Tucked in among the ordinances from the LORD for the people to follow is a short little theology lesson...
(Leviticus 17:10-11) "...And any man from the house of Israel, or from the aliens who sojourn among them, who eats any blood, I will set My face against that person who eats 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 on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement."
Very briefly - the blood is seen as the "key" to life, especially to those living back then. Pagans would sacrifice animals and even their own children to their gods, as well as have rituals where they would drink blood. Satan has always mocked God in how things are done - by doing something similar but twisting things around. God does not want His children associating with that (then or now). Let us focus on Jesus...
(Romans 5:6-11) For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
While reading through the book of Leviticus, notice that when people do not obey the LORD's instructions, they are either to be cut off or even killed. This sounds so harsh, but let us not take God and His Word so lightly, because He is fair and just, AND He only wants the best for us. Let's look at verses 8 and 9 of the New Testament scripture again...
(Romans 5:8-9) ...God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
And these last verses tie together the importance of God's love and justice with the importance of the blood of Jesus...
(Romans 3:21-) But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
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