The Blood of the Lamb
Christians are impressed that it was the blood (!) Of the lamb which saved the Jews in Egypt. Well it was. But it means something quite different than the meaning that Christians have read into it. In fact the blood of the lamb represents the precise opposite of the Christian claims for Jesus. It is the Jewish rejection of Jesus together with their rejection of all idolatry that saves the Jewish people.
We must ask ourselves. What did the blood mean to the Jews in Egypt? Why was the blood meaningful to God? And how did it save the Jewish people?
Answer: The Egyptians venerated the lamb. They couldn’t associate with anyone who herded sheep for the purpose of eating them (Genesis 43:32, 46:34, Exodus 8:22). For the Jew to slaughter the lamb it was an act of faith. Not in the lamb; but of faith in God. It takes courage to be different. First the Jew had to disengage from the Egyptian influence in his own mind, and then the Jew had to overcome his fear of the local population which would not take lightly to his slaughtering of their object of veneration. But if God commands, the Jew obeys. And God in His infinite mercy rewards our obedience even though it belongs to Him before we gave it to Him.
The blood of the lamb on the doorpost was a statement. The blood was a declaration that when you pass this doorpost you will no longer be in Egypt. Perhaps the geographical address is still Egypt, but the ideological location is far removed from Egypt. The blood on the doorpost proclaims that the people in this house have faith in God and in God alone. The destroying angel went through Egypt, but the homes with the blood were not “Egypt”.
So that’s the Passover lamb.
Today it is the Jew’s Mezuza that is the symbolic equivalent of the blood of the lamb. Wherever you see the Mezuza on the doorpost you can be sure they don’t worship the lamb in there. The Jewish home remains a bastion to faith in God and loyalty to His Law despite all of the extreme pressures that the worshipers of the lamb brought to bear in an effort to get the Jew to abandon his faith in God.
Ultimately, our rejection of the idolatrous influences of the nations around us will pay off. Those who hope to God, trust in Him, and in Him alone, will not be shamed (Isaiah 49:23).
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Thank You
Yisroel C. Blumenthal
1000 Verses - a project of Judaism Resources 
Shalom Pharisee friend!
Long time no see!
How could Egyptians regard shepherding as abominable (not blasphemous) and at the same time venerate them? And if slaughtering of the lambs needed to be an act of courageous expression of faith to Egyptian neighbors, then why it was done at night instead of daytime and in the house instead of streets?
Gean Guk Jeon The shepherds that were abominable were the ones who ate the sheep. The slaughtering was not done at night but rather in the afternoon and it was not done in the house but outside. Imagine the smell of roasting and the non-broken bones that were all over the place. 1000 Verses – a project of Judaism Resources wrote: >
i see.
Thank you always for inspiring article. Actually you teaches me and helps me to better understand the Jewish text of the New Testament.
Romans 3:25 “… through faith in the his blood righteousness his… ”
This verse can be interpreted “His faith in his blood… !!” You are right! The perfect obedience and faith which was demonstrated by his blood on the cross just as the Hebrews showd their faith and obedience by posting blood on the doorpost! Thank you brother!!
Gean Guk Jeon,
Contrary to the authoritative claims of this essay, the reality is that Jewish commentators are not in agreement as to the meanings of Genesis 43:32, 46:34, and Exodus 8:22.
For a less biased and more scholarly approach to the subject– I would suggest you read a paper from a man who at least makes some reasoned attempt to reconcile Torah with the ancient historical records– “‘Abomination to Egyptians’ in Genesis 43:32, 46:34, and Exodus 8:22” by Aron Pinker
http://www.scielo.org.za/pdf/ote/v22n1/08.pdf
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Thanks a lot Kavi!!
B”H…….a good article, but some people realize that the young rabbi from Nazareth was soeaking, in the 3rd person, as though he were the Torah.
The ink was usually Lamb’s Blood ink, and the parchment was vellum, the stretched, pressed, and bleached Flesh of a Lamb.
Some have said that.in those days it had to be from a Pesach Lamb.
To really understand the book in it’s truest sense, all you need do is ask, ” What would the Torah think, say, and Do if it were a living, breathing Human Being?” Then perhaps one day you will see him in yourselves, as I see Him in you, The Jewish People, who have suffered so very badly after being crucified, killed and buried as a nation then resurrected as the gates of hell rolled open from the Shoah, and then you as a nation Ascended to stand at your rightful place in Jerusalem in 1967.I BELIEVE IN YOU. SHALOM (Moshiach Now !)
but of faith in God. It takes courage to be different. First the Jew had to disengage from the Egyptian influence in his own mind, and then the Jew had to overcome his fear of the local population which would not take lightly to his slaughtering of their object of veneration. But if God commands, the Jew obeys. And God in His infinite mercy rewards our obedience even though it belongs to Him before we gave it to Him.
The blood of the lamb on the doorpost was a statement. The blood was a declaration that when you pass this doorpost you will no longer be in Egypt. Perhaps the geographical address is still Egypt, but the ideological location is far removed from Egypt. The blood on the doorpost proclaims that the people in this house have faith in God and in God alone. The destroying angel went through Egypt, but the homes with the blood were not “Egypt”.
Wow! How can we as Jews after so many years still miss the prophetic signifcance of what the L-RD was proclaiming to Moses through the lamb for each household – and applying the blood on the lentil and doorposts of the Hebrews. It is tradition that says the angel of the L-RD will pass over the houses with the blood! If an Egyptian put the blood on the lentil and dorrposts – the first born would have been spared in that house because the L-RD would have seen the blood! So, Who was it Who Passed Over the households having the blood? Let’s go to the Scriptures:
Exodus 12:12,13
12 ‘For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments – I am the LORD. 13 ‘The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will be fall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.
So the question remains – Who Is The L-RD G-d of Israel? As a Jew, I proclaim the Name of the L-RD G-d of Israel – Jesus or Yeshua! And, there is No other Name in heaven or earth as powerful and His Name — Why — Because He Is the L-RD G-d of Israel who commanded Moses to take a lamb for a household! And, Jesus was Not created – He Is our Creator – as it tells us in Genesis 1:26 — and the Word L-RD appears in Chapter 2 because He is G-d and loves His creation.
With Respect, June
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Where, O where do you see in all the book of the law that a lamb was used as a sacrifice?
Where, O where do you see that the CROSS is a place of sacrifice?
Where, O where do you see a human as a proper sacrifice, even sinless? How many stomach does he have?
Where, O where do you see it not an ABOMINATION to sacrifice anything outside of the temple?
Where, O Where is it acceptable to have a sacrifice brought by pagan gentiles?
Where, O Where G-d is to be worshiped as a Man?
Why should we listen to such a non-sense June, without being cursed by G-d for not keeping his Torah?
RT,
“. . .Cursed by G-d for not keeping his Torah”?
“Thus says the L-RD, the God of Israel, ‘Cursed is the man who does not heed the words of this covenant.'” [Jeremiah 11]
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Question: Have you kept just two commands of the Law–
“. . .love the L-RD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” [Deuteronomy 6]
AND
“. . .love your neighbor as yourself.” [Leviticus 19]
. . . if not, according to the L-RD, you are cursed.
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Question: Why did the L-RD prevent His people from obeying “your definition” of “Keeping Torah”?
“Yet to this day the L-RD has not given you a heart to know, nor eyes to see, nor ears to hear. [Deuteronomy 29]
Question: Why did the L-RD make “your definition” of “Keeping Torah” a stumbling block to His people?
“So the word of the L-RD to them will be,
“Order on order, order on order,
Line on line, line on line,
A little here, a little there,”
That they may go and stumble backward, be broken, snared and taken captive. [Isaiah 28]
Question: If “your definition” of “Keeping His Torah” means to do all the commands, then how does one obey the command to circumcise your heart NOW?
“So circumcise your heart, and stiffen your neck no longer.” [Deuteronomy 10]
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heee, Kavi, throw me verses that could also apply to you! Have you love the L-rd with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself all the time? Then, that applies to you too! And for that, you say “My master is hard” and you go and love another (Jesus) who promise to forgive your sins! Bravo!
RT,
Yes, you are correct– both of us, actually, all mankind, are cursed according to the Law.
Yet I know the L-RD’s remedy according to the Tanakh– you provide nothing. . .
Instead, you deflect critical questions for which you have no answers.
Doesn’t that bother you?
___________________
After all, did you not say,
“Why should we listen to such a non-sense, without being cursed by G-d for not keeping his Torah?”
Yet you provide no definition of “keeping His Torah”.
And when I challenge your statement about your definition of “keeping His Torah” with plain, contrary teaching from Tanakh– where are your answers?
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Leviticus 14:24
The priest is to take the lamb for the guilt offering, together with the log of oil, and wave them before the Lord as a wave offering.
Numbers 18:17
But the firstling of a cow, or the firstling of a sheep, or the firstling of a goat, thou shalt not redeem; they are holy: thou shalt sprinkle their blood upon the altar, and shalt burn their fat for an offering made by fire, for a sweet savour unto the LORD.
Exodus 20:24
‘You shall make an altar of earth for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen; in every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you. Isaiah 53:6,7
6All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.
7He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth.
Some Scriptures from the Law and the Prophet Isaiah about the Lamb …
With Respect,
June
June, every time a Lamb is mention does not mean it talks about sin sacrifice. You should learn the difference if you want to understand your bible…
http://www.jewfaq.org/qorbanot.htm
“Where, O where do you see in all the book of the law that a lamb was used as a sacrifice?”
Hi RT,
I was responding to your above statement RT. I was showing you where in Torah … in only a few Scriptures, showing you the Lamb used for an offering.
My original statement was in response to the Blood and the meaning of a lamb for each household for the Passover! That was before the Law was given on Sinai.
With Respect,
June
My original statement was in response to the Blood and the meaning of a lamb for each household for the Passover!
You have not clue, no clue whatsoever. You think that the lamb was a shadow of your idol Jesus! Lambs, for Egyptians were considered gods. That is why it is said that Shepherds were an abomination. Genesis 46:34. Now, as the article mentioned you are worshiping the exact idol (lamb of god) that the Israelites abhorred all through their captivity. Your whole Jesus worship is wrong and you come and tell us.
If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, that is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods (Jesus, yes your precious Jesus), which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers;
Ya’ll perhaps are missing the obvious –
Does a man chew his cud and have a split hoof?
Can a man pay for the sins of another man?
Can the unjust death of the righteous make atonement for the unrighteous?
Ummm… Yeah; the last one.
He that justifieth the wicked (Us as per the NT), and he that condemneth the just (Jesus as per the NT), even they both are abomination to the Lord. Proverbs 17:15
Can G-d condemns Jesus on the cross for your sins Kavi?
The KISS Method – (Keep It Simple Stupid)
Blood refers back to the Blood Covenant between Hashem and Abraham & descendants. One chooses to continue in this Covenant or not.
Where the rub comes in between Judaism and Christianity is; Was or was not the Covenant broken by some and therefore a need of atonement and reinstatement specific to those who left?
Sure, there is still need of atonement. Jesus is not though (and I know that you agree). Atonement will be provided when the messiah comes and rebuild the temple. Do you agree with that too CP?
CP your KISS method had me laughing 🙂 You are right with the Covenant between Hashem and Abraham – passed down to Isaac and Jacob. The question is: Is Hashem (The Name) Yeshua/Jesus (Salvation – one and the same)? Is Yeshua/Jesus the lamb of G-d that takes away the sins of the world? We’re close to Passover – close to Shavuot – KISS – what did 120 Jews SEE – BELIEVE – LIVE for – and ultimately die for? KISS – Jews were divided in their belief – BUT – Yeshua/Jesus changed the course of this world. The world says there are 3 Great Faiths – the Scriptures tell us there is ONE FAITH (Ephesians 4:5) and (Torah) … The question about the Blood is essential to the Jewish Faith – as is Messiah – Avenu Malkenu – only G-d can open the eyes of man – ask HIM – The Holy One of Israel – was Yeshua/Jesus Your Son? And, KISS, to show you in Torah, Psalms, and Prophets. I asked in 1973 because I did NOT believe – BUT – G-D answered and opened my eyes to Hashem. KISS Kindly – Inquire – Simply – Sincerely
With Respect,
June
June, you mostly use the KIC. Keep it complicated.
Jesus, who as per you is god, but not the Father, who is also G-d. So G-d send himself (but not really) to make atonement, which is not really an atonement because it does not fulfill any of the requirements from the Torah. So Jesus, as our KIC method is the servant of G-d, but also G-d himself. Also, he is the messenger (angel) of Himself. Not to make is simple and to keep in agreement with our KIC method, Jesus, who is god, prays to G-d to send a third god, who is G-d Himself (But not really), but all of those gods are one (echad not Yahid) and cannot be mixed with polytheism.
Let’s go and talk about our Pessach, and keep it KIC. Jesus is the lamb of himself who is a sin sacrifice, but while the Passover lamb was not a sin sacrifice, Jesus who is all in all way better, because he is also the turtledove of G-d and the bull of G-d and the scapegoat of G-d, and the rock in the wilderness of G-d. You follow me, hopefully, but it does not stop there! He is also the New covenant which replace the old one, even if the old one is supposed to last forever.
And you believe in your heart, because the new testament and a weird filling, which might have been induced by increasing speed of the fans while the preacher asked you to pray for forgiveness of sins. Since then, you search with a KIP eye the New testament (Which you call B’rit Hadash-Just because it sound way more Jewish) and listen only to “messianic rabbi” (even if the New testament said there is only one rabbi Jesus) which would confirm that you are right. And you wonder why the rest of the world does not see your marvelous messiah?
Not really KIC – The L-RD is G-D – Let us make man in our image after our likeness – Jesus said, “I and the Father are One” – It takes faith to believe the Word of G-D – and revelation from G-d to be in a real relationship with the G-D of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Do you know the L-RD G-D of Israel? Do you hear His still small voice, “This is the way walk ye in it”?
Keep on preaching… Maybe Jesus will open my eyes!
Oh, wait, I see him now
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Then you will desecrate your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them (including Jesus) away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, “Away with you!”
Hi June,
I like your Kindly Inquire Simply Sincerely; That will work!
Btw, imho, in order to declare the identity of Yeshua anything more than “Messsiah” or “son of man” is not only to be in direct contradiction with Yeshua’s own words, but one has to resort to derived systematic theology to come up with ‘more’.
One further observation; Yeshua’s sermon on the mound told us what to do, not what to believe, yet the Nicene Creed tells us what to believe, not what to do.
Hi CP,
“Btw, imho, in order to declare the identity of Yeshua anything more than “Messsiah” or “son of man” is not only to be in direct contradiction with Yeshua’s own words, but one has to resort to derived systematic theology to come up with ‘more’.”
Luke 2:11
for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Romans 10:9
that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
Colossians 3:17
Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
2 Corinthians 4:5
For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.
John 12:15
“FEAR NOT, DAUGHTER OF ZION; BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SEATED ON A DONKEY’S COLT.”
1 Timothy 6:15
which He will bring about at the proper time–He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
Revelation 17:14
“These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.”
Revelation 19:16
And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
John 18:37
Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king
For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
“One further observation; Yeshua’s sermon on the mount told us what to do, not what to believe, yet the Nicene Creed tells us what to believe, not what to do.”
Read the Nicene Creed and the Apostle creed and you will SEE Jesus as more than the son of man and Messiah.
Hi June,
Thank you for taking the time to post the King and Saviour verses in response to my assertion that to in order to identify Yeshua as anything beyond ‘Messiah and son of man’ one must resort to derived systematic theology. Perhaps I should of incuded ‘King and Saviour’ but I made the assumption in Jewish thought ‘Messiah and son of man’ encompassed the titles ‘King and Saviour’.
You missed my point on the Nicene Creed, however I’ll address yours; the Nicene Creed is not Scripture. I’m well aware that Christendom gives it the same authority in relationship to Scripture as Orthodox Jews give the Talmud, I disagree on both counts. The Nicene IS derived systematic theology 300 years after the fact.
IMHO, it does Hashem, Yeshua, the Jews and mankind a disservice to identify Yeshua as something more than Scripture explictly states then demand everyone believe it on threat of hell fire.
Also want to follow this one ;).
RT sorry – to SEE is deeper than make someone or something visible to one’s eyes! Raah is the Hebrew Word for to SEE with many meanings.
I don’t know if you are Jewish, probably not, but Yeshua/Jesus is the risen L-RD G-D of Israel whether you believe it or not.
I was moved to write on this site which is not my practice because of the misleading of the article written about the Passover Lamb. I won’t write further …
IMHO, it does Hashem, Yeshua, the Jews and mankind a disservice to identify Yeshua as something more than Scripture explicitly states then demand everyone believe it on a threat of hell fire.
CP
I have faith in the G-d of Israel because I met the L-RD in a personal experience, not because of systematic theology or Rabbinic Judaism. As Israel is the first born son – According to Psalm 2 and Isaiah 9:6 you are off base to name with systematic theology and I just mentioned a few Scriptures of Who Jesus Is. He Was and Is and Is to Come!
I don’t know if you are Jewish, but if you’re not, you have joined the enemies of the Gospel when you should be sharing the truth from the Old Testament with them, for He is there as He told you through the Gospels. I know the redemption of Israel will happen when the fulness of the Gentiles comes in (Romans ll:26), but He will deny you if you deny Him in ‘That Day’ – Israel’s time as a national revival will be on ‘that’ day – but this is the time of the Gentiles. I’m not a debater, I’m a child of G-d who had the heart to speak the truth and the courage to be different.
I sense you mean well, but you are misguided – I only mentioned the statements of faith for you to read because you mentioned it. I won’t be writing anymore – but I do have a hope that you would cry out to the Living G-D of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to KNOW the truth, for He Will answer you like He answered the men and woman of the Old Testament. G-d bless you,
June
June says;
“I have faith in the G-d of Israel because I met the L-RD in a personal experience, not because of systematic theology or Rabbinic Judaism.”
— We have something in common then.
“I won’t be writing anymore”
— This saddens me. I did not intend to debate, but rather to discuss, or more appropriately fine tune an accurate description of Yeshua from Scripture Only. That would be refreshing.
“I don’t know if you are Jewish, but if you’re not, you have joined the enemies of the Gospel when you should be sharing the truth from the Old Testament with them”
So, the Jews are the enemies of the gospel… You know how many people heard “You murderer of Christ” and “Enemy of the Gospel” and other anti-jewish words just before they died? And you have turned your back on them to worship another god because you had a personal experience? Many would say “Shame on you!” for such word!
A man walks into a butcher store. He requests some steaks to celebrate July 4th. He would like them from a cow that has been grass-fed. He would like the cow to have been slaughtered in a particular manner, a humane manner. And he would like a particular cut.
When the man gets his steaks and prepares them, he is surprised by the shape. They do not appear quite right. Nor do they taste quite right. In all, he and his fellow celebrants found the steaks rather disappointing.
After July 4th, the man returned to the butcher to complain. He told the butcher that the cut appeared and tasted funny. He asked if he received the proper cut. The butcher replied, no.
Had the cow been grass-fed? Again, no.
Had it at least been slaughtered humanely? Sorry, no.
Exasperated, the man sarcastically asked if it was even a cow. He was surprised when the butcher replied. No, it was a man he knew.
Obviously, the man was horrified. None of his requests had been met, but that seemed rather small at the moment. A man had been murdered. He demanded to know how the butcher could have done such a thing and make him complicit in this crime.
The butcher calmly assured the man that he knew something that the man did not. He told the man that none of the details he requested were important. The essential thing was that the July 4th steak was made of meat. The victim was meat and therefore the quintessence of the July 4th steak. The victim was the perfect cow.
This rather disgusting parable should illustrate a two points. When God commanded regarding the Passover Lamb, He included many details, none of which were performed in the death of Jesus. More importantly, however, a man is not a lamb, nor is a murder a sacrifice. Jesus is no more the Passover Lamb than the victim of the parable is a July 4th steak.
Jim
Jim
Your right, that is a pretty disgusting parable, but it makes the point well. Now is probably not a good time to suggest smoking the meat with alder wood for a light smoke flavor?