College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Hebrews 9:11-14
The superiority of Christ's ministry in the heavenly tabernacle. Hebrews 9:11-14.
Text
Hebrews 9:11 But Christ having come a High Priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, Hebrews 9:12 nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, entered in once for all into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption, Hebrews 9:13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling them that have been defiled, sanctify unto the cleanness of the flesh: Hebrews 9:14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish unto God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Paraphrase
Hebrews 9:11 But Christ being come, who is made an High Priest or Mediator of the blessings which are to be bestowed through the services of the greater and more excellent tabernacle, not made like the Mosaic tabernacle, with the hands of men, that is to say, a tabernacle not in this lower world.
Hebrews 9:12 Hath entered once for all into the holy places where God resides, (see Hebrews 9:5 note), not indeed by the blood of goats and of calves, but by His own blood, or death, as a sacrifice for sin; having thereby obtained for us, not redemption for a year, as the high priest did by entering the holy places on earth, but everlasting redemption; so did not need to offer Himself a second time.
Hebrews 9:13 That Jesus, by His death, should procure an eternal pardon for sinners is reasonable; for if the blood of bulls and of goats, offered by the high priest, and the ashes of an heifer, sprinkling the polluted, did, by the appointment of God, sanctify to the cleansing of the flesh, so as to fit the offender for joining in the tabernacle worship.
Hebrews 9:14 How much more reasonable is it that the blood of Christ, Who in obedience to God suffered death, and through the eternal Spirit, being raised from the dead, offered himself a victim without fault to God, should have merit sufficient to cleanse your conscience from the guilt of works which deserve death; that is, banish from your mind the fear of punishment, that ye may be fit to worship the living God with the hope of acceptance?
Comment
But Christ having come a High Priest of the good things to come
Our blessings are future; the old was present.
a.
Human priests were busy obtaining divine favor, but Jesus has obtained it.
b.
The good things to come are those things obtained by His bloodpardon, access, heaven, etc.
Some say blessings to come may refer to those promised in the Old Testament.
sanctify unto the cleanness of the flesh
God has always had a meeting place for His people.
a.
The altar has been that place in the past.
b.
Now God comes where men are gathered in His name. Samaritan woman: John 4:21.
God will some day have all who love Him around the throne.
not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation
The new tabernacle is eternal, not made with the feeble hands of men. Compare Revelation 11:19; Revelation 15:5.
nor yet through the blood of goats and calves
Christ's blood was of more value than that of beasts. The old priests entered with the blood of a calf or a young bullock. Leviticus 16:3.
but through His Own blood
The death of Christ was discussed at the transfiguration.
His death was foretold: Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 53.
entered in once for all into the Holy Place
One entrance was sufficient.
When did He enter? Between the statements to Mary and to Thomas?
a.
He told Mary not to touch Him, for He had not yet ascended. John 20:17.
b.
He told Thomas to touch Him. John 20:27.
c.
Until greater light is thrown on these verses, we may assume the entrance was made after His commission was given and He made the ascension.
having obtained eternal redemption
Milligan: The word entered is a verb, Aorish, and the word obtaining is a participle, Aorists and these are contemporaneous acts.
A redemption price that would stand good forever.
For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer
Is this different from Hebrews 9:12? Bulls and calves are named.
a.
Calves are young bullocks, so there is no difference.
b.
It was by the blood of these that the priest was able to enter heaven with his own blood.
c.
This blood of goats and bulls also served to cleanse the flesh ceremonially.
The ashes of a heifer also had an important part.
a.
The heifer was red. Numbers 19:2.
1.
The heifer was burned outside the camp, together with cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet.
2.
The ashes were then prepared in water of purification to cleanse all who had touched a dead body or who had been in the tent with one.
b.
Christ had no defilement, so this was never needed for Him.
sprinkling
It had to be applied to the people or else it was not sufficient, Numbers 19:11-13.
a.
Calvin, the Presbyterian, in his commentary does not deal with the word sprinkling, so he does not advocate that it is a type of baptism by sprinkling.
b.
To dip all the people in blood would have been an impossibility. Blood must be applied today.
a.
Baptism is into the death of Christ.
b.
The Lord's Supper is a partaking of His blood.
them that have been defiled
This water of purification was sprinkled upon anyone who had touched a dead body. Numbers 19:11-12.
Observe the whole chapter for the process. Numbers 19.
sanctify unto the cleanness of the flesh
If the blood of beasts was a true symbol of purgation, how much more shall the Christ purify man.
It is not cleanness of flesh that we must seek, but cleanness of the spirit.
a.
Peter says baptism is not a physical bath but a cleansing of the conscience. 1 Peter 3:21.
b.
John 3:5 speaks of a new birth.
how much more shall the blood of Christ
The blood of Christ is of singular importance.
a.
John 1:29: Behold the Lamb of God, That taketh away the sin of the world.
b.
1 John 3:5: Ye know that He was manifested to take away sin.
c.
1 John 1:9: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If the blood of animals had some value, of course Christ's blood would have much more.
Who through the Eternal Spirit
Note the place of the Spirit in Jesus-' life:
a.
Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Matthew 1:18-20.
b.
His commission was given by the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:2.
c.
Jesus performed His miracles by the Spirit.
1.
Matthew 12:28: But if I by the spirit of God cast out demons, then is the kingdom of God come upon you.
2.
Acts 10:38: God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit.
d.
His death was done through the Spirit. Hebrews 9:14.
e.
By the Spirit He was raised from the dead. 1 Peter 3:18. There are different opinions as to what Spirit is referred to.
a.
Some manuscripts read. His Eternal Spirit.
b.
Some suggest the thought that the trinity concurred in the salvation of the world.
c.
Others think Eternal Spirit refers to His endless life.
offered himself
Does John 3:16 not say, God gave? Yes, but that is not all. Christ came voluntarily.
a.
b.
John 10:18; John 13:37-38. No one can find sin in Jesus.
without blemish unto God
a.
Hebrews 4:15: He was tempted in all points, yet without sin.
b.
Threefold temptation endured without sin, Matthew 4.
c.
Pilate said at His trial, I find no fault in Him.
The old sacrifices that were, without spot or blemish, were a type of Jesus.
a.
They were examined outwardly and inwardly to be sure of perfection.
b.
The life of Jesus was thoroughly examined, but no guile was found in Him.
cleanse your conscience
Purify and purge are also words used for cleanse.
The final step of entrance into the kingdom is to cleanse the conscience. 1 Peter 3:21.
a.
Baptism is not for cleansing the flesh, but to cleanse the conscience.
b.
When absolute forgiveness is assured, then the conscience is at rest.
from dead works
General acts which bring the penalty of death.
If it is not God's work, then it is a dead work. The conscience drives the heart of one who knows sin, to find relief, Dead works, therefore, are the vain attempts to relieve a troubled conscience.
to serve the living God
This is the purpose of being purged. We are not to plunge again into sin.
a.
2 Peter 2:21: It were better for them not to have knownConversion has a high aim. Every convert should be converted to serve God.
Study Questions
1554.
Of what is Christ a High Priest?
1555.
Do the things to come refer to our blessings in the future or those looked forward to by the old?
1556.
What good things do we expect?
1557.
What tabernacle is referred to?
1558.
Are hands involved in its making?
1559.
Do we have to have a building in which to meet God? Cf. John 4:21.
1560.
How does Revelation describe the new tabernacle? Revelation 11:19; Revelation 15:5.
1561.
Translate Hebrews 9:12 in your own words.
1562.
Does it mean that Christ entered without blood?
1563.
What blood did He take with Him to enter?
1564.
Does this mean that Jesus ascended to heaven with His earthly crucified body?
1565.
Can we infer that Jesus did not enter heaven after His resurrection until His final disappearance? Cf. John 20:17; John 20:27.
1566.
What was obtained by Christ's entrance?
1567.
Is there a difference in sacrifices here, since bulls are mentioned?
1568.
How were the ashes of the heifer used?
1569.
What were the ashes mixed with? See Numbers 19.
1570.
Who was cleansed by this mixture?
1571.
What was sprinkled?
1572.
Who was sprinkled?
1573.
Why were the people sprinkled with blood, rather than being dipped in it?
1574.
Is there anything significant now about cleansing the flesh?
1575.
Is man in the New Testament to have a cleansed flesh or a cleansed spirit? Cf. 1 Peter 3:21; John 3:5.
1576.
What contrast is seen in Hebrews 9:13 and Hebrews 9:14?
1577.
What does the blood of Christ do? Cf. John 1:29; 1 John 3:5; 1 John 1:9.
1578.
If blood of animals served a purpose, may we expect Christ's blood to be more effective?
1579.
What adjective describes Christ's Spirit?
1580.
Is it His Spirit or the Holy Spirit referred to?
1581.
What has Christ accomplished by the Spirit?
1582.
Does offered Himself conflict with John 3:16? Cf. Philippians 2:5-11; John 10:18; John 13:37-38.
1583.
Without blemish unto God is not a new idea. What other verses teach His sinlessness?
1584.
Were the Old Testament sacrifices to be perfect?
1585.
How did they insure a perfect sacrifice?
1586.
Was the life of Jesus thoroughly examined?
1587.
Of what is man's conscience cleansed?
1588.
What could be classified as dead works?
1589.
Are all things that are not God's works dead works?
1590.
What is the final act that cleanses a man's conscience as he is obedient to God?
1591.
After the cleansing, what is expected of man?
1592.
What is involved in service?
1593.
Do all understand that cleansing is for consecration?