Sermons on Leviticus 17:11
The various sermons below converge on the central theological truth that the blood mentioned in Leviticus 17:11 is foundational for atonement, emphasizing that life is in the blood and that its shedding is essential for forgiveness and covenant relationship with God. They collectively highlight the superiority of Christ’s blood over the Old Testament animal sacrifices, portraying the latter as temporary coverings or shadows that anticipate the full remission and cleansing accomplished by Jesus. A recurring nuance is the distinction between "covering" sin, as the Hebrew term kaphar originally implies, and the New Testament concept of "remission," where Christ’s blood not only covers but completely erases sin with no lingering memory. Another shared insight is the portrayal of blood as a kind of spiritual currency, uniquely capable of purchasing purification and reconciliation. The sermons also underscore the communal and covenantal dimensions of blood sacrifice, connecting the physical act of sprinkling blood with the establishment of a binding relationship between God and His people. Additionally, several sermons explore the Old Testament sacrifices as both real and anticipatory, with Christ’s future sacrifice being retroactively effective for believers under the old covenant, thus affirming the genuine forgiveness experienced by Old Testament saints.
Despite these commonalities, the sermons diverge in their emphases and theological framing. Some focus intensely on the experiential and pastoral implications of approaching God solely through Christ’s blood, warning against reliance on human merit or spiritual progress and emphasizing the sinner’s humility in bringing nothing but sin to the Mercy Seat. Others highlight the legal and redemptive dimensions, stressing the removal of guilt and the averting of divine wrath as the core achievements of Christ’s sacrifice, which then unlock all other promises of God. One approach uses vivid sensory imagery to connect the physicality of blood with covenant commitment, while another frames the old sacrifices as parables or shadows, underscoring the absence yet anticipatory presence of Christ in the old covenant. The tension between viewing Old Testament sacrifices as merely symbolic versus genuinely efficacious by virtue of Christ’s future work is also notable. Furthermore, some sermons develop the theme of God’s forgetfulness of forgiven sins, encouraging believers not to dredge up past guilt, whereas others focus more on the ongoing, perpetual presence of Christ’s blood as a continual basis for mercy and hope. This variety of perspectives offers a spectrum from the deeply mystical and pastoral to the rigorously theological and covenantal, each bringing out different facets of the same foundational truth.
Leviticus 17:11 Interpretation:
The Power and Significance of Jesus' Blood (The King's Temple Church) offers a distinctive interpretation of Leviticus 17:11 by contrasting the Hebrew concept of "atonement" (kaphar, meaning "covering") with the New Testament idea of "remission" through Jesus' blood. The sermon emphasizes that while animal blood in the Old Testament could only cover sin, Jesus' blood actually remits (wipes away) sin, leaving no trace. This distinction is highlighted as a fundamental difference between the old and new covenants, and the preacher uses the original Hebrew meaning to deepen the understanding of the passage. The analogy of currency is also used: blood is described as the only "currency" recognized in the spiritual realm, and only Jesus' blood has the value to purchase true purification and reconciliation with God.
Christ's Central Achievement: Redemption and Eternal Inheritance (Desiring God) interprets Leviticus 17:11 as a foundational text that points to the inadequacy of animal sacrifices and the necessity of Christ's ultimate sacrifice. The sermon notes that the blood sacrifices of the Old Testament, as described in Leviticus 17:11, were "parables, shadows, copies" that anticipated the true atonement to come in Christ. The preacher draws out the linguistic nuance that the life is "in the blood," and that the shedding of blood is essential for atonement, but insists that the Old Testament sacrifices were only effective by anticipation of Christ's future work. The sermon uniquely frames the "absence" of Christ in the old covenant as a thunderclap pointing to the need for a redeemer whose blood would truly remove guilt and avert wrath, thus giving Leviticus 17:11 a forward-looking, Christocentric interpretation.
Covenant Commitment: Understanding God's Call and Sacrifice (David Guzik) provides a vivid, sensory interpretation of Leviticus 17:11 by describing the sacrificial ritual in Exodus 24 and connecting it to the Levitical principle that "the life of the flesh is in the blood." The sermon uses the physicality of the blood—its warmth, its being sprinkled on the people—to underscore the seriousness and costliness of covenant. The preacher notes that the blood is not magical but represents the life of the victim, and that the act of sprinkling blood on the people is a sign of their identification with the covenant. This interpretation is enriched by the preacher's insistence that the pattern of covenant—word, sacrifice, response, and blood—finds its fulfillment in Jesus, whose blood is the true and final means of atonement.
Finding Mercy: The Power of Christ's Blood (SermonIndex.net) offers a deeply immersive interpretation of Leviticus 17:11 by focusing on the image of the Mercy Seat and the act of laying down sin upon the blood-sprinkled lid. The sermon uniquely emphasizes the sinner’s approach to God as one who brings nothing but sin, paralleling the Old Testament priest who brought only sin to the Mercy Seat. The preacher uses the analogy of the “film in the eye” that looks to the atoning Savior, highlighting the imperfection even in the act of faith and confession, and insists that the blood alone, not any human merit, is the basis for atonement. This perspective is distinct in its insistence that the only thing a sinner can bring is their sin, and that the blood is the sole means of cleansing, with no room for self-improvement or preparatory works. The sermon also draws a vivid picture of the blood being ever-present on the Mercy Seat, night and day, symbolizing the perpetual sufficiency and availability of Christ’s atonement.
The Great Achievements of Christ: Redemption and Hope (SermonIndex.net) interprets Leviticus 17:11 as the foundational statement of the necessity and efficacy of blood for atonement, but it goes further by exploring the “absence and presence” of Christ in the Old Covenant. The preacher uses the language of “parables, shadows, and copies” to describe the Old Testament sacrifices, arguing that while Christ was “absent” in a literal sense, he was “present” by anticipation—God reckoned the future blood of Christ as effective for Old Testament saints who looked through the sacrifices to the coming Redeemer. This interpretation is notable for its theological nuance: it asserts that forgiveness in the Old Covenant was real, not merely symbolic, because God applied the merit of Christ’s future sacrifice retroactively. The sermon also distinguishes between ceremonial uncleanness and real moral guilt, insisting that Leviticus 17:11 points to the removal of true guilt and the averting of God’s wrath, not just ritual purity.
Leviticus 17:11 Theological Themes:
The Power and Significance of Jesus' Blood (The King's Temple Church) introduces the theme that Jesus' blood does not merely "cover" sin (as animal sacrifices did) but "remits" it, meaning it completely erases sin with no memory or trace left. This is further developed with the idea that God chooses to forget forgiven sins, and that believers should not "fish" in the sea of forgetfulness. The sermon also presents the blood of Jesus as the only valid spiritual currency, contrasting it with human efforts or material offerings, and stresses the exchange of Jesus' life for the believer's purification.
Christ's Central Achievement: Redemption and Eternal Inheritance (Desiring God) presents the theme that the old covenant sacrifices, including those described in Leviticus 17:11, were only effective by virtue of Christ's anticipated sacrifice. The sermon uniquely frames the old sacrifices as "parables" and "shadows" that pointed to the necessity of a guilt-removing, wrath-averting sacrifice, which only Christ could provide. The preacher also develops the theme that Christ's blood unleashes all the promises of God, including sanctification, freedom from the love of money, and the eternal inheritance of God's people.
Covenant Commitment: Understanding God's Call and Sacrifice (David Guzik) adds the theme that covenant with God is always established through blood, and that the pattern of word, sacrifice, response, and blood is not only ancient but also fulfilled in the new covenant through Jesus. The sermon also highlights the communal aspect of covenant—there is one covenant for all God's people, not private deals—and the necessity of personal faith in the efficacy of the blood, not just ritual participation.
Finding Mercy: The Power of Christ's Blood (SermonIndex.net) introduces the theme that the only valid approach to God is as a sinner bringing nothing but sin, and that the act of laying down sin on the blood-sprinkled Mercy Seat is both humbling and inviting. The sermon develops the idea that assurance of salvation is grounded solely in the sufficiency of Christ’s blood, not in the measure of one’s repentance, conviction, or spiritual attainment. It warns against the subtle danger of seeking assurance in one’s own works or spiritual progress, labeling this as a “practical denial” of the finished work of Christ and a “popish delusion.” The preacher also explores the paradox that the very act of confession and faith is itself tainted by sin, yet the blood cleanses from all sin, even the sin of one’s “holy things.”
The Great Achievements of Christ: Redemption and Hope (SermonIndex.net) presents the theme of the “absence and presence” of Christ in the Old Covenant, arguing that the Old Testament sacrificial system was both inadequate and yet effective by virtue of Christ’s anticipated sacrifice. The sermon’s unique theological contribution is its assertion that the removal of guilt and the averting of wrath are the “most foundational, most central, most essential achievement of Christ,” and that all other blessings and promises flow from this achievement. It also introduces the idea that the “sluice gate” of God’s promises is opened by the removal of guilt and wrath, enabling sanctification and the fulfillment of all God’s promises to the believer.
Leviticus 17:11 Historical and Contextual Insights:
Covenant Commitment: Understanding God's Call and Sacrifice (David Guzik) provides detailed historical context for the sacrificial system, describing how oxen were sacrificed, the blood was caught in basins, and half was sprinkled on the altar while the other half was sprinkled on the people. The preacher explains that this ritual was a turning point in Israel's history, marking their entrance into covenant with God, and that the act of sprinkling blood was a public, communal event that signified identification with the covenant. The sermon also notes that the blood represented the life of the victim, and that the seriousness of the ritual was meant to impress upon the people the gravity of their commitment to God.
Finding Mercy: The Power of Christ's Blood (SermonIndex.net) provides historical context by describing the Mercy Seat as the lid of the Ark in the Holy of Holies, where blood was sprinkled seven times on the Day of Atonement. The sermon explains that the priest brought nothing but sin to the Mercy Seat, and that the blood was always present, symbolizing the perpetual availability of atonement. It also notes the cultural significance of the priest’s confession of both personal and communal sin, and the understanding that even the act of confession was imperfect and needed atonement.
The Great Achievements of Christ: Redemption and Hope (SermonIndex.net) offers contextual insight by explaining that the Old Covenant sacrificial system was a “parable, shadow, and copy” of the reality to come in Christ. The preacher highlights that the repeated sacrifices and the shedding of animal blood pointed to the inadequacy of the system to remove real guilt, and that the true efficacy of the sacrifices was found in God’s anticipation of Christ’s sacrifice. The sermon also references the understanding among Old Testament saints, such as David, that God desired a broken and contrite heart rather than mere ritual, indicating a deeper awareness of the limitations of the sacrificial system.
Leviticus 17:11 Cross-References in the Bible:
The Power and Significance of Jesus' Blood (The King's Temple Church) references Hebrews 9:13 and Hebrews 9:12 to contrast the temporary, flesh-purifying effect of animal blood with the eternal, conscience-cleansing power of Jesus' blood. John 1:29 is cited to identify Jesus as the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world," reinforcing the idea that Jesus' sacrifice is the fulfillment of the Levitical system. The sermon also alludes to Revelation (the "accuser of the brethren") and the concept of the "sea of forgetfulness" for forgiven sins.
Christ's Central Achievement: Redemption and Eternal Inheritance (Desiring God) makes extensive use of cross-references: Leviticus 17:11 is quoted as the basis for the necessity of blood for atonement; Hebrews 9–10 is used to show the inadequacy of animal sacrifices and the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice; Psalm 51 is referenced to show that Old Testament saints understood the limitations of sacrifices; Romans 3:25 is cited to explain that Old Testament forgiveness was based on Christ's future sacrifice; Ephesians 1:7 is used to parallel redemption through Christ's blood; and 1 Corinthians 10:4, 1 Peter 1:11, and other passages are used to show Christ's presence in the Old Testament by anticipation.
Covenant Commitment: Understanding God's Call and Sacrifice (David Guzik) references Exodus 24 (the covenant ceremony), Leviticus 17 (the life is in the blood), and Hebrews 13 (the blood of the everlasting covenant). The sermon also alludes to the Last Supper (Jesus' words about the new covenant in his blood) and the pattern of covenant in both Old and New Testaments.
Finding Mercy: The Power of Christ's Blood (SermonIndex.net) references a wide array of biblical passages to support and expand on Leviticus 17:11. It draws on Exodus 25:22 to connect the Mercy Seat with God’s presence, Matthew 26:28 and 9:12-13 to emphasize Christ’s blood as the means of remission for sinners, Romans 7:18 and 3:25, 3:31 to discuss the nature of sin and justification, 1 John 5:11 and 1:7, Colossians 1:12-15, Ephesians 2:12-15, Hebrews 12:24, and 10:28-29 to elaborate on the sufficiency and power of Christ’s blood, and Isaiah 55:1, 46:12-13, and 1:18 to highlight the free offer of salvation and the cleansing from sin. The sermon also references Psalm 51:7 to illustrate David’s understanding of atonement through blood, and Acts 16:31, 4:12, and John 6:37 to underscore the universality and immediacy of the invitation to salvation.
The Great Achievements of Christ: Redemption and Hope (SermonIndex.net) makes extensive use of biblical cross-references to reinforce its interpretation of Leviticus 17:11. It cites Hebrews 9:1–10:18 as the primary text, with specific references to Hebrews 9:7, 9:12, 9:22, 9:26, 10:1, 10:3, 10:4, 10:11, 10:12, 10:14, 10:18, and 13:5-6 to discuss the inadequacy of the Old Covenant and the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice. The sermon also references Psalm 51 to illustrate the Old Testament understanding of true repentance, 1 Corinthians 10:4 and 1 Peter 1:11 to show Christ’s presence in the Old Testament, Romans 3:25 and Ephesians 1:7 to parallel the themes of blood, redemption, and forgiveness, and 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16 to describe the second coming. The preacher also alludes to 2 Corinthians 1:20 (“all the promises of God are yes in Jesus”) and Hebrews 8:10 to describe the new covenant promise of God’s presence.
Leviticus 17:11 Christian References outside the Bible:
The Power and Significance of Jesus' Blood (The King's Temple Church) explicitly references Reinhard Bonnke, quoting his statement that "God and man became one in the womb of Virgin Mary," emphasizing the unique, sinless nature of Jesus' blood. The sermon also cites Corrie ten Boom, referencing her metaphor about not "fishing in the sea of forgetfulness" after God has forgiven sins, to illustrate the completeness of forgiveness through Jesus' blood.
Leviticus 17:11 Illustrations from Secular Sources:
The Power and Significance of Jesus' Blood (The King's Temple Church) uses the analogy of currency exchange to illustrate the spiritual value of blood. The preacher explains that just as rupees are not accepted in a foreign country, so human efforts, money, or status have no value in the spiritual realm—only blood is recognized as valid currency. The analogy is extended to show that only Jesus' blood can "purchase" purification and reconciliation with God, making the concept accessible to listeners familiar with international travel and commerce. The sermon also references common practices in various cultures, such as giving money to deities, going on pilgrimages, or performing acts of penance, to highlight the futility of these efforts compared to the efficacy of Jesus' blood.