31. Blood and Life (Leviticus 17:1-16)

• Jun, 23 2025

Chapter Thirty-One Summary: Blood and Life (Leviticus 17:1–16) Rushdoony on the Sacredness of Blood, Life, and God’s Exclusive Claim over AtonementIn this chapter, R.J. Rushdoony explains that Leviticus 17 draws a line between sacred life and idolatrous death, centering on the theological and practical meaning of blood. At its core, the text insists that life belongs to God, and therefore blood is not to be eaten or used for man's gain, but strictly for God-ordained atonement. 🔑 Summary of the Key Laws in Leviticus 17Sacrifices must be brought to the tabernacle (vv. 3–7) → Any other sacrifice = blood guilt = cut off from the peopleNo private altars or field sacrifices (vv. 8–9) → Pagan practices must ceaseThe eating of blood is strictly forbidden (vv. 10–14) → “The life of the flesh is in the blood” (v. 11)Hunters must drain and cover the blood with dust (v. 13)Unclean animals that die naturally are not to be eaten (vv. 15–16) → If eaten, it renders one unclean until purification🩸 Theological Meaning of Blood Blood = Life = God's Property“The life of the flesh is in the blood … it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” — Leviticus 17:11Rushdoony explains that blood is not just symbolic; it is sacred because it represents life, and life is owned by God. Any misuse of blood (e.g., drinking, sacrificing outside God's law) is an assertion of man’s autonomy, a grasp at godlike power (Gen. 3:5). 🧪 Pagan Counterfeits of AtonementRushdoony cites anthropologists (e.g., Frazer) to show that in many pagan societies, blood was believed to grant spiritual or prophetic power:Drinking blood to receive divine inspiration or possessionBlood rituals linked to gods like Kali, Pan, and fertility cultsThese practices reflect a perversion of God's ordinance—they mirror the Fall, where man seeks life apart from God, usually through violence, sex, or death.“To seek life by integration downward is death.” — Rushdoony🧠 Christian Implications: Christ’s BloodThe prohibition against blood eating gives Jesus’ words in John 6:53–56 extraordinary force:“Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.”Rushdoony notes how shocking this would be to Jewish ears, given their long-standing reverence for Leviticus 17. But the statement does not contradict the law—it fulfills it. Christ’s blood is the only lawful blood that gives life, not through superstition or self-effort, but through God's ordained atonement.“Only the blood of Christ can make atonement for sin.”⚖️ Moral Lessons from Leviticus 17 1. God Alone Gives and Takes LifeKilling, eating, and sacrificing must all be under God’s authority—or else it’s a desecration of life. 2. Blood Atonement Is Central to HolinessLeviticus 17 is part of the Holiness Code (Lev. 17–26), and its placement at the start underscores that atonement is foundational to moral purity and social order. 3. Eating and Worship Are Not SecularEven diet is subject to divine law. Eating meat carelessly, without proper regard for God’s order, is an act of irreverence. 4. All Inhabitants of the Land Are AccountableThese commands apply to strangers and sojourners as well. God's law is universal in jurisdiction—not just “religious.” 🧬 Contemporary ReflectionsRushdoony draws connections to modern medicine and cultural practices:Blood transfusions, once routine, are now questioned medically and ethicallyJehovah’s Witnesses, despite their theological errors, are one of the few groups to take Leviticus 17 seriouslyModern warfare, abortion, and violence are symptoms of a culture that consumes life without reverence, echoing ancient paganism👿 Pagan Deities and Blood WorshipVerse 7 warns Israel not to offer sacrifices to “devils” (seirim = goat-demons). Rushdoony explains these were fertility gods like Pan and satyrs, whose worship included:Blood ritualsSexual perversionsClaims to divine power through “life force”Christian demonology drew on this same biblical background to understand pagan gods as demonic counterfeits of true worship. 📖 Conclusion: Blood Belongs to God“To observe Leviticus 17, in its fullest sense, means to live in Christ.” — RushdoonyLeviticus 17 teaches that:Life is not man’s to take or use freelyBlood is reserved for God’s altar, not man’s consumptionOnly Christ’s blood brings life and atonementThus, the Christian does not seek life through nature, violence, or mysticism—but only through union with Christ, the true and final blood sacrifice.📌 SEO Keywords: Leviticus 17 commentary, Rushdoony blood theology, biblical view on blood, blood and atonement, eating blood in the Bible, Christ’s blood and life, sacredness of life in Scripture, holiness code explained

Author

R.J. Rushdoony

Chalcedon Founder

Narrated by

Nathan F. Conkey

Narrator, teacher, missionary