Blood donation on Sabbath?

Jesus healed on the Sabbath and donating blood is a life saving act for someone, somewhere. Perhaps not on the very Sabbath of the donation, but, the Law is spiritual and the righteous intentions speak volumes of the servant, (you), of our living God.

And yes, I too am a Sabbath keeper.

.Mikha'el. said:

I have been donating blood for quite a few years now. Recently, the blood clinic here in town closed and moved to a larger site across the street. With the change in location has also come an increase in the hours of operation. The old clinic was mostly open during the week, while this new one has regular hours on weekends.

To this point, I've been refraining from donating on Sabbath just to be sure that I don't run afoul of Torah, but it's a matter about which I'm torn and one that I consider a grey area in Scripture. I just wonder what you all think.

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Brother, may be needed and used the next day! Test results are transferred electronically to the processing center within 24 hours. The number one reason blood donors say they give is because they "want to help others." Blood is available to be shipped to hospitals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.


United in our hope for the soon return of Jesus, Jorge

On the Sabbath of the Israelite Nation, lambs gave their blood as an offering. Num 28:9 On the Sabbath day, make an offering of two lambs a year old without defect, together with its drink offering and a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with olive oil.

They gave their blood on Sabbath. Seems like you could give yours. Just make sure you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on God's holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, ........as per Is 58:13

I don't have your problem because I am a gentile and God has never asked me to observe days.

Bob S said:

I don't have your problem because I am a gentile and God has never asked me to observe days.

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Brother, happy Sabbath! God calls all who "share the faith of those who obeyed" to "make every effort to enter that rest" of God's Sabbath in which "God rested" on the seventh day from all His works in Hebrews 4:1-13. This was written by God through Paul, your favorite author.


United in our hope for the soon return of Jesus, Jorge

The decision is yours, and it sure seems a worthy cause to think of others in this technologically advanced opportunity (relative to what was available in Biblical times). Understandably it wasn't something that was covered in the Scriptures. One person posted about lifting the animal out of the pit. Another mentioned the animal sacrifice. It's good to consider what guidelines/commandments/statutes/precepts/laws were already written.

So in that same vein, here are my thoughts, for whatever good it might be to your situation.

If you donate blood on the Sabbath, someone has to staff the clinic. Why make them work? Sure, it's a worthy cause, but why not save this option for a time when the ox is really in the ditch, not for ordinary donation times?

Another principle that comes to mind is that the Sabbath was given as an appointed time for God's people. Why not set an appointment with Him instead of the blood donation center on the Sabbath? The concept seems more supported by the scriptures that advocate seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and the story of Martha and Mary. It also, not to sound judgmental, seems to bring to mind those people that Jesus told "I never knew you," when they had a list of good deeds as their argument for acceptance. Not that good deeds are useless - they are fundamental and Jesus says so in several places, including the back of the Book.

From that I would conclude, were it me, that heading aside to spend time with The Eternal, in resting in Him and alongside Him, and spending time with likeminded people would take precedence on Sabbath to the good deed that you are intending by blood donation. Were there an emergent need to do otherwise, it would be an exception to the routine, without changing what the definition of the routine observation of the Sabbath should be.

But this is your adventure, and you get to choose your actions. I hope the best for you as you think this through.

Hi Greengardener, using you thoughts Sabbath observing churches would be bare on the day God gave only the Israelites. Those that drive their cars make police have to work. Electricians have to maintain the traffic signals. Air-conditioning, lights, and water supplied to the church has to be operated by staff.

Hi Bob. We each are tasked with choosing what we will do, and it's by what we do that Someone with better judgement than me makes righteous judgements. I offered a comment for what it was worth. So did you and I appreciate that you added your thoughts.