God required the blood on the doorposts so that when He saw the blood, He would pass over that house and spare the firstborn (Exodus 12:13).
The Passover lamb's blood was a token of faith on each Israelite home. God did not judge by Israel's goodness or worship; He looked for one sign — the blood (Clip4). Applied to the lintel and two side posts and accompanied by staying inside until morning, the blood protected the household from the death angel (Clip6). Les also sees in the three blood-stained places an outline of the cross and a connection to Christ, our Passover (Clips 3, 7).
Exodus 12:7 — This is the direct command to strike the lamb's blood on the two side posts and the upper door post of the house.
Exodus 12:13 — This is God's promise that when He sees the blood, He will pass over the house and the plague will not destroy the firstborn.
Exodus 12:22 — This gives the exact method of applying the blood with hyssop and the command to stay inside until morning.
The Passover account in Exodus 12 records God's final judgment on Egypt — the death of the firstborn. God instructed each Israelite household to take the blood of the Passover lamb and strike it on the two side posts and the upper door post of the house (Exodus 12:7). The blood was to be a token on the houses, and God promised, 'when I see the blood, I will pass over you' (Exodus 12:13). The application was exact: a bunch of hyssop was dipped in the basin of blood and applied to the lintel and the two side posts, and no one was to go out of the door of his house until the morning (Exodus 12:22).
Les emphasizes that the Israelite families in Goshen were not afraid during that night. Even though they could hear weeping and wailing throughout Egypt, every Jewish household that was behind a door with blood applied was totally safe (Clips 2, 4). Their security was not based on earning it or on their goodness but solely on the blood on the door (Clip5). Applying the blood and staying inside was an act of faith — had they not put the blood on the door, they would have lost their firstborn too (Clip5). Les also observes that the lintel and two side posts formed an outline of the cross, which he says is certainly what God had in mind (Clip3). He connects the Passover lamb to Christ, the believer's Passover, and shows from Romans 3 that the blood is not just an example but the real doctrinal ground for our faith (Clip7).
God did not ask Israel to be sinless or to worship in a particular way. The one thing God said He would look for was the blood: 'When I see the blood, I will pass over you' (Exodus 12:13; Clip4). Because the Passover lamb had to shed its blood, the blood had to be on the door; Les ties this directly to Christ, our Passover, whose shed blood is the real ground of our faith (Clip7).
Les says they did not. The families in Goshen stood around the kitchen table, ate the Passover lamb, and did not shake in fear, because by faith they knew the blood kept them secure (Clip1). They did not stand in their little huts quivering in their boots; they were secure because the blood was on the door (Clips 2, 7).
Les observes that the blood was to be struck on the two side posts and on the lintel of the door of the house. Although Israel would not have understood it at the time, that placement formed the outline of a cross, and Les says that is certainly what God had in mind (Clip3).
Why the Blood? The Bible's Answer to Forgiveness & Faith
you know, for those of you just tuning in, that we're just an informal Bible class. We're not affiliated with any one group. We've got several different denominations here in the studio, and I think one night Monty, didn't you count ten? I think one night Monty, after the class was over, said, You know how many different denominations we had here tonight? And I said, No, I don't know where the peo…
By Faith, Not Fear
Les explains that Israel did not spend Passover night trembling because by faith they knew the blood on the doorposts kept them secure.
Secure Under the Blood
As Israel heard judgment falling on Egypt, those with the blood on the door had nothing to fear from the death angel because they were covered.
The Doorposts Outlined the Cross
Les points out that the blood was struck on the two side posts and the lintel of the hut door, which formed an outline of the cross — something only seen in hindsight.
God Looks for the Blood
God's one condition was 'when I see the blood' — not Israel's goodness or worship; everyone behind a blood-marked door was totally safe.
Applying the Blood Was an Act of Faith
Israel's safety rested on actually applying the blood; if the household had scorned the instruction, they would have lost their firstborn as well.
Exact Instructions for Application
Les reads Exodus 12:22 to show the exact method — hyssop dipped in the basin applied to the lintel and side posts, then staying inside until morning.
Christ Our Passover
Les connects the Passover lamb's blood to Christ, the believer's Passover, and to Romans 3 as the real doctrinal ground of our faith.
Exodus 12:7: And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
This is the original command that places the blood on the doorway.
Exodus 12:13: And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
God's promise of protection when He sees the blood.
Exodus 12:22: And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.
The method of application with hyssop and the command to remain inside.
1 Corinthians 5:7: 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:
The New Testament connects the Passover lamb to Christ, who is sacrificed for believers.
Because the final plague was the death of the firstborn. God promised that when He saw the blood on the lintel and side posts, He would pass over the house and the death angel would not strike (Exodus 12:13). It was God's appointed sign of safety.
No. Les says that if they had refused to apply the blood, they would have lost their firstborn like the Egyptians. The blood was not irrelevant; it was their only protection (Clip5).
Les sees the doorposts and lintel as an outline of the cross, and he connects the Passover lamb to Christ, our Passover. The blood is a picture of Christ's shed blood, which Paul calls the real doctrinal ground of our faith (Clips 3, 7).
Watch the Teaching: Why the Blood? The Bible's Answer to Forgiveness & Faith