Blood In Exodus

Blood is a theme seen throughout the Old Testament and the New Testament. Once a year, the priest was to make an offering of the blood of animals on the altar of the temple for the sins of the people. “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22). A specific look at Exodus and Matthew shows how blood was significant in salvation. In both parts of the Bible, the use of blood symbolizes new life. To be saved or have a new life, the common thread seen throughout the Bible is that blood is always a factor in giving new life. In Exodus 12, the Bible explains the instructions given to the Hebrews in order for the Angel of Death to pass over their homes. “Your lamb shall be without blemish, a year old male…They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses….” The houses with blood on the door posts would be protected from the Angel of Death. Because of it, Israel's firstborn were saved, while Egypt's firstborn died. Note that in Exodus, in order for life to be saved, the sacrifice had to be a pure lamb without blemish. The blood ceremonially cleansed and protected the people inside those homes against the plague of death that struck the Egyptians. Later, in Matthew,

In Matthew, Jesus made a new covenant with Himself as the sacrificial Lamb of God. The blood of Christ is the basis of the New Covenant. As Jesus sat at His last Passover with His disciples, He poured wine into His cup and blessed it, telling the disciples, "Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:27-28). By drinking from His cup, they each accepted the terms of the New