LSB 431: Not All the Blood of Beasts

Sharper Iron from KFUO Radio

This Lenten hymn helps us to meditate on the magnitude of Christ’s sacrifice for us in fulfillment of all the Old Testament sacrifices. The blood of bulls and goats all alone could not atone for human sin; only the divine blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, can give us peace. For that reason, we go to Christ in repentance and lay our hands on Him as the scapegoat so that He takes our sins away. He bore the burden of our guilt; in faith in Him, we rejoice in His bleeding love for us. Find this hymn at hymnary.org/hymn/LSB2006/431.

Rev. Carl Roth, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lutheran Service Book #431, “Not All the Blood of Beasts.”

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God's Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen.

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org.

Lutheran Service Book 431

1 Not all the blood of beasts

On Jewish altars slain

Could give the guilty conscience peace

Or wash away the stain.

2 But Christ, the heav'nly Lamb,

Takes all our sins away;

A sacrifice of nobler name

And richer blood than they.

3 My faith would lay its hand

On that dear head of Thine,

While as a penitent I stand,

And there confess my sin.

4 My soul looks back to see

The burden Thou didst bear

When hanging on the cursed tree;

I know my guilt was there.

5 Believing, we rejoice

To see the curse remove;

We bless the Lamb with cheerful voice

And sing His bleeding love.

Text Information

First Line: Not all the blood of beasts

Title: Not All the Blood of Beasts

Author: Isaac Watts, 1674-1748

Meter: S M

Language: English

Publication Date: 2006

Scripture: Hebrews 10:1-4; Hebrews 10:11; Hebrews 9:12-14; Galatians 3:13; Revelation 5:6-14

Tune Information

Name: SOUTHWELL

Composer: William Daman, c. 1540-91

Meter: S M

Key: e minor

Find this hymn at hymnary.org/hymn/LSB2006/431.