The Epistle to the

HEBREWS Study No 19: Hebrews 9:15 – 9:23

Micro-Analysis of Hebrews (4) 8. The Superiority of Christ’s Ministry – Chapter 8 (a) Christ ministers in a better place (heaven) 8:1-5 (b) Christ’s ministry based on a better covenant 8:6 (c) The superiority of the better covenant 8:7-13 9. The Superiority of Christ’s Sanctuary and Sacrifice - Chapter 9 (a) The worldly sanctuary – a prophecy of better things to come 9:1-10 (b) The superiority of Christ’s blood 9:11-14 (c) Christ’s death enables the better covenant 9:15-20 (d) The superiority of Christ’s sacrifice

9:21-28

Christ’s Death Enables the Better Covenant

Hebrews 9:15-20

Hebrews 9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. AND FOR THIS CAUSE N.A.S.B., N.I.V. & others “And for this reason” TESTAMENT. (Should be translated as COVENANT) Brief explanation of difference between a testament and covenant: a testament (e.g. ‘last will and testament”) is a testamentary document by which you leave your property to someone when you die. There is only ONE ‘testator’ and no other party is

Hebrews 9:15 (continued 2) And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. TESTAMENT (continued) (Should be translated COVENANT) involved, and consequently it is NOT an agreement between parties. A ‘COVENANT’ conveys the idea of a solemn agreement between TWO PARTIES. In O.T. times the agreement was sealed, as it were, by the sacrifice of an animal which was the covenant victim, with those making the agreement passing between the pieces of the slain animal. See Genesis 15:7-10, 17-18.

The Covenant Victim Bro. H.P. Mansfield – Genesis Expositor Gen. 15:10

HE DIVIDED THEM IN THE MIDST The Hebrew bathar, divided is found elsewhere in Song 2:17; Jer 34:18. It has relation to the dividing asunder, into two equal parts, of a covenant victim. In ancient times, a covenant was confirmed by the two contracting parties, passing through a divided sacrifice, and proclaiming the terms of the agreement. Reference to this practice is found in Gen 31:44 (Heb. cut a covenant), and more directly in Jer 34:18-19. The idea behind this practice was to emphasise that a covenant is binding unto death. Typically, the two parties agreed that if the covenant was broken, the fate of the (covenant) victim becomes that of the defaulting party. Hence, Yahweh declared through

The Covenant Victim (continued 2) HE DIVIDED THEM IN THE MIDST (continued 2) Jeremiah, of those who “had transgressed My covenant, which have not performed the words of the covenant which they had made before Me, when they cut the calf in twain, and passed between the parts thereof,…. I will give them into the hand of their enemies, and their dead bodies shall be for meat unto the beasts of the earth” (Jer. 34:18-20). Christ is our covenant-victim, and our covenant with Yahweh through him is binding unto death. Paul wrote: “For where a covenant is, the death of the covenant-victim to come in is necessary, for a covenant over dead victims is steadfast, since it is

The Covenant Victim (continued 3) HE DIVIDED THEM IN THE MIDST (continued 3) of no force at all while the covenant-victim liveth (Heb 9:16 – Young’s Literal Translation & Diaglott). As the covenant-victim, Christ “confirmed the promises made unto the fathers” (Rom 15:8), and made their fulfilment certain. What of those who break the covenant made with Yahweh through Christ? Their fate is to be figuratively “cut asunder” (Matt 24:51; Luke 12:46). In the upper room Christ declared: “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for you” (Lk 22:20). We celebrate Christ as the covenant-victim when we assemble at the table of the Lord, and in so doing, the ordinance

The Covenant Victim (continued 4) HE DIVIDED THEM IN THE MIDST (continued 4) goes back to the time when Abraham did so typically. The solemn nature of the memorials is such that we can “eat and drink condemnation to ourselves” if we are not careful. Thus it was that when Yahweh directed Abram to take the animals and birds specified, and treat them as recorded in Genesis 15, He made known to him the way in which the patriarch would inherit the promises; it would be through the solemn, unbreakable covenant Yahweh would enter into through the covenant-victim He would provide.”

Hebrews 9:15-17 (Young’s Literal Translation) 15 And because of this, of a new covenant he is mediator, that, death having come, for redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, those called may receive the promise of the age-during inheritance, 16 for where a covenant is, the death of the covenantvictim to come in is necessary, 17 for a covenant over dead victims is stedfast, since it is no force at all when the covenant-victim liveth,

Hebrews 9:15 (Young’s Literal Translation) 15 And because of this, of a new covenant he is mediator, that, death having come, for redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, those called may receive the promise of the age-during inheritance, AND BECAUSE OF THIS That is, because Christ’s sacrifice achieved so much more than the shed blood of animals under the Law of Moses, AND was made outside the Law OF A NEW COVENANT HE IS MEDIATOR Moses was the mediator of the OLD covenant. [He ascended Sinai; he received the Law; he communic-

Hebrews 9:15 (Young’s Literal Translation) 15 And because of this, of a new covenant he is mediator, that, death having come, for redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, those called may receive the promise of the age-during inheritance, OF A NEW COVENANT HE IS MEDIATOR (cont. 2) icated it to the people etc.]. BUT the Lord’s offering was completely outside the OLD Mosaic covenant. He is the mediator of a NEW, BETTER covenant, based on a BETTER sacrifice, and a BETTER priest-hood, and BETTER promises. DEATH HAVING COME I.E. Christ’s sacrificial death having occurred.

Hebrews 9:15 (Young’s Literal Translation) [cont. 2] 15 And because of this, of a new covenant he is mediator, that, death having come, for redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, those called may receive the promise of the age-during inheritance,

FOR REDEMPTION OF THE TRANSGRESSIONS UNDER THE FIRST COVENANT It was not possible, of itself, for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins (Heb 10:4, 7:19). It could neither provide, OF ITSELF, for the forgiveness of sins nor the ultimate redemption of human bodies. To have effect, the offerer of the animal sacrifices had to see in them a foreshadowing of Christ’s perfect sacrifice which ratified the NEW Covenant.

Hebrews 9:15 (Young’s Literal Translation) [cont. 3] 15 And because of this, of a new covenant he is mediator, that, death having come, for redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, those called may receive the promise of the age-during inheritance,

THOSE CALLED MAY RECEIVE THE PROMISE OF THE AGE-DURING INHERITANCE Obedience to the Law of Moses provided for a temporary, conditional, inheritance in the LAND. Israel lost that inheritance through disobedience (see Deut 28:15, 25). The NEW COVENANT (the Abrahamic), however, provides for an ETERNAL inheritance in the land with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Heb 11:39-40).

Hebrews 9:16 (Young’s Literal Trans) 16 for where a covenant is, the death of the covenantvictim to come in is necessary, FOR WHERE A COVENANT IS This is a reference to the Abrahamic Covenant which although in existence was not in operation having been only TYPICALLY confirmed by the slaying of animals (Gen. 14). But as Paul has been at pains to point out, animal sacrifices of themselves achieve nothing, WITHOUT the sacrifice of the anti-type (THE REAL COVENANT-VICTIM) to whom they point forward, i.e. Christ.

Hebrews 9:16 (Young’s Literal Trans) [continued 2] 16 for where a covenant is, the death of the covenantvictim to come in is necessary, THE DEATH OF…COVENANT VICTIM...NECESSARY [N.B. the A.V. is wrong here when it refers to “the death of the testator’]. Diaglott: “For where a Covenant exists, the Death of that which has RATIFIED it is necessary to be produced”. The “death” which ratified the Abrahamic Covenant was the death of the Lord. He said to his disciples in the Upper Room “This is MY BLOOD of the NEW COVENANT, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matt. 26:28). TYPICALLY the covenant Yahweh made with Abram was ratified by the slaying of an animal, but was ACTUALLY ratified by the sacrificial death of Christ.

Hebrews 9:17 (Young’s Literal Trans) 17 for a covenant over dead victims is stedfast, since it is no force at all when the covenant-victim liveth, COMMENT: Again Paul highlights the inestimable value of the Lord’s sacrifice. Without his perfect sacrifice the Covenants of Promise made to the fathers would have been of no effect. But with the sacrificial death of the Lord, the Abrahamic Covenant became stedfast – the covenant-victim having died.

The Parable of Exodus 24 And Moses wrote all the words of Yahweh Exod 24:4 The Lord was the word made flesh John 1:14 And Moses built an altar Exod 24:4 The Lord Jesus Christ is our altar Heb 13:10 Moses surrounded the altar with 12 pillars Exod 24:4 The Lord surrounded himself with 12 disciples Mk 3:14 Moses selects certain young men (who were the priests of that day) Exod 24:5 Today Christ’s followers are a royal priesthood 1 Pet 2:9 The young men offered burnt & peace offerings Ex 24:5 Thus teaching that dedication is necessary if peace with Yahweh is to be found

The Parable of Exodus 24 (continued 2) Moses sprinkled the altar, the book & the Exod 24:6,8 people with the animal blood of that Heb 9:19 covenant Those to be redeemed are figuratively 1 Per 1:2 sprinkled with the precious blood of Christ Moses ascends into Sinai for 40 days Exod 24:15 Now, like Moses, the Lord is absent During Moses’ absence Israel apostasises Exod 32 During the Lord’s absence many grow weary Luke 12:45 and say “the Lord delayeth his coming” Moses returns from the Mount Exod 32:15 The Lord will certainly return

The Parable of Exodus 24 (continued 2) Moses finds a minority faithful The Lord will find a minority faithful

Exod 32:26 Matt 7:14

Hebrews 9:18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. WHEREUPON “Therefore” (N.A.S.B.). “For this reason” (N.I.V.). So Paul is saying that the REASON that the first covenant (i.e. the Mosaic Covenant) was dedicated with blood, was to point forward to the fact that the NEW, BETTER COVENANT would also be ratified with blood, even the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Although the Mosaic Covenant was not the first given, it was the first to become operational, through being ratified with animal blood.

Hebrews 9:19

For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people. NOTE: In Exodus 24, at the inauguration of the Mosaic covenant we are NOT specifically told about the blood of GOATS, although oxen are specifically mentioned as the animals of the peace offerings (Exod 24:5). However at the inauguration of the first covenant they also offered burnt offerings, and goats were acceptable for such (Lev 1:10). Also Exodus 24 does not mention the use of water, scarlet wool and hyssop, but without question they must have been used.

Hebrews 9:19 (continued 2) For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people. WATER When water was used in relation to sacrifices under the LAW it had to be RUNNING WATER. (Lev 14:6; Numb 19:17). Running water has life about it. It effervesces. It bubbles. Running water gives the idea of LIVING water which is a symbol of the Spirit-word. (See John 4:13-14). SCARLET WOOL Scarlet or crimson dye was obtained from the tola worm

Hebrews 9:19 (continued 3) For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people. SCARLET WOOL (continued) In Psalm 22:6 the Lord is represented as saying “I am a tola (worm) and no man”. The wool reminds us that he was led as a SHEEP to the slaughter (cp. Psa 44:22 & Rom 8:36; Isa 53:7). Scarlet wool is a further symbol of the Lord’s sacrifice. HYSSOP It was regarded as a very humble plant which grew out

Hebrews 9:19 (continued 4) For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people. HYSSOP (continued) of cracks in walls. In 1 Kings 4:33 Solomon speaks of extremes – the mighty cedar of Lebanon on the one hand: the lowly hyssop on the other. It is a reminder that although Son of God the Lord made himself of no reputation (Phil 2:7). Hyssop is also a reminder of faith in action – it manages to survive and grow despite the difficult circumstances under which it lives.

Hebrews 9:19 (continued 5) For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people. SPRINKLED BOTH THE BOOK AND ALL THE PEOPLE The sprinkling of the Book of the Covenant and the people with the blood of the covenant-victim, bound the people to the covenant and its terms.

Hebrews 9:20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. THIS IS THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT For the ANTITYPE see Matthew 26:28. We have been brought into covenant relationship with God through the sacrifice of our Lord. In our baptism we have FIGURATIVELY been sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ. See 1 Peter 1:2 . Cp Hebrews 9:19. Having been so figuratively sprinkled with the blood of the New Covenant, we have come into covenant relationship with God and the terms of the NEW, BETTER COVENANT are binding on us.

The Old and New Covenants Contrasted - Hebrews 9 9:1 First Covenant 9:15 New Covenant 8:6 Better Covenant 2 Cor 3:6 New Covenant 9:4 Written on Tables of Stone 8:10 Covenant in their heart - Jews Later 10:14-16 Covenant in their heart - us now 8:7,13 Faulty, Old, Obsolete 9:15 New Covenant 8:6 Better Covenant

The Old and New Covenants Contrasted – Hebrews 9 (continued 2) 9:8 First Tabernacle 9:11 Greater & More Perfect Tabernacle 8:2 True Tabernacle 9:12, 18-20 Blood of Covenant from Bulls and Goats 9:12,14, 22-23 Christ’s own blood 10:29 Blood of the Covenant Matt 26:28 My Blood of the New Covenant 7:28 Mortal Man High Priest 7:28 The Son of God High Priest 9:11 Christ is High Priest

The Old and New Covenants Contrasted – Hebrews 9 (continued 3) 9:7 Mortal Man is Mediator 8:6 Christ is Mediator 9:7 High Priest Enters Man Made Sanctuary 9:24 Christ Enters Heaven Itself

The Superiority of Christ’s Sacrifice

Hebrews 9:21-28

Hebrews 9:21

Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. MOREOVER Rotherham “In like manner”. N.A.S.B. & N.I.V. “In the same way” HE SPRINKLED WITH BLOOD THE TABERNACLE... Moses could not have sprinkled the Tabernacle and the vessels of the ministry AT THE SAME TIME as the people and the Book of the Covenant were sprinkled, because the Tabernacle and its vessels did not exist at that time. The Tabernacle and its various items were sprinkled AGAIN every year on the Day of Atonement. ONE sprinkling with ANIMAL blood was INSUFFICIENT. See requirements on annual Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16:14-16. Contrast Christ’s one, all-sufficient sacrifice.

The Tabernacle & Vessels Sprinkled with Blood – Hebrews 9:22 The Leviticus Christadelphian Expositor – Bro H P Mansfield

Leviticus 16:16 AND HE SHALL MAKE AN ATONEMENT FOR THE HOLY PLACE By the “holy place” is meant the Most Holy. Typically, this foreshadowed “the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands” (Heb 9:11), even Christ’s tabernacle. The Lord himself is an integral part of that tabernacle, so that the type clearly taught that he benefited from his own death, and that his death was an important element in his own “covering”. He declared of himself: “For their sakes I sanctify

The Tabernacle & Vessels Sprinkled with Blood – Hebrews 9:22 (continued 2) AND HE SHALL MAKE AN ATONEMENT FOR THE HOLY PLACE (Leviticus 16:16) [continued] myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth (John 17:19). As the “Good Shepherd”, as the head of the multitudinous body, he led the way for other members to follow. If there had been no atonement provided for the Holy Place, there would have been no medium of worship for the people. So also with the salvation of the Lord: he saved himself (see Zech 9:9 mg.) that he might save others.

The Tabernacle & Vessels Sprinkled with Blood – Hebrews 9:22 (continued 3) BECAUSE OF THE UNCLEANNESS OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AND BECAUSE OF THEIR TRANSGRESSIONS IN ALL THEIR SINS The word “uncleanness” is the Hebrew tumoth, a word in the plural, signifying uncleannesses. These relate ceremonial impurities, whereas “transgressions in all their sins” denote actual sins in the “going astray” of flesh. Ceremonial uncleannesses (and there were many such), typically point to the sin-prone nature of flesh; “transgressions” denote the manifestation of flesh in actual sin. Christ came in the sin-proned nature of flesh common to all humanity, though at no stage did he permit it to assert itself. It was that

The Tabernacle & Vessels Sprinkled with Blood – Hebrews 9:22 (continued 4) BECAUSE OF THE UNCLEANNESS OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AND BECAUSE OF THEIR TRANSGRESSIONS IN ALL THEIR SINS (Leviticus 16:16) [continued 2]

which he “bare” in “his own body on the tree” (1 Pet 2:24). Having overcome it in life through the strength of mind he derived through his divine conception, he provided the means whereby we, who transgress, can receive forgiveness through him (1 John 2:1). The Tabernacle and its contents, therefore, represented the Lord Jesus and the members of his multitudinous body, both of whom obtain a covering of immortality in the ways appointed (2 Cor 5:4).

The Tabernacle & Vessels Sprinkled with Blood – Hebrews 9:22 (continued 5) Bro Robert Roberts – The Law of Moses pp 90-91

“The type is before us; the anti-type is in Christ. He is the ALTAR, the BOOK OF THE LAW, and the other things that come after, the sprinkling of the typical blood on both by Moses prefigured the operation of divine love and wisdom in Christ’s own sacrifice. It was a sacrifice operative on himself first of all; for he is the beginning of the new creation, the firstfruits of the new harvest, the foundation of the new temple. He is the nucleus of a new and healthy life developed among men, for the healing of all who should become incorporated in it. As such. It was needful that he should himself be the object of the process and reaper of the results.

The Tabernacle & Vessels Sprinkled with Blood – Hebrews 9:22 (continued 6) Bro Robert Roberts – The Law of Moses pp 90-91 (continued 2)

Hence the testimony that “the God of peace brought again from the dead our lord Jesus Christ, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant” (Heb 13:20) and that “by his own blood, entering into the holy place, he obtained (middle, or self subjective, state of the verb) eternal redemption” (“for us” is interposed) [Heb 9:12]……. The common view which disconnects Christ from the operation of his own sacrifice would have required that Moses should have left the altar and the book of the law unsprinkled. These were parts of what Paul terms “the patterns of things in the heavens”, concerning which he remarks that it was necessary

The Tabernacle & Vessels Sprinkled with Blood – Hebrews 9:22 (continued 7) Bro Robert Roberts – The Law of Moses pp 90-91 (continued 3)

that they should be purified with the sacrifices ordained. The application of this to Christ as the anti-type he makes instantly: “but (it was necessary that) the heavenly things themselves (should be purified) with better sacrifices than these” (Heb 9 :23). The phrase “the heavenly things” is an expression covering all the high, holy, exalted things of which the Mosaic pattern was but a foreshadowing. They are all comprehended in Christ, who is the nucleus from which all will be developed, the foundation on which all will be built. The statement is therefore a declaration that it was necessary that Christ should first of all be purified

The Tabernacle & Vessels Sprinkled with Blood – Hebrews 9:22 (continued 8) Bro Robert Roberts – The Law of Moses pp 90-91 (continued 4)

with better sacrifices than the Mosaic: “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place”; “not into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us (Heb 9:12, 23-24).

Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the Law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. ALMOST ALL There were a few cases where things were purified by something other than blood. 1. In the case where a person was too poor to bring an animal, a tenth of an ephah of fine flour could be offered instead (Lev 5:11). 2. The man who led the scape-goat into the wilderness – his flesh and his clothes were purified by water (Lev 16:26-28). 3. The spoils of war were purified by fire and water (Numb 31:22-24). 4. In the case of defiant presumptuous sin there was no forgiveness (Numb 15:30-31). But in 99.9% of cases, the purifying, the cleansing, the forgiveness, came through shed blood.

Hebrews 9:23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. THE PATTERNS OF THE THINGS IN THE HEAVENS This is a reference to the Tabernacle and its furniture which was a pattern or type of better things to come. Rotherham has “for the GLIMPSES of things in the heavens”. WITH THESE I.E animal sacrifices. So the tabernacle and its furniture which provided “glimpses” of Christ were purified with animal sacrifices. .

Hebrews 9:23 (continued 2) It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. THE HEAVENLY THINGS THEMSELVES I.E. Christ and his brethren. BETTER SACRIFICES “Sacrifices” is in the plural here, NOT because Christ made more than ONE offering, but because his ONE offering incorporated all the various features of the many sacrifices made under the Law of Moses.

Purifying the Heavenlies Hebrews 9:23 Bro John Carter “The Letter to the Hebrews” pp102-105 “The heavenly things” is a phrase denoting Christ and

those who are redeemed by him. They are denominated “heavenly” in contrast with the “earthly” tabernacle ,“made with hands, of this creation….. It is important to observe that these heavenly things stood in need of cleansing; and undoubtedly Christ is part of the heavenly things. As Robert Roberts says (in the Law of Moses pp 170-171, 181) …….. “There must therefore be a sense in which Christ (the antitypical Aaron, the antitypical altar, the anti-

Purifying the Heavenlies - Hebrews 9:23 (continued 2) typical mercy-seat, the antitypical everything) must not only have been sanctified by the action of the antitypical oil of the Holy Spirit, but purged by the antitypical blood of his own sacrifice…… “If the typical holy things contracted defilement from connection with a sinful congregation, were not the antitypical (Christ) holy things in a similar state, through derivation on his mother’s side from a sinful race? If not, how came they to need purging with his own ‘better sacrifice’ (Heb 9:23)? “Great difficulty is experienced by various classes of thinkers in receiving this view. Needlessly so, it would seem. There is first the express declaration that the matter stands so: ‘it was, therefore, necess-

Purifying the Heavenlies - Hebrews 9:23 (continued 3) ary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these (Mosaic sacrifices), but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.’ ‘It was of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer’. ‘By reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins’. ‘By his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption’ (Heb 9:23; 8:3; 5:3; 9:12)……….. “Under apostolic guidance, we see Christ both in the bullock, in the furniture, in the veil, in the high priest, and in brief, in all these Mosaic ‘patterns’, which he says were ‘a shadow of things to come.’ All were

Purifying the Heavenlies - Hebrews 9:23 (continued 4) both atoning and atoned for. There is no counterpart to this if Christ is kept out of his own sacrifice, as some thoughts would do. He cannot so be kept out if place is given to all the testimony – an express part of which is that as the sum total of the things signified by these patterns, he was ‘purified with’ a better sacrifice than bulls and goats – his own sacrifice. If he was ‘purified’ there was something to be purified from. What was it? Look at his hereditary death taint, as the son of Adam, through whom death entered the world by sin, and there is no difficulty. Look at the curse of God brought on him in hanging on a tree (Gal 3:13; Deut 21:22,23). We must not get away from the testimony”… Thus

Purifying the Heavenlies - Hebrews 9:23 (continued 5) speaks Roberts in his last work, written at the end of a life during which the subject had often been discussed in controversy, and expounded in writings free from the stress of controversy.”