Blood of Legal Sacrifices: Not offered With Leaven
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In the Old Testament, the sacrificial system established by God for the Israelites was detailed and specific, reflecting the holiness and purity required in worship. One of the stipulations concerning sacrifices was the prohibition of offering the blood of sacrifices with leavened bread. This requirement is rooted in the broader biblical symbolism where leaven often represents sin, corruption, and impurity.

Biblical Foundation

The commandment regarding the exclusion of leaven in sacrificial offerings is explicitly stated in the Book of Exodus. In Exodus 23:18 , it is written: "You must not offer the blood of My sacrifices with anything leavened, nor may the fat of My feast remain until morning." This directive is reiterated in Exodus 34:25 : "Do not offer the blood of a sacrifice to Me along with anything leavened, and do not let any of the sacrifice from the Passover Feast remain until morning."

Symbolism and Significance

The prohibition against leaven in sacrificial offerings underscores the necessity for purity and holiness in the worship of God. Leaven, which causes dough to rise, is often used in Scripture as a metaphor for sin and moral corruption. For instance, in the New Testament, Jesus warns His disciples about the "leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees" (Matthew 16:6), referring to their corrupt teachings and hypocrisy.

In the context of sacrifices, the absence of leaven signifies the removal of sin and impurity, aligning with the purpose of the sacrificial system to atone for sin and restore the relationship between God and His people. The blood of the sacrifice, representing life and atonement, was to be offered in a state of purity, untainted by the symbolic presence of sin.

Theological Implications

The requirement that the blood of sacrifices not be offered with leaven points to the broader theological theme of holiness that permeates the sacrificial system. It reflects God's demand for His people to approach Him with reverence and purity, recognizing the seriousness of sin and the need for atonement.

This principle finds its ultimate fulfillment in the New Testament through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who was without sin. As the Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 5:7 , "Get rid of the old leaven, that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed." Here, the imagery of leaven and sacrifice is used to illustrate the transformative power of Christ's atoning work, calling believers to live in holiness and purity.

Conclusion

The prohibition against offering the blood of sacrifices with leaven is a significant aspect of the Old Testament sacrificial system, emphasizing the need for purity in worship and foreshadowing the perfect sacrifice of Christ. Through this command, believers are reminded of the seriousness of sin and the call to live lives that reflect the holiness of God.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Exodus 23:18
You shall not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leavened bread; neither shall the fat of my sacrifice remain until the morning.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 34:25
You shall not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leaven; neither shall the sacrifice of the feast of the passover be left to the morning.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Leviticus
... kills it, the priest sprinkles the blood on the sides ... animal shall be offered for
certain legal and ceremonial ... the priests' share of the sacrifices, the period ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/leviticus.htm

Atonement.
... the sincerity of God in his legal enactments ... with blood; and without shedding of
blood is no ... but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these ...
//christianbookshelf.org/finney/systematic theology/lecture xxv atonement.htm

The Fourth Day in Passion-Week - Jesus in his Last Sabbatic Rest ...
... which was destined for the purchase of sacrifices, and that He ... 5578] was sold and
bought at the legal price of a ... who had paid him the price of blood, would have ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter viii the fourth day.htm

The Westminster Confession of Faith. AD 1647.
... he through the eternal Spirit once offered up unto ... the work of redemption was not
actually wrought ... and sacrifices, wherein he was revealed, and signified to be ...
/.../the westminster confession of faith.htm

Period iv. The Age of the Consolidation of the Church: 200 to 324 ...
... an inherited token and memory of his blood. ... observance of certain hours will not
be unprofitable ... which has abolished the pristine sacrifices.{HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS ...
/.../ayer/a source book for ancient church history/period iv the age of.htm

The Jewish World in the Days of Christ - the Jewish Dispersion in ...
... pure priesthood could offer acceptable sacrifices, whether for ... in Jerasulem, and
thence the life-blood passed to ... Pharisaism, in its pride of legal purity and ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter i the jewish world.htm

Carey's Immediate Influence in Great Britain and America
... work, that they should vindicate their moral and legal position. ... have not seen, Brother
Ward and I have,"sacrifices which ought ... Or would they have his blood? ...
/.../smith/the life of william carey/chapter xiii careys immediate influence.htm

Light for them that Sit in Darkness;
... 'Ought not Christ to ... the blood of rams, the blood of calves, and the blood of goats ...
These bloody sacrifices, what did they signify, what were they figures of ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/light for them that sit.htm

The Doctrine
... A legal spirit.16. ... pray for thee, neither let thee have one drop of His blood to
wash ... and judgment, saying, Lord, why am I thus condemned, I did not know it ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the doctrine.htm

Abraham, his Trial in Egypt; his Humility
... 552]141; unworthy partakers waste Christ's blood, [553]161 ... a reason for not taking
legal proceedings, [777 ... Idol sacrifices, show contempt of God and carelessness ...
/.../abraham his trial in egypt.htm

Resources
Do the news reports of rivers turning blood red have anything to do with the end times? | GotQuestions.org

Is pleading the blood of Jesus biblical? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about donating blood/blood donations? | GotQuestions.org

Blood: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Blood

Blood and Water

Blood Covenant

Blood is the Life

Blood of all Men the Same

Blood of Animals Slain for Good to be Poured on the Earth

Blood of Christ

Blood of Destruction

Blood of Guilt

Blood of Jesus

Blood of Judgments

Blood of Legal Sacrifices for Atonement

Blood of Legal Sacrifices for Purification

Blood of Legal Sacrifices: How Disposed of

Blood of Legal Sacrifices: Ineffectual to Remove Sin

Blood of Legal Sacrifices: Not offered With Leaven

Blood of Oppression and Cruelty

Blood of Sacrifices, Typical of the Atoning Blood of Christ

Blood of Victories

Blood: (Building With) of Oppression and Cruelty

Blood: (Given to Drink) of Severe Judgments

Blood: (On One's own Head) Guilt

Blood: (Preparing To) Ripening for Destruction

Blood: (Washing the Feet In) Victories

Blood: Beasts of Prey Delight In

Blood: Birds of Prey Delight In

Blood: Blood of the Ram of Consecration Put on the Tip of Right Ear, Thumb

Blood: Eating of, Forbidden to Man After the Flood

Blood: Eating of, Forbidden to The Early Christians

Blood: Eating of, Forbidden to The Israelites Under the Law

Blood: Fluid

Blood: Forbidden to be Used As Food

Blood: Idolaters Made Drink-Offerings of

Blood: Plague of

Blood: Red

Blood: Sacrificial of the Bullock of Sin offering, Put on the Horns of the Altar

Blood: Sacrificial used for Cleansing of Leprosy

Blood: Sacrificial without Shedding of, No Remission

Blood: Sacrificial: On the Horns of the Altar of Sweet Incense

Blood: Sacrificial: Poured at the Bottom of the Altar

Blood: Sacrificial: Sprinkled About the Altar

Blood: Sacrificial: Sprinkled all Around, and Upon the Altar

Blood: Sacrificial: Sprinkled on Altar and People

Blood: Sacrificial: Sprinkled on Door Posts

Blood: Sacrificial: Sprinkled on the Altar

Blood: Sacrificial: Sprinkled on the Mercy Seat

Blood: Sacrificial: Sprinkled Seven Times Before the Curtain

Blood: Shedding of Human: Always Punished

Blood: Shedding of Human: Defiling to the Land

Blood: Shedding of Human: Defiling to the Person

Blood: Shedding of Human: Forbidden

Blood: Shedding of Human: Hateful to God

Blood: Shedding of Human: Jews often Guilty of

Blood: Shedding of Human: Mode of Clearing Those Accused of

Blood: The Jews often Guilty of Eating

Blood: The Life of Animals

Blood: The Price of, not to be Consecrated

Blood: Water Turned Into, As a Sign

Blood: Waters of Egypt Turned Into, As a Judgment

Blood-Avenger

Related Terms

Blood-guiltiness (4 Occurrences)

Blood-revenge

Blood-stained (1 Occurrence)

Life-blood (4 Occurrences)

Blood-shedding (2 Occurrences)

Blood-thirsty (2 Occurrences)

Blood-field (1 Occurrence)

Blood-red (1 Occurrence)

Covenant-blood (1 Occurrence)

Shedding (23 Occurrences)

Bloodguiltiness (15 Occurrences)

Sprinkleth (11 Occurrences)

Avenger (18 Occurrences)

Big (21 Occurrences)

Slayer (23 Occurrences)

Sprinkled (55 Occurrences)

Kinsman (29 Occurrences)

Slaughtereth (13 Occurrences)

Bullock (95 Occurrences)

Abel (22 Occurrences)

Vampire

Avenging (10 Occurrences)

Sheddeth (4 Occurrences)

Sides (170 Occurrences)

Aaron's (53 Occurrences)

Sex (51 Occurrences)

Sweat (3 Occurrences)

Slaughtered (72 Occurrences)

Zachariah (6 Occurrences)

Zechari'ah (51 Occurrences)

Kicking (4 Occurrences)

Accountable (10 Occurrences)

Avenge (27 Occurrences)

Strangled (4 Occurrences)

Sinoffering

Sprinkle (37 Occurrences)

Hyssop (12 Occurrences)

Avenged (34 Occurrences)

Accused (29 Occurrences)

Consecrated (101 Occurrences)

Sojourning (35 Occurrences)

Shed (73 Occurrences)

Kills (38 Occurrences)

Kinswoman (4 Occurrences)

Controversy (21 Occurrences)

Affinity (4 Occurrences)

Animals (224 Occurrences)

Sanctifieth (21 Occurrences)

Stained (6 Occurrences)

Sith (1 Occurrence)

Sated (16 Occurrences)

Sheds (4 Occurrences)

Side-posts (7 Occurrences)

Squirming (2 Occurrences)

Charged (109 Occurrences)

Sprinkling (48 Occurrences)

Vengeance (63 Occurrences)

Killing (41 Occurrences)

Burnt-offering (205 Occurrences)

Vail (44 Occurrences)

Amasa (13 Occurrences)

Zacharias (11 Occurrences)

Smiting (76 Occurrences)

Bears (62 Occurrences)

Cleansed (76 Occurrences)

Sanctified (105 Occurrences)

Slayeth (28 Occurrences)

Calves (34 Occurrences)

Slew (206 Occurrences)

Sexual (59 Occurrences)

Kidneys (15 Occurrences)

Base (127 Occurrences)

Shaking (162 Occurrences)

Barachiah (3 Occurrences)

Berechiah (12 Occurrences)

Barachi'ah (1 Occurrence)

Berekiah (11 Occurrences)

Barachias (1 Occurrence)

Blood of Legal Sacrifices: Ineffectual to Remove Sin
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