Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Leviticus
Book: Leviticus
Chapter: 17
Overview:
All sacrifices to be offered at the
Tabernacle.
(1-9) Eating
of
Blood, or of animals which died a natural
Death, forbidden.
(10-16)
1-9 All the
Cattle killed
By the Israelites, while in the
Wilderness, were to be presented before the door of the
Tabernacle, and the
Flesh to be returned to the offerer, to be
eaten as a peace-
Offering, according to the
Law. When they
entered
Canaan, this only continued in respect of sacrifices.
The spiritual sacrifices we are now to offer, are not confined
to any one place. We have now
No Temple or
Altar that sanctifies
the
Gift; nor does the
Gospel unity
Rest only in one place, but
in one
Heart, and the unity of the
Spirit.
Christ is our
Altar,
and the true
Tabernacle; in him
God dwells among men. It is in
him that our sacrifices are acceptable to
God, and in him only.
To set up other mediators, or other altars, or other expiatory
sacrifices, is, in effect, to set up other gods. And though
God
will graciously accept our family offerings, we must not
therefore neglect attending at the
Tabernacle.
10-16 Here is a confirmation of the
Law against
Eating Blood.
They must eat
No Blood. But this
Law was ceremonial, and is now
No longer in force; the coming of the substance does away the
Shadow. The
Blood of beasts is
No longer the
Ransom, but
Christ's
Blood only; therefore there is not now the reason for
abstaining there then was. The
Blood is now allowed for the
nourishment of our bodies; it is
No longer appointed to make an
Atonement for the soul. Now the
Blood of
Christ makes
Atonement
really and effectually; to that, therefore, we must have regard,
and not consider it as a common thing, or treat it with
indifference.