Why is the lamb required to be "without blemish" in Exodus 12:5? Setting the Scene God was about to bring His final plague on Egypt. Every firstborn would die unless a substitute died in its place. The substitute was a lamb, and God gave very specific instructions about that lamb. Reading the Key Verse “Your lamb must be an unblemished male a year old, and you may take it from the sheep or the goats.” (Exodus 12:5) What “Without Blemish” Means • Physically flawless—no spots, deformities, diseases, or injuries • Spiritually symbolic—free from moral defect or sin Why the Lamb Had to Be Flawless • God’s holy standard – Leviticus 22:20: “You are not to present anything with a defect, because it will not be accepted on your behalf.” – Deuteronomy 17:1: A blemished animal “is detestable to the LORD.” Only what is perfect matches God’s own perfection. • Foreshadowing the sinless Messiah – John 1:29: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” – 1 Peter 1:18-19: Christ is “a lamb without blemish or spot.” Jesus fulfills the Passover pattern by living a sinless life and dying in the sinner’s place. • True substitution requires true purity – 2 Corinthians 5:21: “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us.” A flawed lamb could not carry another’s guilt. A perfect substitute could. • Offering the best to God – Malachi 1:8 rebukes bringing lame or sick animals. A blemished sacrifice says God is unworthy of our best; an unblemished one declares His supreme worth. • Assurance of complete protection When Israel painted that flawless blood on their doorposts, they could rest, knowing no deficiency remained. The lamb’s perfection guaranteed their safety. Christ Fulfills the Pattern • Hebrews 9:14: Christ “offered Himself unblemished to God.” • 1 Corinthians 5:7: “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” The spotless Passover lamb points straight to Jesus, whose flawless blood secures eternal deliverance for all who trust Him. Practical Takeaways • Marvel at God’s demand for and provision of perfection—He supplied the very Lamb He required. • Offer God your best; half-hearted gifts contradict the Passover lesson. • Rest in the sufficiency of Christ’s flawless sacrifice. Nothing more is needed, and nothing less will do. |
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