In chapter 8 the writer concluded that Jesus had established a new covenant which was much superior to the old covenant. Now in this chapter that truth is described in more detail. We see that Jesus offered a “better” sacrifice in establishing a “better” covenant with “better” promises.
1]. Sacrifices Offered By High Priests On Earth Could Not Take Away Sin. 1-10.
In verses 1 to 5, there is a description of the Holy Place and also the Most Holy Place. In the latter, the High Priest could enter only once a year but had to take blood to offer for his own sins as well as for the sins of the people. The writer added, “By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing 9 (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, 10 but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.” 9:8-10. The old covenant sacrifices could never take away sin, as seen in the fact they had to be offered every year.
2]. Jesus’ Sacrifice Of Himself In Heaven Secured An Eternal Redemption Through His Blood. 11-14
There came a change when Jesus came to earth and offered Himself as the sacrifice to take away sins forever. However, this happened not in the earthly temple but in a heavenly tent. And it happened only once, for that single sacrifice secured an eternal redemption, “But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.” 9:11-12.
The contrast is also made between the offering of the blood of bulls and goats and the offering of the blood of Jesus, “For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” 9:13-14. The blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer did make the worshipper ceremonially or outwardly pure before God to be able to offer their sacrifices. However, the offering of Jesus was effectual in inwardly cleansing human consciences to enable worshippers to turn from dead works [of no value to God] to actually serve God with consciences that were sensitive to God and to His will.
3]. Jesus Is The Mediator Of A New Covenant. 15-23
The writer now contrasts the new covenant [which is so much superior] to the old one and says that Jesus is the mediator of this new covenant., “Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. 16 For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17 For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. 19 For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” Hebrews 9:15-20.
The benefits of the new covenant the writer describes as
- Those who responded to God’s call, receive the promised eternal inheritance.
- They are redeemed from transgressions committed under the first covenant.
- The blood offered under the old covenant was that of bulls and goats which we have seen can never take away sin. But Jesus’ blood [shed in His death] established the new covenant which redeemed the people of God.
4]. Jesus Has Entered Heaven To Appear On Our Behalf To Put Away Sin. 24-28
Under the old covenant, the high priest in the temple purified everything with blood for “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” 9:22. But these sacrifices were copies of the real sacrifice that Jesus had to offer, “Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.” 9:23-24.
The Better Sacrifice Which Jesus Offered
We see now the contrast between the sacrifice Jesus offered and those offered by a succession of high priests.
The succession of different high priests entered the holy place in the temple every year with blood not their own.
However Jesus entered the heavenly place just once, shedding His own blood, “Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, 26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” 9:25-26.
His single offering of Himself made forgiveness available to those who trusted in Him and secured for them an eternal redemption.
The Better Sacrifice Which Jesus Offered Means No Judgment And Future Salvation
“And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” 9:27-28.
Every human must eventually die and face judgment. However, for those who trust in Jesus, their sins have been borne by Jesus and so they will not face judgment for their sins. Jesus will return again, not as judge, but as the Saviour of those who trust in Him.
SUMMING UP CHAPTER 9
The writer has described the new covenant introduced in the previous chapter and shown it to be superior to the old covenant. The priests under the old covenant “serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things.” Hebrews 8:5. “Shadow” is from [skia; σκιά] a shadow, a foreshadowing.
The whole sacrificial system of the old covenant foreshadowed the sacrifice Jesus was to offer to secure an eternal redemption for the people of God.
It would be a single sacrifice of Himself as the perfect offering for sin and those who trusted in Him would receive forgiveness of all their sins and would experience salvation when He returned again.
Blog No.525 posted on Sunday 11 February 2024.
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526. What Is “Shrove Tuesday?” Its Meaning And Purpose
The word “shrove” comes from an English word “shrive,” which means to give absolution for someone’s sins by way of Confession and doing penance. Thus “Shrove Tuesday” was named after the custom of Christians to be “shriven” or seeking to be absolved of their sins before the start of Lent on the following day, Ash Wednesday.
The custom of having pancakes to eat derived from the idea that because Lent was to be observed as a time of reflection and self-discipline, there could be a more joyous time beforehand when people could use up the available food materials, such as flour, eggs and fats, to make pancakes as a celebration. The custom has been observed for hundreds of years around the world. The day is often described as “Pancake Day.”
Praise God for His mercy as this verse affirms, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John1:9.
Blog No.526 posted on Monday 12 February 2024