Making a sacrifice out in the field was a very serious offense. In fact, the person that did so, bloodguiltiness was reckoned to the man. Because he shed blood, he was to be cut off from the people. Life, whether man or beast was to be considered precious. The life of all living beings on the earth is in the blood; therefore, the sons of Israel, or any foreigners who lived with them were not to eat blood. All animals were to be taken to the doorway of the tent of meeting to be slaughtered by a priest; whether the sacrifice was a peace offering, burnt offering, or sin offering.
The sons of Israel were to think of themselves as one people and their king was the Lord. The Lord had designated Aaron and the sons of Aaron as priest to the Lord. The Lord had designated the tent of meeting as the place to make sacrifices. The Lord had commanded that the sons of Israel eat no blood, because the life is in the blood; therefore, it is the blood that makes atonement. The Lord’s portion of any sacrifice was the fat. There are three things to consider:
- The sons of Israel were to make sacrifices to the Lord only. If they were making sacrifices out in the field, to whom were they sacrificing?
- The sons of Israel were to think of themselves as one congregation and not individuals doing their own thing.
- The Lord commanded that all sacrifices be done in this way.
They were aloud to kill and eat wild animals that were considered clean animals but were not to eat the blood. If they shot and killed a deer for instance, the blood had to be drained out in the field before the animal was cooked and eaten. If an animal was killed by another animal it could be eaten, but the man had to take a bath and wash his clothes and was considered unclean until evening.
The Christian is not under these ceremonial obligations because we have a new covenant in Christ Jesus our Lord, who is the Son of the God. He has been given all authority in heaven and on earth; therefore, he is our king. During his last supper with his disciples, Matthew 26:26-28 (NASB)
While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.
Like the sons of Israel were to come to the doorway of the tent of meeting to make sacrifices. We are not to eat the Lord’s supper alone but together in a congregation.
