Hebrews 9:11-22, The Superiority of Christ's Sacrifice
The Superiority of Christ’s Sacrifice, Hebrews 9:11-22
Jesus alone is our priest now and not just a High Priest but a Great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14).
1. PURIFIED BY BLOOD
11) But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
The theme of Christ’s superiority over corresponding things of the old covenant continues.
12) Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Not only a superior place is His but also a better offering.
Instead of annual atonement (covering) for sins, Christ made eternal redemption by His “once-for-all” sacrifice.
13) and 14) For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Old Covenant sacrifices for sin on the Day of Atonement only provided temporary cleansing, but the sacrifice of Jesus Christ provided permanent cleansing.
1 John 1:6-9
2. PURCHASED BY BLOOD
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.
Aaron’s priests mediated a covenant, Moses’ Law.
Christ mediates a new covenant, one of grace.
16), 17), 18) For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. 18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.
In certain respects, the covenants God made with man are similar to wills.
With all wills, the person who made the will must die before the beneficiaries experience any effects of the will.
This new covenant is the last will and testament of Jesus Christ.
It would never have gone into effect without the cross and the shedding of His own blood.
3. PARDONED BY BLOOD
19), 20), 21) 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, 20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. 21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
The word “blood” occurs six times in verses 18-22.
Yet all that blood could not suffice to do what the blood of Jesus did.
Not only did Christ’s blood seal the new covenant but also it still cleanses the believing sinner, allowing him to become a child of God.
Then it “keeps on cleansing us from all sin” as we keep short accounts of confession before God.
22) And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
The phrase “almost all things” leaves room at least for the exception of a poor person who could not afford an animal for sacrifice (Leviticus 5:11-13), but the principle in atonement (a covering for sins then) or forgiveness (the removal of sins now) is by blood.
For the first pair, Adam and Eve, the innocent animal(s) had to die for the guilty people just as Jesus had to die for us.
From the gates of Eden to the cross and beyond, it is “by blood.”