Hebrews

Saturday, 5 January 2019

For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. Hebrews 9:16

Note: It is highly debated whether this should read “testament” or “covenant.” Some translations state, “will,” to reflect the idea of a testament. The fact that the author’s entire thought has been concerning the covenant previously enacted and described, and that this is addressed to the Hebrews, among whom the covenant was made, and to whom the New Covenant is being introduced, the term “covenant” is certainly the author’s intent. He has been speaking of the sacrificial animals, typical of Christ, and now he turns to the main Subject, Christ, as the sacrifice – proved by His death.

Noted scholars on both sides of the issue give their cases for which word is correct, but in a study of both sides, the surety that “covenant” is appropriate is realized. To see this, scholars such as Charles Ellicott and Albert Barnes (among others) should be referred to. The entire thought, both before this verse and in the words to come, demonstrate that the author is referring to the introduction of the New Covenant, not the receiving of an inheritance. Young’s Literal Translation rightly says, “for where a covenant is, the death of the covenant-victim to come in is necessary.” If your translation says, “testament,” or “will,” make a margin note. It should read, “covenant.” With that understood, the author says, “For.”

It is speaking of those things he has said to this point concerning the introduction of the New Covenant as a replacement for the Old Covenant. This was highlighted by the words of the previous verse which say, “And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant.” Understanding this, he says, “For where there is a [covenant].”

This is speaking of the New Covenant which is introduced as a replacement of the Old. Of this, there can be no doubt. As a New Covenant is being introduced, “there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.” To ensure what is said is properly understood, we will stick with Young’s usage and say, “the death of the covenant-victim.”

In order to establish a covenant, there must be a death which solidifies the making of the covenant. This was seen in the covenant made with Abraham –

“So He said to him, “Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” ¹⁰ Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, down the middle, and placed each piece opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds in two.” Genesis 15:9, 10

This was seen in the Mosaic Covenant –

“Then he sent young men of the children of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the Lord. ⁶ And Moses took half the blood and put it in basins, and half the blood he sprinkled on the altar. ⁷ Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the Lord has said we will do, and be obedient.” ⁸ And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you according to all these words.” Exodus 24:5-8

Even Jeremiah refers to this practice in Jeremiah 34:18. Death was called for at the introduction of these covenants, in order to ratify what was being covenanted. This is what is being spoken of now in Hebrews. Christ fulfilled the Old Covenant, and then He instituted the New Covenant. And what did He Himself says concerning this? It is recorded in Matthew 26, Mark 14, and Luke 22 – which Paul substantially repeats in 1 Corinthians 11. Christ said on the night before His crucifixion, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you” (Luke 22:20).

In fact, Paul goes on to explain this with the words –

“This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

²⁶ For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” 1 Corinthians 11:25, 26

The case of correct terminology is settled in the idea of “covenant” by the words of the Lord, and through the hand of both Paul and the author of Hebrews (be it Paul or another). The Lord died in order to introduce a New Covenant. We take the Lord’s Supper to acknowledge that fact, and in honor of what He has done. It is He who is the covenant-victim who died to grant us the grace of God in Himself.

Life application: As is seen, and as is recorded in Scripture, the death of Jesus Christ accomplished two opposing things at the same time. First, He died in fulfillment of the Old Covenant, and secondly, He died to initiate the New Covenant. Jesus’ death was necessary for there to be a New Covenant. This is because the first covenant was already in place and was sealed, as will be seen in the coming verses. Only a more perfect Sacrifice could replace the Old Covenant where the blood used for it was ordained by God as befitting such an agreement. Therefore, only a more perfect blood – that of a sinless Man – could replace what was in effect. Hence, Jesus’ perfect, sinless life was given to nullify the Old Covenant and establish the New. As Paul noted in his directions, when we participate in the Lord’s Supper, we “proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” This is one of only two mandated ordinances in the Bible – the other being baptism. If you have never participated in baptism, or if you don’t frequently participate in the Lord’s Supper, make a commitment today to do so.

Lord God, for those of us who have called on Jesus as Lord, may we be responsible, obedient followers by being baptized as You have so commanded us; and then may we regularly partake in the Lord’s Supper as we have been instructed in Your word. If we fail to do these simple things, then are we truly being obedient to You? May we walk in accord with Your precepts, and be faithful disciples all our days. Amen.

Friday, 4 January 2019

And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. Hebrews 9:15

The author has just shown the superiority of the shed blood of Christ over that of the animal sacrifices of the Old Covenant. Christ’s offering was one which was fully capable of cleansing those who come to Him. And that blood was not taken into an earthly sanctuary, but into “the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands” (9:11). Through this offering, the author then said that, in that Most Holy Place, He obtained for His people “eternal redemption.” In this understanding, he now says, “And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant.” In what was presented in those previous verses, it is evident that Jesus Christ is the One, only, and true “Mediator.”

What Aaron and his descendants did was merely typical of the work of Christ, but it was actually ineffective in bringing about reconciliation between God and man. Instead, it only anticipated what Christ would do when He introduced “the new covenant.” As a new covenant is introduced, it shows that the old was temporary and anticipatory. If there was no fault in the old, there would be no need for a new (see verse 8:7). But there was fault (sin in man) which required the fulfillment of the old through a perfect Man. The surety of His perfection was determined “by means of death.”

The logic is that even though perfect and without sin, until Christ died, He could not be considered perfect in death. What if He violated the law just before dying? But in death, the record of man is set, once and for all. The death validated the life of perfection. This is why Christ’s death was necessary. First, it validated His perfection, and then secondly, it was suitable “for the transgressions under the first covenant.”

Along with the two points just mentioned, it is hard to even comprehend how much else is involved in what Jesus did. The words look forward to those who accept His work after the cross and also back on those who lived by faith under the Old Covenant system. Violations of the law must be atoned for, even just one. This is because breaking any part of the law results in breaking the entire law (James 2:10).

As the sins of the first covenant were only potentially atoned for in Christ until He came, it shows that Christ is truly the only Mediator between God and man. This is stated explicitly in 1 Timothy 2:5 and it excludes any other – such as Mary, whom Roman Catholicism accepts as a co-equal mediatrix. Such heresy must be addressed because a prayer to or through Mary (or anyone else) is an ineffective prayer; a reliance on anyone but Jesus is a lost hope. It is through Jesus alone “that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.”

The overall scope of what occurred in Christ’s work is both more effective, and broader in range, than that of the Old Covenant system. “Those who are called” are any from Israel under the Old Covenant, and those who come to Christ under the New. It is the final, finished, and fully sufficient work of Christ that is the guarantee for both that they “may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. None under the Old could receive it apart from Christ, and in the introduction of the New, none will receive it apart from Christ. Christ alone is the way to reconciliation with God, for all people and at all times.

Life application. It was said above that in death, the record of man is set, once and for all. As this is true, it shows that any person can come to Christ at any time before his death, and in that act, he is granted Christ’s perfection. In this, he then receives the promise of the eternal inheritance. For those who come to Christ many years before death, they are at that time granted His sinless perfection. After that, as sin is no longer imputed in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:19), they are deemed as perfect from that point on, even until death. And for the one who calls on Christ a moment before dying, he too is imputed Christ’s perfection, and he moves from death to life. No person who comes to Christ will be lost.

Lord God, keep our hearts, thoughts, and minds focused on Jesus and His work. Protect us from heresy which can only take our eyes off the Prize which is Jesus alone. When we stray from Your precepts, send us correction that we may always be pleasing in Your eyes. Amen!

Thursday, 3 January 2019

…how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Hebrews 9:14

These words contrast what was just stated in the previous verse. The author had started to pose the question, “For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh…” Now he asks a contrasting question beginning with “how much more shall the blood of Christ.”

The rites of the Old Covenant were symbolic in nature, and they were simply external rites intended to purify externally. Further, this was done with sacrificial animals. They are brute beasts, and in a completely different category than a human being. Thus, they were actually ineffectual in doing anything more than symbolically representing what lay ahead in Christ. This will be made explicit in Chapter 10. However, under the New Covenant, Christ’s blood was shed.

He was (and is) innocent, He is in the same category (being human), and He voluntarily gave Himself in exchange for the sins of others. The supremacy of Christ’s work is on a completely different level. Further, this offering was made “through the eternal Spirit.” The Greek has no definite article, and – though debated among scholars – it is most likely not speaking of the Holy Spirit, who is never designated this way in Scripture. Thus it should more likely read, “through an eternal spirit.”

The word dia, or through, is used to convey the thought that Christ offered Himself through His nature as a human being, set apart unto holiness. To understand the contrast between the animals offered and the offering of Christ, one can refer to the words of Solomon in Ecclesiastes 3:21 –

“Who knows the spirit of the sons of men, which goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, which goes down to the earth?”

The spirit of man is contrasted to that of the animals in Ecclesiastes, and that is built upon by the author of Hebrews here by comparing the “blood of bulls and goats” (9:13) to “the blood of Christ” (9:14). To this thought is added that of the perfection of Christ as has been detailed in the gospels, explained in the epistles, and which has continued to be minutely detailed here in the book of Hebrews. It is this eternal Spirit by which Christ existed, performed His earthly role, gave His life, and was resurrected to never die again. That is contrasted to a mere animal which lives as an animal, dies as an animal, and which is then gone from the stream of existence. It is through this eternal Spirit by which Christ “offered Himself without spot to God.”

The words, “without spot,” speak of perfection. In the Mosaic Law, animals were inspected for purity. If there was any spot or blemish on them, they were not to be sacrificed for the sins of the people. However, the record of Christ’s life shows that He was (and is) perfect in all ways. Thus, the sacrifice of Himself “to God” was perfectly acceptable to accomplish the fulfillment of all of the rites and rituals which symbolically only looked forward to His perfection. This is recorded, explicitly, by Peter –

“And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; ¹⁸ knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” 1 Peter 1:17-19

And so, with understanding this infinite difference in the blood that is shed by Christ, we can complete the question the author is proposing. If the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more can the contrasting shed blood of Christ “cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” The answer must be “completely and wholly.” It is a one-time for all-time cleansing. Nothing can undo it, and it is fully sufficient to carry the one who receives His offering past the cherubim, through the veil, and into God’s paradise once again. All of the symbolism of the sanctuary looked forward to Christ’s coming, and His work of restoring us – once and forever – to God.

Life application: In Chapter 5 of the book of Romans, Paul says five times “much more” concerning the superlative work of Christ in regards to how it brings us near to God once again. Christ Jesus is superior to all things in all ways, including those blood sacrifices of the Old Testament. The people were outwardly cleansed by their participation in Old Covenant services, but with Christ, we are cleansed both outwardly and inwardly – from our dead works. Any sin causes separation from God and, therefore, man stands utterly condemned in the presence of pure holiness. But Christ placed Himself in the gap and presented His blood on our behalf. God accepted this and we now have complete peace with Him, if only we accept by faith what Jesus did. Are you ready to stop trying to please God on your own merits and good deeds and simply hand your life over to Christ? In Him, there is complete healing and restoration. Or, if you’ve come to Christ, are you still consciously carrying around the guilt of past sins? Let them go! We don’t want to forget where we’ve come from or the place we once were, but we also don’t need to continually bear the weight of our sins which have been washed away. Instead, have peace that Jesus Christ has truly – once and for all – cleared our guilty consciences and taken away the stains. And then… give a shout? Whoo hoo!

Lord God Almighty, we are cleansed – wholly, completely, and forever – through the shed blood of Christ. And so why, Lord, do we continually bring up our past sin which has been purified and forgiven through His work? Help us to never forget where we came from, but help us to know for sure that we are freed from what we did while we were there. In Christ, there is life anew! Let us never assume that our sins were of greater magnitude than the cleansing power of Christ. Amen.

Wednesday, 2 January 2019

For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, Hebrews 9:13

This verse initiates a thought which will continue through the next verse as well. And then, after that, it will be settled in verse 9:15. However, it is tied to the previous words with the connector, “For.” Thus, what is presented is explanatory of what has been stated in verse 12 where it said that Christ has obtained for us “eternal redemption.” With that in his view, he will have the thoughts tied together at the end of verse 9:15 using the words, “that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.”

In other words, the “eternal redemption,” leads to obtaining the “eternal inheritance.” With that in view, and to get us to that point, he now says, “For if the blood of bulls and goats.” This takes us back to the explanation of the Day of Atonement which was just described in verse 12. However, the thought certainly extends to other sacrifices as well where the same animals were used in other rituals. This is all the more certain based on the next words which say, “and the ashes of a heifer.”

The ashes of a heifer were not used on the Day of Atonement. Rather, how they were obtained, and the purpose they served, is found in Numbers 19. In verses 1-10 the process of obtaining these ashes is described. In verse 9, it says that these are for “purifying from sin.” This is then more fully explained in verses 11-13 –

“He who touches the dead body of anyone shall be unclean seven days. ¹² He shall purify himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day; then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself on the third day and on the seventh day, he will not be clean. ¹³ Whoever touches the body of anyone who has died, and does not purify himself, defiles the tabernacle of the Lord. That person shall be cut off from Israel. He shall be unclean, because the water of purification was not sprinkled on him; his uncleanness is still on him.” Number 19:11-13

As is seen, these ashes were for “sprinkling the unclean.” It is an outward cleansing of the flesh, but it actually does nothing to purify the person in their heart and soul. Like the other rites and rituals encountered throughout the law, this simply “sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh.”

As can be seen, the author is setting up a contrast where he demonstrates the inferiority of the sacrificial system of the Law of Moses. Though he only mentions a few here, there were various animals that were used for those rituals – lambs, goats, bulls, doves, and even a red heifer’s ashes. Each served a particular purpose and some could serve several purposes, but they all had one thing in common – they only made the people outwardly clean, and most of these purifications were simply symbolic in nature. In some, hyssop was dipped into the blood or other mixture and then it was sprinkled on the people. This was done as a reminder of their unclean state in the presence of God. Some of these cleansings, such as in the case of the ashes of the red heifer, took seven full days to be accomplished, but they were still only external rites of purification.

Such outward cleansings were only a foreshadowing of the greater work of Jesus and His shed blood. Peter uses such terminology in the greeting of his first epistle, applying it to the true cleansing power of Jesus –

“…elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:2

Life application: People who want to please God through works of the law are attempting to have it both ways. First, they want to appear more holy and pious through external rites, like not eating pork. “Oh, I am way better than you because I don’t eat that dirty flesh of swine.” But yet, in their attempt to supposedly be clean in this way, they don’t observe any of the blood or sprinkling rituals required under that same law. Not one person in 2000 years has done this. And so their attempt to be symbolically clean, by not doing one thing, is entirely negated by not doing another. Epic fail. Do not follow such people, but come to the Fount of true cleansing. Come to Christ Jesus who is the fulfillment of all of these mere types and shadows. Indeed – Come to Christ.

Thank You Lord God for the more perfect cleansing we have in the precious blood of Jesus, without which we stand unclean and condemned. Help us to remember always the high cost of our atonement and purification, and to accept it with humility, knowing we don’t deserve the least of Your favor. Amen.

Tuesday, 1 January 2019

Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:12

Here, the author is describing the requirements of the Day of Atonement for the high priest of Israel. These requirements are minutely described in Leviticus 16. The symbolism of Christ fills the entire passage with picture after picture of His work. It is an astonishing study. First, the high priest had to take the blood of a bull (here called a calf) into the Most Holy Place. This was to atone for his own sins. After this, he took the blood of a goat for the sins of the people.

The superiority of what Christ did is seen in the contrasting word de, translated here as “but.” Unlike the high priest of Israel, who is acknowledged as a sinner because of the need to offer blood for himself, such is not the case with Christ Jesus. Rather, He is the perfect sacrifice which these animals only pictured, and He entered “with His own blood.” The perfection implied in the animals which were sacrificed was due to an inspection of them first. There was to be no defect in them, and thus they represented Christ in His perfect, unblemished state. In His death, He presented Himself as the sacrificial offering. As it literally says in the Greek, “through however the own blood He entered.”

The Greek word dia signifies “through,” “on account of,” or “because of.” It is by the instrumentality of His own blood that He entered the Most Holy Place. It is the same word used in verse 9:11 where Christ went dia, or through, the greater and more perfect tabernacle. Here His entering of the Most Holy Place was through His own blood, proving His sinlessness, and thus demonstrating His ability to fully cleanse those for whom His life was given. As it says, “once for all.”

It is the same Greek word used by Paul in Romans 6:10 which says, “For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all.” Christ died once for all, and He entered the Most Holy Place once for all. Unlike the high priest who used an animal, a type of Christ, and who had to repeat the same sacrifices year after year, Christ died once. His death, validated in His shed blood, is fully sufficient to forever cleanse all those who come to Him. It is, when logically considered, the surest proof of the doctrine of eternal salvation. The icing on the cake is that in acceptance of this atoning sacrifice, one is sealed with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee (Ephesians 1:13, 14). With this understanding of surety, the author finishes with, “having obtained eternal redemption.”

The word translated as “redemption” is found only here and in Luke 1:68 and Luke 2:38. It signifies “the payment of the full ransom-price to free a slave – particularly the redemption of an individual” (HELPS Word Studies). In other words, the individual so redeemed has been ransomed eternally – the price is paid, and freedom is granted. Vincent’s Word Studies explains the meaning –

“Not mere duration is contemplated, but quality; a redemption answering in its quality to that age when all the conditions of time shall be no more: a redemption not ritual, but profoundly ethical and spiritual.”

Again, the entire verse speaks of a one-time for all-time salvation. It is eternal in scope, and it is never to be repeated. Jesus Christ’s blood does not purchase eternal insecurity, but rather eternal security. The thought here takes us back to what was said in Hebrews 5:8, 9 –

“…though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. ⁹ And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.”

Eternal redemption equates to eternal salvation. The two are met and obtained through faith in the Person and work of Jesus Christ. To say one can lose what Christ died for is to say that the blood of Christ is a lie. Either the act is sufficient and forever complete, or we have placed our hope in a system which can fail by our own actions, meaning that what we do is greater than what Christ has done. This is impossible.

Life application: The believer in Jesus Christ has no need to worry if he has “lost” his salvation for some heinous sin; it cannot happen. If a person came to Christ by faith and accepted His offer of peace, then he is eternally secure. All people fall, all stumble, all make mistakes, but the blood of Jesus Christ is infinitely more powerful to cleanse than we are to err. He has secured “eternal salvation” and “eternal redemption” for His people. Both Peter and Paul state that we “have” been redeemed. Paul says in Ephesians 4:30 that the Holy Spirit has sealed us for the day of redemption. If the two apostles say we “have” been redeemed and then Paul says we are sealed “for” the day of redemption, and Hebrews says that we have “eternal redemption,” then it logically follows that we are potentially redeemed now and that this will be actualized at a future date. It also means it can never be lost. Praise be to God that Jesus Christ’s blood was presented on our behalf! The perfect for the imperfect – what an honor to be called by the name of Jesus!

Lord Jesus, we have failed you a million times and we loathe our failings, but there is no fear that You have turned from us, nor that You ever will. We are assured of the glorious promise of Your eternal redemption obtained for us on the cross of Calvary. When You said, “It is finished,” we can trust that it is so. Praises belong to You, O Christ! Amen.