Bible Commentaries

The Redeemer's Great Sacrifice

-- Hebrews Nine --

In Hebrews nine the writer continues to show that Christ, as High Priest, is superior to the Jewish high priest. He is the "Mediator" of a better covenant. In this chapter we observe the true significance of the sacrifice of Jesus. This section of Scripture provides a comparison of our Redeemer to the Old Testament priest. The point is that the Old was only a figure of the true.

We here have a description of the tabernacle and of some of the utensils that were in tabernacle service. We are allowed a look into the service rendered once each year by the Jewish high priest. All of this was symbolic of Christ entering into the most holy place in heaven on our behalf.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, (1) Pertained to a more perfect tabernacle, (2) Offered more perfect blood, and (3) Entered a more perfect Holy Place. He did not offer the blood of bulls and goats, but His own blood. With His own precious blood He entered into the most holy place in heaven. The blood of Christ did what the blood of bulls and goats could not do -- it took away sin. His blood not only remits the sins of those living in the present, but it extends backwards, to those living in past ages, and removes the sins of those who obeyed God in those old ages as well.

It was necessary that the Mediator of the new covenant shed His blood. The offering made by our Redeemer was a one time for all sacrifice. It is appointed to man to die once; and so Christ died but once. Jesus did not cease to exist when He died. He will appear a second time to receive, to eternal salvation, all who truly love Him, and who wait for his appearing.

The tabernacle and its services - Hebrews 9:1-7 : God's first or former arrangement had religious services connected with it. A study of Exodus 25:1-40; Exodus 26:1-37; Exodus 27:1-21 will provide you with much information about what is here called a "worldly sanctuary." The term "worldly" means that it concerned this world. This is set in contrast to the "heavenly sanctuary."

In the tabernacle you could find the candlestick, with the lamps always burning. You would also observe the table with the shew-bread upon it. This gives us a glimpse of how Christians observe communion with Christ and with fellow Christians. The showbread pointed to our Lord Jesus Christ, the bread of life to His church.

The tabernacle contained a second veil which led to a part called the Holiest of all or the Holy of holies. Herein was the golden censer, a fire-pan made for the purpose of carrying fire, in order to burn incense. The Ark of the Covenant with its mercy-seat was a part of the Holy of holies. The ark contained the golden pot that had manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant. The Divine Presence rested on the mercy seat.

The Priest was in the Holy place every day, and at all times, as occasion did required. However, the High Priest alone was permitted into the Holy of holies. "But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people." Leviticus 16:1-34 describes the special occasion when the High Priest entered the Holiest of all. This had to do with the grievous nature of man's sins.

The Messiah's great sacrifice - Hebrews 9:8-14 : The tabernacle, with the meats and drinks, and divers washings, and physical ordinances, was a type of the reformation that would come only through Jesus. Christ had a more excellent tabernacle than the Jewish priest. Those priests entered the tabernacle often, Jesus entered heaven once. Those priests entered the tabernacle with the blood of goats and calves. He entered heaven with His own blood thereby obtaining eternal redemption for us.

Those Old Testament sacrifices made man holy so far as the flesh or body was concerned. They did not provide redemption. Eternal redemption was the fruit of Christ's sacrifice. His sacrifice was sufficient to purge the conscience from dead works. It reached to the very soul and conscience of sinful man. The blood of Jesus is sufficient to enable us to serve the living God. His sacrifice purged away the guilt which separated man from his God. Only through the blood of Jesus can guilty mankind be delivered from the dread of the wrath to come.

The blood of the New Covenant - Hebrews 9:15-23 : One other major benefit of the death of Christ was the ratification of the New Covenant. His death provided atonement for those under both the Old and the New Covenants. The beauty of the teaching of this chapter is that God made a New Covenant, with Jesus as Mediator, and He redeemed man from sin by the sacrifice of His own death.

God's covenant of Grace is called a testament or will. All things required in a will or testament is found. Christ Jesus died and left His will. The will contains certain bequeath. Some were temporal; many were spiritual, and all related to eternal salvation. The heirs of promises must be part of God's family. The will contained certain required conditions whereby the blessing could be obtained. The will required faith, repentance, and sincere obedience in baptism into Christ's death and blood, and faithfulness to the Heavenly Father. Let us remember that "without shedding of blood there is no remission."

The one appointment for all - Hebrews 9:24-27 : Christ's sacrifice was a better sacrifice than all Old Testament sacrifices. The sacrifice of Christ is the one and only fountain from which sanctification and spiritual blessings flows. Jesus Christ by one sacrifice has made an end of sin. And it was a one time sacrifice because, "it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." (Hebrews 9:27)

Man has two appointments. First, man must die once, or, at least, go through a change equivalent to death. After death man shall come to judgment. Those who die in the Lord leave the world to go to heaven, where death is unknown. The day is coming when Christ will appear a second time to take His followers to eternal salvation with Him in glory.

To become a Christian, you must hear God's word and believe (John 6:44-45), you must repent (Acts 2:38), you must confess Christ (Romans 10:9-10), and you must be baptized to be saved (1 Peter 3:21). It is the desire of Jesus that everyone be saved. He said, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30.)

Those who become Christians must continue doing good. Peter wrote, "For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil." (1 Peter 3:17.) Never let a day pass that you are not walking in the will of God.