Opening Prayer
Holy Spirit, thank you for your constant presence. I look to you to teach me and guide me as I live out my salvation.
Read HEBREWS 9:11–28
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
The Blood of Christ
11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here,[a] he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining[b] eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,[c] so that we may serve the living God!
15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
16 In the case of a will,[d] it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 17 because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. 18 This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood. 19 When Moses had proclaimed every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. 20 He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”[e] 21 In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. 22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
23 It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 9:11 Some early manuscripts are to come
- Hebrews 9:12 Or blood, having obtained
- Hebrews 9:14 Or from useless rituals
- Hebrews 9:16 Same Greek word as covenant; also in verse 17
- Hebrews 9:20 Exodus 24:8
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
Jesus came to do away with sin by sacrificing himself. Ask him to cleanse your heart as you come into his presence today.
Think Further
These verses deal with past, present, and future salvation. Yesterday’s reading referred to tabernacle worship and, in particular, the annual entrance of the high priest into the Most Holy Place on the Day of Atonement. Today’s reading emphasizes the contrast between that regularly repeated ritual and the single, unique, once only, entrance of Christ into the ‘greater and more perfect tabernacle … not made with human hands’ (v. 11) – that is, his entrance into ‘heaven itself’ (v. 24). Rather than offering animal blood, he ‘offered himself unblemished to God’ (v. 14). The writer uses a ‘how much more’ argument. If the former offerings brought outward cleansing, ‘How much more’ (v. 14) will the blood of Christ bring inner, conscience cleansing?
The writer has twice claimed that Jesus sat down in the presence of God.1 Here he says something more. While Jesus is seated at God’s right hand, ruling the universe with the power and authority of God, he is there in God’s presence for us, with an ongoing ministry of intercession (v. 24).2 Jesus offered himself to God for us in the past, he appears in God’s presence for us in the present, and the chapter concludes by stating that he will appear a second time to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him (v. 28).
Christ’s comprehensive saving work in the past, the present, and the future has consequences for us. He offered himself once to God in the past to cleanse our consciences and, so that we may serve the living God, he continually intercedes for us in the present, to strengthen us when tempted. The expectation of his second appearance in the future reminds us that our final salvation is still to come, calling us to persevere as we await his appearance.
Apply
We are urged to be active in God’s service, approaching the ‘throne of grace’3 when tested and focusing on Christ’s second appearing for final salvation. How do we measure up?
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, you left nothing undone for my salvation, and continue to provide all I need. I offer you all of who I am and have to serve you. Please build my vision for what I can do that will glorify you.
Last Updated on August 2, 2024 by kingstar