Hebrews 9:11-28
Q.1. What makes the shedding of the blood of Jesus as our Great High Priest so much more perfect than the Old Testament sacrifices? – (Heb.9:11-14)
The sacrifice of Jesus was not confined to a human temple. He offered the blood of a true Man Who could represent sinners, unlike the blood of animals. The offering of Christ was brought into the very Presence of God – 11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; 12 … but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption (Heb.9:11-12). The perfect sacrifice of Christ was a perfect and sufficient offering to the Father – how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Heb.9:14).
Q.2. Why is Christ a much better mediator of the Covenant than that provided by Moses? What makes the sacrifice of Christ permanent? – (Heb.9:15-26)
Moses inaugurated God’s Covenant with Israel with the blood of animals because – without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness (Heb.9:22). However, the animal sacrifices could only cover the sinner until atonement was made by the blood of the new Adam. This was because the death penalty fell upon all mankind, and only a man’s blood could remove the guilt of sin. What makes the death of Christ so complete, is that it was enacted and accepted as sufficient in the holy Father’s presence in Heaven – but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God (Heb.10:12 c.f. 1:3; 9:23). Since the offering of Christ was accepted, this means that His intercession on our behalf as Mediator is also effective. One sacrifice in the presence of God is infinitely more effectual and permanent than millions of animal sacrifices that could never take away sin – Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself (Heb.9:26).
Q.3. Why was the sacrifice of Christ absolutely necessary? What change of heart characterizes His blood-bought children? – (Heb.9:26-28)
The writer summed up man’s plight as hopeless – inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment (Heb.9:27). All mankind, without exception, are under the death penalty and face the judgment that will hold us in death and separation from God. For that reason, God sent His one and only Son – to bear the sins of many (Heb.9:28). Since the saints recognize that Jesus has paid the price for their sin in full, they can live in anticipation of His coming again and – eagerly await Him (Heb.9:28). As the apostle John declared – 2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure (1 Jn.3:2-3).