Topical Bible: Blood: Shedding of Human: Jews often Guilty of

◄ Blood: Shedding of Human: Jews often Guilty of ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

The shedding of human blood is a grave sin that is addressed numerous times throughout the Bible. Within the context of the Jewish people, the Scriptures provide several instances where they are depicted as being guilty of this transgression. This entry explores these instances, drawing from the Berean Standard Bible for scriptural references.

Old Testament Instances

1. Cain and Abel: The first recorded instance of murder in the Bible is the account of Cain and Abel, where Cain, out of jealousy, kills his brother Abel. While this predates the establishment of the Jewish nation, it sets a precedent for the gravity of shedding innocent blood (Genesis 4:8).

2. The Prophets' Accusations: The prophets frequently accused the Israelites of shedding innocent blood. In Jeremiah 2:34 , the prophet declares, "On your skirts is found the blood of the innocent poor; you did not find them breaking in. Yet in spite of all these things, you say, 'I am innocent.'"

3. Manasseh's Reign: King Manasseh of Judah is noted for his egregious acts, including the shedding of much innocent blood. 2 Kings 21:16 states, "Moreover, Manasseh shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem from end to end—besides the sin that he had caused Judah to commit, so that they did evil in the eyes of the LORD."

4. The Idolatry and Injustice of Jerusalem: Ezekiel 22:3-4 condemns Jerusalem for its bloodshed and idolatry: "You are guilty of the blood you have shed and defiled by the idols you have made. You have brought your days to a close and the end of your years has come. Therefore I will make you an object of scorn to the nations and a laughingstock to all the lands."

New Testament Context

1. The Condemnation of Jesus: The New Testament highlights the ultimate act of shedding innocent blood in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The Jewish leaders played a significant role in this event. In Matthew 27:25 , the people answered, "His blood be on us and on our children!"

2. Stephen's Martyrdom: In Acts 7, Stephen, the first Christian martyr, accuses the Jewish leaders of betraying and murdering the Righteous One, Jesus, and of being complicit in the deaths of the prophets who foretold His coming (Acts 7:52).

3. Paul's Accusations: The Apostle Paul, in his missionary journeys, often faced opposition from Jewish leaders who sought to harm him. In 1 Thessalonians 2:15 , Paul writes, "who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone."

Theological Implications

The shedding of human blood is a sin that carries profound theological implications. It is a direct violation of God's commandment, "You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13). The Bible consistently portrays God as valuing human life, and the unlawful taking of life is met with divine judgment. The instances where the Jewish people are depicted as guilty of shedding blood serve as a somber reminder of the consequences of turning away from God's commandments and the need for repentance and redemption.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 22:17
But your eyes and your heart are not but for your covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ezekiel 22:4
You are become guilty in your blood that you have shed; and have defiled yourself in your idols which you have made; and you have caused your days to draw near, and are come even to your years: therefore have I made you a reproach to the heathen, and a mocking to all countries.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Blood-Shedding
... which for you, and for the whole human race, there ... glad of it; for there is remission
by the blood-shedding. ... says he, "all washed away by the blood which did ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/the blood-shedding.htm

The Foundation of the Church among the Jews
... that Church, which in His Human Nature Christ ... unspeakable sufferings, and all-prevailing
Blood-shedding upon the ... the Apostles, who were themselves Jews, did not ...
/.../blunt/a key to the knowledge of church history/chapter i the foundation of.htm

The Sins of Communities Noted and Punished.
... that which he did in Jerusalem." * Wantonly shedding the blood ... of prophecy, if we
consider the human race as ... ye that the Gallileans whose blood Pilate mingled ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon xxix the sins of.htm

The Blood of the Testament
... drives all the serpents out of the human heart when ... the law purged with blood; and
without shedding of blood ... into the holy place every year with blood of others ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 58 1912/the blood of the testament.htm

Woes on the Pharisees
... done, the little gifts which make no show, and which to human eyes may ... of our fathers,
we would not have united with them in shedding the blood of God's ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 67 woes on the.htm

The Weeping Saviour.
... of the impenitence and obduracy of the human heart ... the thought of His Redemption
scorned, His blood trampled on ... If we have thought of Him shedding tears over the ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/macduff/memories of bethany/xii the weeping saviour.htm

Jesus the Scapegoat.
... and Jews teach that without the shedding of blood ... of God, the innocent Victim, whose
blood cleansed from ... forth, everything that the Divine and human natures of ...
/.../the expositors bible the gospel of st john vol i/xxiv jesus the scapegoat.htm

The Last Interview of Paul with the Elders of Ephesus.
... of his ministers, and benevolent as were their intentions, they were treated as
the foes of the human race; and a ... As the shedding of blood signifies, in the ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xxiv the last interview.htm

Of Preparation.
... may appear by the misery of the Jews ever since ... The first is natural, between our
human nature, and ... Lord Jesus, for the merits of thy death and blood-shedding. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bayly/the practice of piety/i of preparation.htm

In his Temple
... He saw the distress of the poor, who thought that without shedding of blood there
would ... cleansing of the temple was a manifestation of more than human power ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 16 in his temple.htm