Is it biblical to donate blood?
The Bible does not mention the act of giving blood to someone else. Since there was no way of donating blood when the Bible was written, we really cannot expect it to be commented on. The Bible speaks several times of the importance of blood. Blood is essential to life. We read in Leviticus 17:11, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood…” There are countless stories of how someone’s life was saved because someone donated blood. We can thank the Lord for the many advances in medicine that allow blood transfusions and blood donations.
Some groups, such as the so-called Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that to give blood is sinful. Since the Bible does not speak of this, the JW’s give no credible scriptural references that would forbid giving blood to others in need.
Since we have no DIRECT TEACHING regarding the donation of blood, perhaps we can identify a BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE concerning it.
- As the Lord was instituting the Lord’s Supper, He said in Matthew 26:28, “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is SHED FOR MANY FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS.”
- The Apostle Paul, speaking to the Ephesian elders said in Acts 20:28, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath PURCHASED WITH HIS OWN BLOOD.”
- We read in Romans 5:8-9, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now JUSTIFIED BY HIS BLOOD, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”
- The Apostle Peter said in 1 Peter 1:18-19, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
We see in these verses (and many more) that the Lord Jesus Christ shed His blood so that we might live eternally. We read in 1 Peter 2:21, “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, LEAVING US AN EXAMPLE, that ye should follow his steps.” I suggest that it would be entirely appropriate for us to follow Christ’s example and give our blood in order to help someone extend their earthly life.
The body is such a unique part of God’s creation. If a person donates a pint of blood, his body will completely replenish his blood supply in less than eight weeks. In His creation of man, the Lord made it completely safe to donate blood to others, knowing that our blood will be restored and we will not be in any way harmed by donating blood. (297.6)