Jesus’ blood is the blood of the covenant, poured out for forgiveness (Matthew 26:28).  How does it remove sin?

We find a surprising answer to this when we trace the trail of blood through Matthew’s gospel.  Blood is first mentioned in Jesus’ diatribe against the scribes and hypocrites: Jerusalem is the city of blood, and to it will be charged all the righteous blood from Abel on (23:35).  Judas later receives money to betray Jesus, money that he comes to see as blood-money.  He tries to rid himself of it by tossing it into the temple, where, the priests realize, it defiles the temple as well (27:4, 6, 8).  Eventually, the Jewish leaders call Jesus’ innocent blood down on their own heads, playing the scapegoat to the frightened Pilate (27:24-25).

How does Jesus’ blood remove sin?  Partly by being charged to the temple, to the Jews, to Jerusalem.  Jesus’ blood removes sin because it is shed innocently, and calls up the avenger to avenge all the righteous blood shed on earth.  By removing the Old Covenant order - whose sacrificial blood was only a continuous reminder of sin - Jesus’ blood cleanses the earth.