Exodus 24: “The Covenant Sealed in Blood”
1. God Establishes Order Before Worship
“Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron… and worship from afar.” (Ex 24:1)
God sets order before sacrifice.
Not everyone approaches in the same way.
Roles are defined.
This teaches a Catholic truth:
Worship is received, not improvised.
St Gregory the Great writes:
“Order in worship guards humility and preserves reverence.”
(Pastoral Rule)
2. Moses Alone Draws Near
“Moses alone shall come near to the Lord.” (v. 2)
Mediation remains.
The people are God’s, but Moses stands between.
The Fathers saw this as a clear figure of Christ.
St Augustine of Hippo explains:
“Moses approaches alone so that Christ alone may later reconcile all.”
(Sermons)
3. The Covenant Is Proclaimed in Words
“Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord.” (v. 3)
God’s covenant begins with teaching.
Faith is not blind.
The people must hear before they respond.
This remains central to the Church:
proclamation of the Word
then sacrament
4. The People Consent Freely
“All the words that the Lord has spoken we will do.” (v. 3)
This is a public, communal consent.
Covenant requires:
freedom
understanding
agreement
The Church echoes this in:
baptismal promises
the Creed
5. The Covenant Is Written
“Moses wrote all the words of the Lord.” (v. 4)
God’s word is preserved.
This is the foundation of:
Scripture
Tradition
faithful transmission
St Bede the Venerable notes:
“What God speaks, He wills to be remembered.”
(Commentary on Exodus)
6. An Altar and Twelve Pillars
“He built an altar… and twelve pillars.” (v. 4)
The altar represents God.
The pillars represent the people.
This shows:
Covenant unites God and His people in worship.
The Church sees here the pattern of liturgy:
altar
assembly
7. Sacrifice Is Offered
“Young men… offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings.” (v. 5)
Sacrifice is essential.
Words alone do not seal covenant.
Catholic faith insists:
True worship always involves sacrifice.
8. The Blood Is Collected
“Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins.” (v. 6)
Blood represents life.
The careful handling of blood shows:
seriousness
reverence
intention
The Fathers stress: this is not symbolic play — it is real covenant action.
9. The Covenant Is Read Again
“He took the book of the covenant and read it.” (v. 7)
God’s word is proclaimed again before sealing.
Faith precedes sacrifice.
The Church follows the same structure at Mass:
Liturgy of the Word
then the sacrifice
10. The People Renew Their Consent
“All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” (v. 7)
Notice the added word: obedient.
This is deeper commitment.
11. The Blood Is Sprinkled on the People
“Moses took the blood and threw it on the people.” (v. 8)
This is the heart of the chapter.
The people are marked by blood.
The covenant is now:
binding
living
costly
St John Chrysostom writes:
“The blood joins God and man, sealing both promise and obedience.”
(Homilies on Hebrews)
12. “The Blood of the Covenant”
(v. 8)
These exact words will be spoken by Christ at the Last Supper.
The Church has always insisted:
Exodus 24 is directly fulfilled in the Eucharist.
St Irenaeus of Lyons explains:
“What was sealed in blood at Sinai is perfected in the blood of Christ.”
(Against Heresies)
13. The Leaders Ascend and See God
“They saw the God of Israel.” (v. 10)
This does not mean full vision.
It means:
real encounter
limited revelation
The Fathers are careful:
God is truly present, yet not fully comprehended.
14. God Does Not Strike Them
“He did not lay His hand on them.” (v. 11)
This is extraordinary.
Earlier, boundaries protected life.
Now, covenant allows closeness.
Grace opens what fear once closed.
15. They Eat and Drink in God’s Presence
“They beheld God, and ate and drank.” (v. 11)
This is astonishing.
After sacrifice:
communion follows
The Fathers saw this unmistakably as a figure of:
The Eucharistic meal.
St Augustine writes:
“They eat in God’s presence because peace follows sacrifice.”
(Sermons)
16. Moses Is Called Higher Still
“Come up to Me on the mountain.” (v. 12)
Moses ascends again.
Revelation deepens gradually.
God does not overwhelm His people.
17. Glory Covers the Mountain
“The glory of the Lord dwelt on Mount Sinai.” (v. 16)
God’s presence is visible yet veiled.
This prepares for:
the Incarnation
Christ hidden under signs
18. Fire and Cloud
“The appearance… was like a devouring fire.” (v. 17)
God is:
beautiful
powerful
dangerous to irreverence
The Church never loses this sense of awe.
19. Moses Enters the Cloud
“Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain.” (v. 18)
This is the climax.
Moses enters mystery.
The Fathers saw here the soul’s ascent into God:
by obedience
through grace
sustained by covenant
St Gregory of Nyssa teaches:
“True knowledge of God begins where sight ends.”
(Life of Moses)
20. Forty Days and Forty Nights
(v. 18)
This number signals:
preparation
testing
transformation
It prepares for:
Christ’s fasting
the Church’s seasons
Key Catholic Themes in Exodus 24
| Theme | Catholic Meaning |
| Covenant | Binding relationship |
| Blood | Life given for communion |
| Sacrifice | Central to worship |
| Consent | Free obedience |
| Mediation | Christ foreshadowed |
| Communion | Eating in God’s presence |
Christ at the Centre of Exodus 24
The Fathers are unanimous:
Moses → Christ the Mediator
Altar → the Cross
Blood → Christ’s Blood
Covenant → New Covenant
Meal → Eucharist
Mountain → Calvary
St Augustine summarises:
“The covenant sealed at Sinai finds its fulfilment on the Cross.”
(Sermons)
Spiritual Application
Remember that faith is covenant, not sentiment.
Receive God’s word before approaching His sacrifice.
Renew consent regularly through worship.
Live as one marked by Christ’s Blood.
Approach God with awe and gratitude.
Closing Prayer
Lord God of the covenant,
You bound Your people to Yourself in blood
and fulfilled this promise in Jesus Christ.
Mark us anew with the Blood of the New Covenant,
draw us into communion with You,
and lead us deeper into Your mystery,
until we behold You face to face,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
St. Mary's, St. John Bosco and St. Edward's 