Hebrews 9:19-22 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God had enjoined unto you. Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
‘This is the blood of the testament which God had enjoined unto you.’ Quoted from Exodus 24:4-8 (cp. Matt. 26:28). This represents Christ’s blood. The wine was “the fruit of the vine” and should not be substituted by water, intoxicants, or anything else (Matt. 26:29). If any scripture is worth obeying, then it should be obeyed to the letter. No covenant was made without blood (9:20; Ex. 24:8), and there can be no remission of sins without it (9:22; Lev. 17:11). Christ’s own blood atoned for sin and it alone can redeem if accepted for personal atonement and proper terms are met (9:12-15; 10:19-29; 12:24; 13:12, 20; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20; John 6:53-56; 19:34; Acts 20:28; Rom. 3:24-25; 5:9; 1Cor. 10:16; 11:25; Eph. 1:7; 2:13-16; Col. 1:14-20; 1Pet. 1:2, 18-23; 1Jn. 1:7; 5:6; Rev. 1:5-6; 5:9; 7:14; 12:11).
‘Ministry’ [Greek: leitourgia] is translated as “ministry” (8:6; 9:21); “ministration” (Luke 1:23); and “service” (2Cor. 9:12; Php. 2:17, 30).
‘Almost all things are by the law.’ Almost. Some were ceremonially purged with water and fire (Num. 31:23) and some with the ashes of a red heifer (Num. 19:2-10), but ALL were first consecrated by blood.
To be continued…
Living the Word 