Free Bible Commentary
“Hebrews 9:15-22”
Categories: Hebrews“For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it. For a covenant is valid only when men are dead, for it is never in force while the one who made it lives. Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood. For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, ‘This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you.’ And in the same way he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”
---End of Scripture verses---
It is good to contemplate and appreciate the significance of the freedoms that we have been afforded in this great country of ours. Men and women have fought against tyrannical world leaders and have bled and died on fields of battle to help make and keep us the land of the free and the home of the brave. But the greatest freedom offered to mankind comes from the greatest power and is inspired by the greatest love. God offered up the blood and life of His Only Begotten Son to purchase our “redemption” from the cruel oppression of sin.
While our country’s forefathers envisioned and fought for an admirable freedom that could be passed on to the generations that succeeded them, it is a liberty that is only physical and temporary in nature. But our Father on high has promised and provided us an “eternal inheritance” in heaven through the sacrifice and love of Jesus if we will only learn and love and believe the truth and become His obedient disciple (John 8:31-34). “Without the shedding of blood” there can be no freedom. And without the shedding of the blood of Christ “there is no forgiveness” of sins (verse 22). Thank you Lord for the freedom that provides abiding peace and eternal reward.
The Hebrew writer draws our attention to the similarity that exists between God’s final covenant with mankind and the typical human “last will and testament” in today’s passage. Both go into effect after the death of the “testator” (verse 16-17). When my wife and I die, we plan and hope to leave an inheritance to bless our daughter with because we love her so much. But the greatest inheritance that we can pass on to her is the eternal one that God has promised to His faithful children through the blood of the Son of His love. God let freedom ring on the day that love placed and held Jesus on that old rugged cross. The day that you obey the Gospel and are baptized to have your sins forgiven (Acts 2:38) is your own, personal independence day.
Please read Hebrews 9:23-28 for tomorrow.
Have a great day!
- L
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