The Blood of Jesus is mentioned many times throughout scripture. When Jesus died and rose again, the Old Covenant was fulfilled. Death and sin were defeated. The phrase “Pleading the Blood of Jesus” is not seen in scripture but is used in many Christian circles today.
Why do Christians plead the blood of Jesus? Some Christians “plead the blood of Jesus” because they believe that if they say something paired with this phrase then God will work. However, God is already working in our lives. Saying “I plead the blood of Jesus” while praying does not make it more likely for God to fulfill that prayer.
It is important we understand what “plead the blood of Jesus” means.
What Does “Plead The Blood Of Jesus” Mean?
Depending on where you grew up, or what church you attend you may or may not have heard of someone “pleading the blood”. This phrase refers to the blood that Jesus shed when he was on the cross that now covers our sins.
Pleading means to make an heartfelt appeal to someone or something.
When you say you are “pleading the blood,” you are declaring the power that Jesus has over Satan and his schemes.
Many people use the phrase “pleading the blood” because of what the Israelites were told to do during the Passover.
The Israelites covered their doorposts with blood as the tenth plague came upon Egypt where the firstborn died. The blood around the doorposts then protected the Israelites from the final plague.
The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.
Exodus 12:13
The Israelites were indeed protected when they did as the Lord told them to. This leads some to believe that this relates to us today.
After the Israelites were saved from the last plague in Egypt, they still faced many hard times, God was with them, but it was not always easy.
We can have the same perspective today, God is always with us, but that does not mean it will always be easy.
Though many Christians use the term “Pleading the blood”, it is most used most commonly by those who teach prosperity gospel.
“Pleading the blood” for those who use it in the frame of the prosperity gospel see the word pleading as a legal term, it is a claim that is being made.
The other perspective is pleading as an appeal, similar to when we come to God in prayer with a request.
The world is broken and many times it is the brokenness and mess that draw us to God. We must realize that not coming to God in desperation cuts off significant access to God.
God wants us to cry out and seek Him when we need Him. We see a Biblical example of this in the Psalms when we hear David’s desperation for God.
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
Psalm 42:11
In David’s songs, he is upset, but comes to God and does not forget all that God has done for him. His soul was downcast. Yet, he trusts in the Lord.
“Pleading The Blood” In The Bible
The phrase “pleading the blood” is not in Scripture. However, there are many verses about the blood of Jesus and His victory through the cross.
And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.
Revelation 12:11
Many people see this verse and desire to “plead the blood” over the devil’s hold in their life. They are calling out for protection under the blood of Jesus amidst the spiritual warfare.
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
2 Corinthians 10:3-4
In scripture, we read of the power we have through Christ against spiritual warfare. When we come against the devil and the hold that he has in our lives we do not fight him with physical weapons, but the armor of God as described in Ephesians 6:11-20.
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:11-12
The spiritual warfare that we come up against needs us to be vigilant, if pleading the blood of Jesus when you face spiritual warfare in life helps you, there is no reason to avoid the phrase.
If this phrase will only trip you up in your spiritual walk, you can avoid it.
Jesus has already defeated Satan through his death and resurrection. Satan still tries to get those who follow Jesus to stumble, “pleading the blood” can be similar to claiming that you stand as a Christian and that Jesus has already thwarted the plans of the enemy.
“Pleading the blood” while in spiritual warfare can be a way of us surrendering to God and appealing to Him. It can be an act of surrendering to God and trusting He will lead us even in our darkest moments.
We are called to give our battles over to God in the book of James.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7
We just have to submit to God and resist the devil to avoid the schemes of satan in your life, you do not need to “plead the blood” to be safe.
There is most definitely power through the Holy Spirit in our lives, and we know that the word of God also has power. God’s word is not old or stagnant but active and working in our lives.
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrew 4:12
This verse powerfully talks about the way scripture can work in our lives and in other’s lives. God’s word discern’s our thoughts and works in our hearts.
God work’s through his word, if you are even looking for comfort or protection, you can turn to the Bible to find understanding and power in his words.
Scripture is full of verses that give wisdom and strength and can work powerfully in our lives.
The phrase “Pleading the blood of Jesus” is not special words that will change something just because we have said it. Only through Christ’s work on the cross is there power in the blood.
Caution on Pleading the Blood
It is very important to note that pleading the blood is not found anywhere in scripture. There are no instances that feature someone pleading the blood of Jesus in one area of life or another.
Many people avoid using the phrase “pleading the blood” altogether because it is not found in scripture.
It’s also important to remember that words we use have meaning and what we say matters to God.
The words of the mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.
Proverbs 18:4
This verse shows that we must speak the words we speak with wisdom. We must think before speaking and come at what we say with a surrendered and thankful heart posture.
We must consider the fact that this phrase is very commonly used by those who teach prosperity gospel before we use it.
It is very important to avoid prosperity teaching because although teachers of the prosperity gospel may seem to preach from the Bible, many times they are not preaching the true gospel. They emphasize physical well-being over spiritual well-being.
You can read more about prosperity theology and how to avoid it in “Prosperity Theology: Definition, Viewpoints, What The Bible Says.“
Many see the phrase “pleading the blood” as a ticket to get what you want, “I plead the blood over my finances,” “I plead the blood over my children.” While it is important to pray in all areas of our life because we said it out loud or used the magic word that does not mean that it will happen.
Pleading the blood can be used in selfish and negative ways especially when thinking that you have the power through these words to make God give you something.
God does not need to be reminded of the sacrifice made on the cross or the forgiveness of sins that took place.
Though life is still not perfect or easy as a Christian, it’s our hope in our savior that gets us through. Not any specific saying.
While prosperity teachers will preach on the trouble-free life that you can have being a Christians, Jesus focuses on a life that is not easy, but full because of your relationship with God and his call on your life that is purpose-filled.
Praying is about a relationship with God, and while we can bring requests to God, we know that God ultimately knows what is best and is working for the good.
Saying that we “plead the blood” will not guarantee that God will bless us financially, the words hold no extraordinary power.
God will not be more convinced if you use special words, prayers cannot become something special because of specific words or phrases you use. When we don’t know what to say at all the spirit will intercede for us.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Romans 8:26-27
Even though at many prayer meetings and churches, prayers can seem very proper with fancy words, it is not about what we say that will make it more important to God, he truly knows our hearts and what is best for us, and we can trust him.
As it says in Romans, even in our lack of words, God hears us.
We do not want to use these words in a misdirected way hoping that our desires and wants will be fulfilled if they used these words, instead we should be asking for God’s will in our life knowing that his plan is the best.
To keep from being led astray by those who believe that if you say it with faith in these words you will get what you want, pay attention to their teaching.
Do they think that if you are suffering or not receiving what you ask for is because of a lack of faith? This is a dangerous position because God uses suffering and waiting for his glory.
The Power in the Blood of Jesus
The blood of Jesus is so significant because what Jesus did on the cross was so important for all of human history.
Sin entered the world when Adam and Eve disobeyed God. Throughout the Old Testament we see the Israelites, God’s chosen people, sacrifice animals to atone for their past sins. Instead of them dying for their sins as they deserved a pure and spotless animal would.
Those in the Old Testament found forgiveness of their sins temporally through the blood of the sacrifice. But this was only a temporary covering, the Israelites would sin again because of their hardness of heart, and fall into the same pattern of seeking forgiveness through sacrifice even while they continued in their sin.
When we come to the New Testament everything changes when Jesus comes to earth in the flesh. Through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, our sins are also covered and forgiven.
The blood Jesus shed covered all sins for all times because Jesus was perfect. When he then rose from the dead he defeated sin and death.
For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.Matthew 26:28
There is power in the blood of Jesus because anyone else who bled and died can not have covered the sins of all who believe in him as Jesus did. Jesus’ blood represents the freedom that we have from sin, and how we now belong to Christ.
As Christians, we value what the blood of Jesus represents and proclaim its power because nothing else could have rescued us from death to life like Jesus did when he died.
Jesus took on flesh and blood. He humbled himself. Since he humbled himself in this way he was able to live on the earth a perfect life and die for our sins. Then He rose again defeating sin and death, ascended to heaven, and leaving us the Holy Spirit to dwell in us.
The work Jesus is doing in our lives and our salvation is possible because of the blood of Jesus.
Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:6-8
Unlike those who believe in the Word of Faith Movement. (Those who believe that if we speak what we want we will receive it). We have already seen the power of the blood of Christ when we became Christians and receive forgiveness.
Christ will continue to work in our lives, but it is not always what we expect or ask from God.
If you are to use the phrase “pleading the blood” it is important to approach with the heart of prayer, not with entitlement for whatever you want.
I hope it is clear that using the phrase “pleading the blood of Jesus” will not help you to gain what you desire.
Jesus knows our heart desires and what’s best for us. If we do not get what we desire we need to have faith that Christ’s will is perfect, and trust in what He has planned.
Saying, “I plead the blood of Jesus” is not a salvation issue. It’s a personal preference/conviction.
Be aware of why you are praying what you are praying. Ask Christ to align your heart with His. Trust His character and His good and perfect will.