Hebrews 9:20 - saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.” Exodus 24:8
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What does "Hebrews 9:20" mean?
Hebrews 9:20 is quoting Exodus 24:8 to illustrate a key point about the nature of covenants and sacrifices in the Old Testament and how they relate to the New Covenant established by Jesus. Let's break it down:
Context in Hebrews 9: The author of Hebrews is arguing for the superiority of the New Covenant established by Jesus Christ over the Old Covenant. He's been discussing the Tabernacle, the priestly rituals, and the animal sacrifices in the Old Testament. Hebrews argues that these were a "shadow" of the better things to come through Christ.
Exodus 24:8: This verse comes from the ratification ceremony of the Old Covenant between God and Israel at Mount Sinai. Moses had read the Book of the Covenant to the people, and they agreed to obey God's commands. Then, Moses sprinkled the blood of sacrificed animals on the altar (representing God) and on the people (representing Israel).
"This is the blood of the covenant..." The blood was a crucial element in sealing the covenant. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, blood represented life. Sprinkling blood on both parties of the covenant symbolized a sacred and binding agreement, often involving shared life or shared fate.
"...which God has commanded you." This highlights that the entire covenant, including the sacrifices, was God's initiative and command. It was established according to His terms, not human ones.
Meaning in Hebrews 9:20:
By quoting Exodus 24:8, the author of Hebrews is drawing parallels and contrasts:
1. Blood as a Requirement for Covenant: It underscores that covenants between God and humans require blood as a means of ratification or validation. The Old Covenant required animal blood.
2. God's Initiative: Emphasizes that covenant-making is always God's initiative. He sets the terms.
3. The Imperfection of Animal Blood: The author of Hebrews argues that the blood of bulls and goats was ultimately insufficient to truly cleanse or purify. The Old Covenant sacrifices had to be repeated continually because they didn't deal with sin's root.
4. Jesus's Superior Sacrifice: The author is setting the stage to argue that Jesus's blood, as the perfect and sinless Lamb of God, is the ultimate sacrifice that establishes a new and better covenant – the New Covenant. Jesus's blood cleanses from sin permanently and provides access to God. Hebrews is saying that if blood was needed for the old, then the New Covenant also had blood to establish the better and final sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
In essence, Hebrews 9:20 is not simply a historical reference. It's a theological bridge. It uses the concept of blood as a seal for a covenant in the Old Testament to prepare the reader for the climactic revelation of Jesus's blood as the superior seal for the New Covenant, which offers true and lasting forgiveness and reconciliation with God.
Hebrews 9:20 - saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.” Exodus 24:8
What does "Hebrews 9:20" mean?
Hebrews 9:20 is quoting Exodus 24:8 to illustrate a key point about the nature of covenants and sacrifices in the Old Testament and how they relate to the New Covenant established by Jesus. Let's break it down:
Context in Hebrews 9: The author of Hebrews is arguing for the superiority of the New Covenant established by Jesus Christ over the Old Covenant. He's been discussing the Tabernacle, the priestly rituals, and the animal sacrifices in the Old Testament. Hebrews argues that these were a "shadow" of the better things to come through Christ.
Exodus 24:8: This verse comes from the ratification ceremony of the Old Covenant between God and Israel at Mount Sinai. Moses had read the Book of the Covenant to the people, and they agreed to obey God's commands. Then, Moses sprinkled the blood of sacrificed animals on the altar (representing God) and on the people (representing Israel).
"This is the blood of the covenant..." The blood was a crucial element in sealing the covenant. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, blood represented life. Sprinkling blood on both parties of the covenant symbolized a sacred and binding agreement, often involving shared life or shared fate.
"...which God has commanded you." This highlights that the entire covenant, including the sacrifices, was God's initiative and command. It was established according to His terms, not human ones.
Meaning in Hebrews 9:20:
By quoting Exodus 24:8, the author of Hebrews is drawing parallels and contrasts:
1. Blood as a Requirement for Covenant: It underscores that covenants between God and humans require blood as a means of ratification or validation. The Old Covenant required animal blood.
2. God's Initiative: Emphasizes that covenant-making is always God's initiative. He sets the terms.
3. The Imperfection of Animal Blood: The author of Hebrews argues that the blood of bulls and goats was ultimately insufficient to truly cleanse or purify. The Old Covenant sacrifices had to be repeated continually because they didn't deal with sin's root.
4. Jesus's Superior Sacrifice: The author is setting the stage to argue that Jesus's blood, as the perfect and sinless Lamb of God, is the ultimate sacrifice that establishes a new and better covenant – the New Covenant. Jesus's blood cleanses from sin permanently and provides access to God. Hebrews is saying that if blood was needed for the old, then the New Covenant also had blood to establish the better and final sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
In essence, Hebrews 9:20 is not simply a historical reference. It's a theological bridge. It uses the concept of blood as a seal for a covenant in the Old Testament to prepare the reader for the climactic revelation of Jesus's blood as the superior seal for the New Covenant, which offers true and lasting forgiveness and reconciliation with God.