Pleading the Blood of Jesus Is it Right or Wrong?
Pleading the Blood of Jesus – Is it Right or Wrong?
Many people in the Charismatic and Pentecostal camp love to “plead the Blood of Jesus” over themselves and others and everything for that matter, turning the blood of Jesus into a magic ritual of sorts, a magic wand that will protect you from evil, cleanse you, heal or deliver you. Pleading the Blood of Jesus is not biblical. No where in the bible does Jesus tell you to plead His Blood over yourself. No where in the bible does anyone plead the Blood of Jesus over themselves or others. This teaching is taught in churches and you read in many books that you need to cover yourself with the blood of Jesus for protection 24/7 as though it’s the biblical thing to do. It’s not and here is why.
In the Old Testament the High Priest would sacrifice a Lamb and put the blood on the Altar in the Holy of Holies.
Hebrews 9:7-8: “7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: 8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
Leviticas 1:5: “and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall bring the blood and sprinkle the blood all around on the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of meeting.”
Leviticas 4:6: “The priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle some of the blood seven times before the LORD, in front of the veil of the sanctuary.”
Leviticas 4:30: “Then the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger, put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering.”
The blood was applied from the animal and it was required that the animal had to die, and give its life. The Blood represents life, the life of Jesus Christ that had to die for our sins. Jesus is the Lamb that had to die. Jesus Christ fulfilled the Passover Lamb. To have the blood applied on the altar was so that one would not receive the judgment of God as He would passover you.
Exod.12:13 “And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.”
The animals blood was also not moved around and sprinkled all over the place or on this person or that person outside of the temple by the High Priest, it was for the Altar area alone. We can not touch His blood or apply it to anything ‘spiritually’ as we are not the High Priest. Jesus Christ is now our High Priest and He is the sacrificed Lamb. Jesus is the one who after he ascended into Heaven sprinkled His blood on the Mercy Seat of the Altar before God, not us. The blood of Jesus is applied to our lives only when we believe in faith in Jesus Christ to receive His Atonement.
Eph.1:7 “7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” and Colossians. 1:14
Pleading the Blood of Jesus is not magical
Jesus’ blood is not magic, it holds no magical power. The Blood of Jesus refers to his sacrificial death. Jesus had to die for our sins by crucifixion. And God accepted his death as His blood was spilled on the altar. Jesus said “It is Finished” (John 19:30) before He died, there was no more need to sacrifice an animal, he fulfilled the law.
Rom.5:8: “8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Heb.9:15 “15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.”
Rom.5:10: “10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”
1 Cor.15:3: “3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;”
Phil 2:8: “8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
Those who touched Jesus’ body and blood when they took Him off the cross did not receive holiness or any powers or healing, nor did they plead the blood over themselves for protection. However, after Jesus rose from the dead, after He came out of the tomb. He encountered Mary and he said to her “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father”
John 20:17 17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.”
When He ascended to heaven he entered into the Holy of Holies, sprinkled His precious blood upon the Mercy Seat on the Altar before the throne of God, and forever settled the sin question, and delivered us from the curse of the law. This is clearly taught in the New testament.
Hebrews 9:12 “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”
In the Old Testament they had to make a sin offering on an ongoing basis, but Jesus came to make one sacrifice for us, one offering, and His blood was sprinkled once in the temple on the Mercy Seat in heaven.
Hebrews 9:24-26 24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Today the only thing we do with Jesus’s body (bread) and blood (wine) is to have communion – it is solely a reminder, nothing more, just as it was celebrated as a feast after the original Passover in the Old Testament, we do not cover ourselves with the Blood of Jesus.
Ex.12:14. “14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.”
1 Cor.5:7 “7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:”
In the Old Testament, the Passover blood was applied only once to the door, and in doing so God passed over them and ultimately released the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. They could not touch the blood, they had to use the hyssop plant and dip into the blood and apply it to the door. In the New Testament the Blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ is applied only once to cover and release us that believe by faith in Jesus from sin. When you are covered by the Blood of Jesus, God does not see your sin; it continually cleanses you; the Blood of Jesus washes away your sin. Rev. 1:5: “To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,”
And it does not have to be reapplied over and over as if it somehow loses strength. Jesus blood is applied once to the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies in the temple in heaven. In the below verse the bible shows us that when we get saved, Jesus’ blood that is sprinkled in heaven sprinkles our hearts from an evil conscience (Hebrews 10:20-22) and we are redeemed “through the blood of the everlasting covenant” (Heb. 13:20)
Hebrews 10:20-22
20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water
1 John 1:7-9 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Col. 1:20 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Heb. 13:20. 20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
You can’t spiritually plead the blood of Jesus or cover unbelievers with the Blood of Jesus in order that they one day become saved. Jesus’ blood is a once off washing way of our sin and not a repetitive act of sacrifice like they did in the Old Testament. We do not touch the blood of Jesus Christ, only Jesus can do that when it was applied once to the Mercy Seat in Heaven. When we are born again, we are baptised by the Holy Spirit, and our hearts are instantly sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ, that we can now came into God’s presence once and for all and have an eternal relationship with Jesus Christ, where Jesus Christ becomes our advocate with God the Father.
1 John 2:1 “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous”
Heb.10:19-22: “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
IMPORTANT: See article on: What is Entering ‘The Presence’ Really all About?
Dave Hunt wrote the following in response to a question on the blood.
Another occult practice amongst Charismatics and Pentecostals is to anoint every door, window and every room in your home with holy oil, or whatever. Totally wrong.
Tom
>> Another occult practice amongst Charismatics and Pentecostals is to anoint every door, window and every room in your home with holy oil, or whatever. Totally wrong.
Yes before I knew any better (many years ago) I was told to anoint every room with olive oil as it would chase any demonic spirits right out my home. I did this, but the next day I had a maid come to my home and she washed everything off, unknowing to her she was just doing her job. I nearly had a heart attack. Then I went to read scripture and looked for verses that tell us we have to anoint our homes and ourselves with olive oil and I could not find anything, what I did find was that if we pray directly to Jesus and repent of the sin in our lives and ask Him to take away any afflictions we might be having He is faithful to do just that.
The devil will do everything in his power to shift your faith away from Jesus who said that we should “believe in God, [and] also in me.” (John 14:1) to something else .
I knew a man who once became so obsessed with the pleading of the blood of Jesus that he often forgot whether he had done so for that day and continuously pleaded it over him. He would say “I don’t know if I had already pleaded the blood over me but just to make sure I will do so again.”
It is nothing more than a vain repetition of words which God forbids. In fact it is a mantra which gives you a false hope because you begin to trust your own act of pleading in stead of Jesus who promised “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). Then you begin to say: “I have pleaded the blood of Jesus over me and am therefore now 100% protected.” Your pleading itself becomes the object of your faith which is idolatry. If one needs to plead the blood over you again and again every day, when did Christ retract his protection and why? The Bible says we are IN Christ Jesus where we are safely protected even against the righteous judgment of God. (Romans 8 :1; 33-13). What about the Christians who are presently being beheaded by ISIS left, right and center? Are they beheaded because they forgot to plead the blood of Jesus over them? I don’t think so.
My personal opinion is that the pleading of the blood is a ploy of the devil to destroy genuine faith. Many people have become disillusioned because they were told they would become healthy, wealthy and prosperous if and when they offered their money sacrificially to their false teachers. Nothing happened and they turned their back on God. Similarly, many have spurned God because they were taught to merely plead the blood of Jesus over them for their protection and nothing happened. Some of them encountered horrendous consequences and they turned their back on God.
I came upon this article by ‘chance’.
Very interesting, these Pentecostal Charismatics do seem to be a very superstitious lot?
No doubt some are much worse than others.
But, is this whole ‘pleading the blood’ thing inextricably linked to the doctrine of IMPARTATION as opposed to the Biblical doctrine of IMPUTATION?
There is a Pentecostal movement so I understand called the “Holiness Movement”, which I believe teach we can become literally holy in the flesh-this side of eternity!
If these folk believe in IMPARTATION, then I believe it necessarily follows that the literal blood must be applied? This is no different to Romanism? Whereas IMPUTATION teaches the blood of Christ was a legal transaction-His saving blood and righteousness is legally imputed to us, as our sins are legally imputed to Him-He paid the price. If IMPARTATION were the biblical model, that would be teaching that Christ would be actually sinful as our sins would be literally transferred/imparted to His actual body-making Him a sinner which would be blasphemy?
As true believers, of course we believe in the application of His atoning blood, this was the price ONCE paid at the cross, the ONLY price acceptable to the Father in heaven to satisfy the demands of His righteous justice, I hardly need to repeat the Scriptures as most are in your excellent article above.
It is also interesting to note that the Roman and Pentecostal Churches both believe in Apostolic succession, no wonder they are merging together?
I totally agree with your view on the blood of Jesus and of holy oil, or whatever. I just can’t understand the significance of the following scripture Jas 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: Can you may-be give some explanation?
I also want to encourage you not to throw in towel. You are doing a great job. I also sometimes differ with some of the things you are writing, but as far as the gospel of Jesus Christ is concerned, I know that you are bringing the truth of the gospel to many. Deception is getting worse by he day.
Hans,
Would you say that James 5:14 refers to a physical restoration (physical healing) rather than a spiritual restoration? Think about it. Hopefully I will be able to answer you shortly. The answer, I think, lies in the meaning of the word “asthenei.”
Hans wrote:
The best way to answer your question is perhaps to ask a few questions first. So here goes. If the word “infirmities” (ἀσθένεια, astheneia) in 2 Corinthians 12:10 refers to some kind of physical maladies, why did Paul take pleasure in them instead of summoning the elders of the church and have them pray over them and anoint him with oil so that he could be healed?
Surely, Paul had enough faith to believe that the promise “And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up” in James 5:15 is a promise God MUST honour. Why? Well, we all know that when God makes a promise He always makes that promise come true because He cannot lie. (Numbers 23:19).
And yet, I (and I am sure you do as well) know several Christians who applied James 5:14, 15 but died of their illness. Oh, OK, “they died because they did not have enough faith” is usually the mantra Charismatics and Pentecostals cite when their pastors and elders fail to heal the sick.
But wait a sec. James says it is the “prayer of faith” that saves the sick person. Who are the ones who are supposed to pray the prayer of faith over the sick? But, of course, it’s the pastors, faith healers, and elders who are supposed to have enough faith to pray the prayer of faith over the sick. So, when he or she is not healed then the pastors, faith healers and elders should be put in jail for their unbelief and not the person who is sick.
Next question. If James 5:14 and 15 means what we think it means, why did Paul advise Timothy to “drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities?” (ἀσθένεια, astheneia) (1 Tim 5:23). Note the word “often” which means that Timothy suffered from often recurring and frequent illnesses.
Come on Brother Paul, how could you have been so callous and not advise Brother Timothy to summon the elders so that they could pray the prayer of faith over him, anoint him with oil and be healed as God promised? We are very disappointed in you for having taught Brother Timothy to have more faith in a little wine than in Jesus who promised that He SHALL raise him up and heal him if he called in the elders to pray the prayer of faith over him and anoint him with oil.
Next question. In Galatians Paul wrote as follows:
Once again, we need to ask why Paul never called the elders to pray the prayer of faith over him and anoint him with oil when he was ill.
It is obvious from the above examples that the word “asheneia” can either refer to infirmities in a spiritual sense or in a physical sens. The infirmities of Timothy and of Paul when he visited Galatia were clearly in the flesh and therefore physical. The infirmities in 2 Corinthians 12:10 could not have been in the flesh because who would be so daft to take pleasure in any kind of physical illness like cancer? I am not saying Paul had cancer. I am merely using cancer as an example to show how daft it is to take pleasure in it if Paul had cancer.
Next installment to follow as soon as I feel better of my infirmity (coughing). And I am not taking a little wine. I am drinking medicine the doctor prescribed.
Tom wrote:
Would you say that James 5:14 refers to a physical restoration (physical healing) rather than a spiritual restoration?
Yes, I thought about It before but it only struck me after I inquired from you. I understand the scripture as follow:
Jas 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: (addressing his problem in the Spirit of the Name of God)
Jas 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save (save not heal) the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
Thanks Debs.. I was waiting for this.
We talked about this months (years) ago?.
They want to plead the blood I say… “thanks, but I am covered”
Hans
You got it 🙂 The infirmity is spiritual restoration.
Thank you. I have finally be set free from pleading the blood.
Jane
Absolutely wonderful 🙂
Thank you so much for this article. I have read some of your posts and agree with much of what you have to say. This provides me with another layer of freedom in Christ and I am grateful. I have come out of the Charismatic movement (in the United States) and in the past 4-5 years discovered how much of what I thought was truth was actually trash. It has totally turned my faith and belief system around and sometimes upside down! I was taught that we should plead the blood over people and our pets, even on inanimate objects (like dead car batteries, etc). And the oil on the doorpost idea – I did that every time I moved to a different place. It was considered a lack of faith if I didn’t, and if things went bad it was my fault for not pleading the blood or using my oil correctly. Correctly. Riiight. Unfortunately, it is difficult to tell Charismatics here (Texas specifically) about the truth because they are so steeped in mans tradition – there’s not much room left for Jesus. I am grateful. Thank you Deborah.
Dear Cherie
Thank you Cherie for your great comment. You know I had been meaning to do this article for a long time, but it hit home when I went to the Vet the other day and a lady came in with her kitten that was sick. She started pleading the blood of Jesus over her kitten in the reception area in this loud voice, as if everyone must hear her. Well I heard all right and I shuddered. I wanted to say something to her but she was so upset about her kitten I realised she would not hear a word I was saying. *Sighs*
I thought i was alone against this :).It is so bad you wolud hear unsaved people “pleading the blood” on the bus, train, taxi, street
I have family members ‘pleading the blood of Jesus’ on almost anything you can think of (from a broken pc, a car, exam papers, people etc.)! It’s really ridiculous if you think about it, but no matter what we say to them … they are blinded and still believe what they want to believe.
It’s the same with the ‘name it and claim it’ thing. They will ‘speak’ healing and ‘claim’ it (in the name of Jesus) when they actually need to get medication or an operation.
heber
Nope, we are here with you on this one 🙂
Pleading the blood of Jesus saved my life. I was home alone and took a penicillin pill. I had an immediate reaction to the pill. My throat started to close. Large welts formed on my body. I called my wife at work and told her I was going to pass out. I made it to the kitchen table and put my head down for what I thought was my last breath. With the life I had left in me I started to plead the blood of Jesus. I said I plead the blood of Jesus about seven times. I immediately started to feel better. All my symptoms went away. My throat opened, I could breathe with no problem and all the large welts left my body. My wife called the EMT’s from her job. They got to our home and took my blood pressure. I didn’t have any blood pressure. 0/0. Even though I didn’t have any blood pressure I felt fine. God sustained my life without any blood pressure. I was out mowing our lawn two hours later. There is power in the blood of Jesus.
Revelation 12:11King James Version (KJV)
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Here is what Charles H. Spurgeon said about the blood of the Lamb.
http://www.covenantofgrace.com/spurgeon_the_blood_of_the_lamb.htm
Tom
So you used white magic and it healed you? Is that what you are saying? Can Satan heal? Yes he can. If you want to follow false teaching and it heals you don’t come and tell me that it’s correct.
Spurgeon is a Calvinist who believes God chooses people to burn in hell for no good reason.
I don’t use magic. The blood of Jesus is not magic. Just because you call something a false teaching doesn’t mean it is. I’ll delete your site from my bookmarks. One would think you would show more respect for a quest who comes to your site. If you don’t agree with me just say so. Since you are so perfect I guess you could have died for my sins. Everyone thinks they are the only ones who know the truth. Having a fancy website doesn’t make you an expert on God’s Holy Word. When the lord leads me to plead His blood, I will. You can do as you please. Goodbye.
Tom
>> I’ll delete your site from my bookmarks.
Seriously? Delete me? Go ahead.
>> One would think you would show more respect for a quest who comes to your site. If you don’t agree with me just say so.
You want me to disagree with you and I did. Now you complain. Really? Must I just agree with you for the sake of agreeing with you to make you happy? No I don’t think so.
>> Since you are so perfect I guess you could have died for my sins.
Wow. I must say of all the nasty comments I have received in 5 years this one takes the cake.
Please listen here, the blood of Jesus is not magic. Why did you not just pray to Jesus to help you when you had that allergic reaction? The blood of Jesus WASHES away your sin, that is it. It does not heal you if you repeat a mantra.
Matthew 6:7 “But when you pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.”
Saying, “I please the blood of Jesus” over yourself a number of times is vain repetition. Benny Hinn is a famous teacher for teaching this terrible doctrine.
Hi Tom, this is Tom.
The pleading of the blood seems to be so powerful to you that you give yourself the right to be nasty. No one on this site has ever said or suggested that we are perfect.
Revelation 12:11 does not teach anyone to plead the blood of the Lamb. The general idea and purpose of the pleading of the blood is for protection. If this is true, the pleading of the blood during the Tribulation will be in vain because most of the Christians are going to be killed by the Antichrist.
Most of the Christians are going to be beheaded during the Great Tribulation. That doesn’t say much for the protective power of the blood, does it? So Revelation 12:11 must have a different meaning than the one you present. I will leave you to figure it out for yourself. Read the verse in the context of the preceding verses.
Christ did not shed his blood for any other reason than for the saving of lost souls.
I must say that you’ve caused me to really want to sit down and search the scriptures and study so that I may rightly divide the word of truth as God says, to show myself approved. I’ve read two of your articles and it has caused me to think and ponder a lot of what I’ve been taught to do in regards to pleading the blood and so forth. I see when Paul says in Acts 17:11 that in Berea “they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so”, we have to do those same things. Be ready to receive the word someone gives but search the scriptures for ourselves to make sure that what they’re saying lines up with the Word of God. I commend you for coming straight from the Word and just stating what it truly says. I may not agree right form the start nor may I agree with everything you speak of but I thank you for shedding some light on many things. I know God in due time will bring to my attention the things you speak of if they be correct and it will truly set me free because that’s what Jesus came to do, for He is the TRUTH, the Way and the Life. May God our Father in Heaven continue to show you His truths and may you continue to share them with the world, and if you are in error on some things may He have mercy and show you the truth and may you share those as well. Again I thank you and God bless you.
Matthew
Continue being a Berean, continue searching the scriptures for the truth, as this is where the Holy Spirit will guide you and speak the truth to you!
Ahh, you have put a smile on my face today 🙂
Very good use of Scripture and reasoning! I will send the link to this post to some in the congregation I attend.
thank you and be blessed
Deborah, going by what you have said about pleading the blood of Jesus, what the is place of prayer in a Christian life, since your augment is that even if we plead the blood of Jesus it does not stop one from been killed ( as suffered by people been killed byISIS) if we pray we will not die or have any problem again, was that what Jesus taught?
Ezekiel
Prayer is Prayer it’s biblical, pleading the blood of Jesus is not. Find me one verse in scripture where you are told to plead the blood of Jesus over yourself and other things? Paying directly to Jesus Christ and asking HIM TO PROTECT YOU (not His blood) is completely different matter all together.
I plead the blood .. I don’t agree with how you are condemning people by saying its magical … I have never for one minute believed it to be magical nor do I repeat over and over again.
My question to the judgers is this how many people have you lead to Christ. How many demons have you cast out of someone that was being tormented. Matthew 10 the great commission is what makes the difference between real believers., we live under grace truth be known. And when spend more time judging your brother and each word out of his / her mouth your not fulfilling the great commission which is what we are called to do and we are called to love one another praying for someone in your prayer closet that you believe to be in error the God will reward you openly by answering your prayer or God will deal with your heart because maybe just maybe you are spending more time judging the words people say than living by His word . Just sayin.
Debra wrote,
If you will tell us how many lost souls you’ve lead to Christ, then we’ll tell you why we don’t go around boasting how many lost souls we’ve won for Christ. Apparently your pleading of the blood of Christ has made you a boastful Christian who loves to tell others that you have won more souls for Christ than any other saint alive today. Goody for you. The only prayer we pray for false teachers is that God open their eyes to see their damnable heresies, repent and be saved.
Dear Debra
>> I have never for one minute believed it to be magical nor do I repeat over and over again.
You don’t have to believe it to be magical for it to be magical – that fact is it is magical.
Would you do yourself a favour and go and look in the bible, it’s going to take you a long time but it’s worth every effort you put into it. Go and look in the bible and see if anyone ever pleaded the blood of Jesus over themselves or any inanimate object to cover for protection? This excludes the lambs blood on the door in the Exodus. This is Old Testament, we are under a New Covenant.
Now here is a question for you, why don’t you ask Jesus Christ directly for protection instead of magically painting His blood over yourself and everything you want to protect? Just asking.