Reading for week of Sunday 9/10/23

QUESTION:
Can you please explain Genesis 9:4 “But you must never eat any meat that still has lifeblood in it.” I didn’t understand what lifeblood means.
Gabby

ANSWER:

First of all, please remember that because Jesus fulfilled, completed the Law, we are no longer under the Law. We are under grace. In fact, Colossians 2:16 says: “So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths.” Thus, the prohibition of eating blood applied only before Christ.

Genesis 9:4 is the first passage of Scripture where God forbids to eat blood. As you continue reading the Bible, you will come across other passages about this prohibition including Leviticus 17:10-12 (NLT) below which tells us why:

“And if any native Israelite or foreigner living among you eats or drinks blood in any form, I will turn against that person and cut him off from the community of your people, 11 for the life of the body is in its blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the Lord.[e] It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible. 12 That is why I have said to the people of Israel, ‘You must never eat or drink blood—neither you nor the foreigners living among you.’

The blood represents the life of creatures. Christ’s shedding of His blood at the cross cleanses us and gives us eternal life with God in heaven. His blood, thus, is also a symbol of our eternal life. For these reasons, God forbade the eating of blood.

Thank you for your question!