The phrase “Pleading the Blood of Jesus” is not in scripture but is used in many Christian circles today. Some Christians “plead the blood of Jesus” because they believe that if they say something along with this phrase then God will work. However, God is already working in our lives. Those who “plead the blood” often do so as if there were something magical in those words or as if by using them their prayer is somehow more powerful. Saying “I plead the blood of Jesus” while praying does not make it more likely for God to fulfill that prayer. This teaching is born from a misguided view of prayer that prayer is a way of manipulating God to get what we want rather than praying for His will to be done.
No one in the Bible ever “pleads the blood” of Jesus. Pleading the blood is based on the false teaching that faith is a force and that, if we pray with enough faith, God guarantees us health, wealth, and happiness.
So, what does pleading the blood of Jesus really mean?
Pleading means to make a heartfelt appeal to someone or something. This phrase refers to the blood that Jesus shed when he was on the cross that now covers our sins. When you say you are “pleading the blood,” you are declaring the power that Jesus has over Satan.
The phrase “pleading the blood” may be based on what the Israelites were told to do during the final plague that God sent on Egypt.
Exodus 12:13, 23 NIV [13] The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. [23] When the Lord goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down.
The Israelites covered their doorposts with blood as this plague came upon Egypt where the firstborn died. The blood around the doorposts protected the Israelites from the plague. The Israelites were indeed protected when they did as the Lord told them to. This leads some to believe that this same thing applies to us today because Jesus offered Himself as the sacrifice for mankind.
Hebrews 10:4-10 NIV [4] It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. [5] Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; [6] with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. [7] Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, my God.’ ” [8] First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. [9] Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. [10] And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
However, after the Israelites were saved from the last plague in Egypt, they still faced many tough times, God was with them, but it was not always easy. We can have the same perspective today, God is always with us,
Hebrews 13:5-6 NIV [5] Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” [6] So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”
But that does not mean it will always be easy.
John 16:33 NIV [33] “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Those who plead the blood of Jesus often do so in the context of seeking victory over demons. Pleading the blood of Jesus is a way of taking up the authority of Christ over the spirit world and announcing to the forces of darkness that they are powerless. Many base this aspect of pleading the blood on
Revelation 12:11 NIV [11] They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
The phrase the blood of Christ in the New Testament is often used as a substitute for “the death of Christ.” The blood/death of Christ forgives our sin, reconciles us with God, and guarantees our inheritance in heaven.
Yes, a Christian is aware of all that the blood/death of Christ has accomplished for us.
Yes, a believer should be thankful for the blood/death of Christ.
Yes, a believer should express thanksgiving.
However, pleading the blood of Christ is not needed to defeat Satan. He has already been defeated, and, if we are born again, Satan has no power over us other than what God allows for His purpose and glory. We have already been “delivered” from the power of darkness and “translated” into the kingdom of God’s Son.
Colossians 1:13-14 NIV [13] For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, [14] in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Rather than “pleading the blood” of Christ for protection or power, Christians should do this
James 4:7-10 NIV [7] Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. [8] Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. [9] Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. [10] Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up (emphasis mine).
The Bible gives us instructions in victorious living in Christ, and pleading the blood of Jesus is not one of them. We have been cleansed by the blood of Christ, and now He is our High Priest and mediator who “always lives to make intercession” for us.
Hebrews 7:25 NIV [25] Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
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.