holiness in everyday choices, remembering that even what we eat can witness to the gospel’s transforming power. |
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