Torah Studies · Study 18
Life, Blood, and Atonement
Connecting the Torah and Jesus
Day 18 · Leviticus 17
Discover why life is sacred and how Jesus’ offering brings us near to God. Read Leviticus 17 with complete verses, clear explanations, questions, and prayer.
In this study
Let’s begin together
Father, help us understand why life is precious and why atonement matters. Open our eyes to the gift of Your Son. Teach us to trust Jesus and honor You in our everyday choices. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Leviticus 17 follows the instructions for the Day of Atonement. It teaches Israel where to bring sacrifices and why blood must be treated with respect. Torah means instruction. We first hear these words within God’s covenant with Israel, then follow the connections made by Jesus and the apostles.
Main truth: Life belongs to God. He provided blood on the altar for atonement, and Jesus gave His own life to bring us to God.
1. Worship belongs to God
Leviticus 17:1-4 King James Version
1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Speak unto Aaron, and unto his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them; This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, saying,
3 What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth it out of the camp,
4 And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the LORD before the tabernacle of the LORD; blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people:
These instructions addressed Aaron, the priests, and the whole community. In Israel’s wilderness camp, the killing of the listed animals was brought under God’s rules for sacrifice. People were not free to set up their own worship wherever they wished. The warning about being cut off shows how seriously God treated this command.
Leviticus 17:5-7 King James Version
5 To the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they offer in the open field, even that they may bring them unto the LORD, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest, and offer them for peace offerings unto the LORD.
6 And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and burn the fat for a sweet savour unto the LORD.
7 And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations.
The purpose is stated: bring the sacrifices to the Lord and stop offering them to false gods. The strong language about unfaithfulness describes breaking covenant loyalty. Israel belonged to the Lord. Worship was a response to Him, not a way to mix His name with other gods.
Leviticus 17:8-9 King James Version
8 And thou shalt say unto them, Whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers which sojourn among you, that offereth a burnt offering or sacrifice,
9 And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer it unto the LORD; even that man shall be cut off from among his people.
The command also included foreigners living among Israel. Those who brought sacrifices were to honor the same holy place. For us, a helpful question is: Am I listening to what God says, or trying to make worship fit whatever I already want?
2. Life is in the blood
Leviticus 17:10-12 King James Version
10 And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people.
11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
12 Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood.
Verse 11 is the heart of this chapter. God gives two connected truths: the life of the flesh is in the blood, and He has given blood on the altar for atonement. Atonement deals with sin and impurity so that people can approach the holy God in the way He provides.
Notice the words “I have given.” The provision began with God. Blood was not a magic substance people could use to control Him. On the altar, it represented life offered according to His instruction. Israel was forbidden to treat blood as ordinary food.
What changes when we see atonement as God’s provision instead of something we invent or earn?
3. Respect for life reached ordinary meals
Leviticus 17:13-14 King James Version
13 And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust.
14 For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.
An animal or bird permitted for food could be hunted, but its blood was to be poured out and covered with earth. These animals were not all brought to the altar. The shared point is respect for life and obedience to God’s instruction about blood.
Leviticus 17:15-16 King James Version
15 And every soul that eateth that which died of itself, or that which was torn with beasts, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even: then shall he be clean.
16 But if he wash them not, nor bathe his flesh; then he shall bear his iniquity.
Eating an animal that had died naturally or been torn by another animal brought ritual uncleanness. Washing and waiting until evening were required. Refusing the required response brought responsibility for wrongdoing. This helps us distinguish a condition of uncleanness from deliberate disobedience.
4. Jesus gave His own life
Hebrews 9:11-14 King James Version
11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Hebrews connects the sacrifices with Jesus, our High Priest. He entered the holy place through His own blood and obtained eternal redemption. Redemption means rescue and release. His offering reaches our conscience, the inner awareness of right and wrong, so that we can serve the living God.
The connection is more than the color of blood. Jesus offered Himself without blemish to God. His blood speaks of His life given in sacrificial death. We trust the Savior who gave Himself, not a formula or an object. God’s holy love made a way for us to draw near.
1 Peter 1:18-21 King James Version
18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
Peter says we were redeemed with Christ’s precious blood, not silver or gold. The language of a lamb without blemish echoes the offerings of the Torah. Peter also points to the resurrection: God raised Jesus from the dead. Our faith and hope rest in God, who gave the Son and raised Him.
5. Remember the new covenant
Luke 22:19-20 King James Version
19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
At the meal with His disciples, Jesus spoke of His body given for them and the new covenant in His blood. A covenant is a relationship established by God with promises and responsibilities. Jesus connected the cup with His coming sacrificial death and told His disciples to remember Him.
We remember a Person who loved us and gave Himself for us. The Lord’s Supper calls us to receive His gift with gratitude and to live as people who belong to Him. Covenant life is a daily response of faith, love, and obedience.
6. The apostles taught Gentile believers
Acts 15:19-21 King James Version
19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
In Jerusalem, the church considered how Gentiles, people from the other nations, should be received. James said not to trouble those turning to God. He also gave concrete instructions about idols, sexual immorality, strangled animals, and blood. Grace did not mean that every practice became acceptable.
Acts 15:28-29 King James Version
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
The letter repeated these instructions with the agreement of the Holy Spirit and the gathered leaders. We should take the apostles’ words seriously rather than skip them. The passage shows Gentile believers being welcomed while learning a life separated from idolatry and shaped by holiness and fellowship.
Talk it over with friends
1. Why did God call Israel away from private sacrifices to false gods?
2. What does “I have given it to you” teach us about the source of atonement?
3. How does Hebrews explain what Jesus’ offering accomplishes?
4. How can gratitude for Jesus shape one choice you make this week?
Put it into practice
Give God your undivided worship. Name one thing that competes for your trust or obedience. Bring it honestly to Him, and choose a practical step that places His Word first.
Thank Jesus for giving Himself for you. Let His mercy lead you to confess wrongdoing, make peace where you can, and serve someone in love. A cleansed conscience prepares us for living service, not only relief from guilt.
A verse to carry with you
Hebrews 9:14 King James Version
14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Remember the purpose: a cleansed conscience that serves the living God.
Let’s pray together
Father, thank You for the life You give and for the way You provided through Jesus. We place our trust in His complete offering. Cleanse our conscience and teach us to serve You with a willing heart. Keep our worship faithful, our gratitude sincere, and our love practical. Help us honor the teaching of Jesus and His apostles. In Jesus’ name, amen.
I love you, my friends.
Scripture and sources
Scripture text was checked against the King James Version published by eBible.org. Complete verses retain the historical wording; editorial footnotes are omitted. Scripture references link to the source chapter.