Hebrews 9:16-28
This is a longer section where the author talks about the necessity of death to bring a will or covenant into effect. He points to the old covenant which was only put into effect by the blood of animals. Moses sprinkled the scroll, the people, the tabernacle and everything in it. The author concludes that without the shedding of blood there can be no forgiveness.
If the copies of the heavenly things were cleansed through animal sacrifice, then a greater and better sacrifice is necessary for the heavenly things to be consecrated. Jesus' sacrifice is superior to the sacrifices offered under the Mosaic covenant because Jesus sacrifice consecrates the real tabernacle in heaven, not just its earthly copies and because Jesus sacrifice stands for all time, unlike the constant animal sacrifices necessary under the Mosaic covenant.
The author's is using a very hebraic logical argument which, in overly simplistic terms, sort of looks like a wheel: the main point is the hub and the arguments which prove the main point are the spokes. Rather than following one spoke all the way to argue for the main point, the hebraic logical argument moves around the wheel from spoke to spoke gradually making its way to the center. If we were to re-write Hebrews to fit a western (or greek) logical argument, we would state our main idea (the supremacy of Christ and then we would take all the sections about Christ's priesthood being superior to the Aaronic priesthood and put them all in the same spot and then take all the arguments about Christ's sacrifice being greater than the sacrifices of the tabernacle and put them all in the same spot, and then all the arguments about the heavenly tabernacle where Christ serves as being superior to the earthly tabernacle where the priests serve and put them all at the same spot, etc.
Because of the hebraic construct of this book, we find elements of all those arguments in this section. In our minds it seems repetitive, which it is but each time the author revisits or incorporates one of the spokes, it is explored more fully with the goal of moving the reader ever inward towards the conclusion that Christ is superior to anything in the old system and covenant.
Showing posts with label Hebrews 9. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hebrews 9. Show all posts
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Eternal Inheritance
Hebrews 9:15
Almost every word in this verse is a key word. The main key words are: covenant, inheritance, and ransom. This verse connects to the previous verses: "for this reason" refers to the superiority of Christ's sacrifice and tabernacle. Because Christ's sacrifice and blood has cleansed us eternally and completely, he is the mediator of the new covenant. It also connects to the subsequent verses in that the idea of an inheritance is continued: we only receive an inheritance when someone dies and the new "will" or "covenant" only comes into effect when someone dies. Therefore, the death of Christ is necessary for the covenant to come into effect and for us to receive our inheritance.
As one who has been called, I live free of the old covenant and the sins committed under the old covenant by the death and blood of Christ. In this season of advent, I think it is essential for me to remember that the story of Christmas does not end in a manger but climaxes in a cross and an empty grave. The hope of Christmas is realized in the crucifixion.
Almost every word in this verse is a key word. The main key words are: covenant, inheritance, and ransom. This verse connects to the previous verses: "for this reason" refers to the superiority of Christ's sacrifice and tabernacle. Because Christ's sacrifice and blood has cleansed us eternally and completely, he is the mediator of the new covenant. It also connects to the subsequent verses in that the idea of an inheritance is continued: we only receive an inheritance when someone dies and the new "will" or "covenant" only comes into effect when someone dies. Therefore, the death of Christ is necessary for the covenant to come into effect and for us to receive our inheritance.
As one who has been called, I live free of the old covenant and the sins committed under the old covenant by the death and blood of Christ. In this season of advent, I think it is essential for me to remember that the story of Christmas does not end in a manger but climaxes in a cross and an empty grave. The hope of Christmas is realized in the crucifixion.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
A Superior Sacrifice
Hebrews 9:11-14
The author contrasts the heavenly tabernacle (perfect and actual) to the earthly tabernacle (imperfect and symbolic), the ministry of the priests to the ministry of Christ and the blood of Christ to the blood of the bulls and goats. In doing this, the author is showing that the redemption that Christ secured for us is eternal and complete as contrasted to the redemption secured by goats and calves which is temporary and external.
The purpose for which Christ saves us is so that we may serve the living God. This blows apart the religious way of thinking: I serve God so that I can be saved. The author is asserting that the message and sacrifice of Christ tells us that it is impossible to serve and please God until we have been cleansed by the blood of Christ.
As much as I have been raised with this knowledge and have even taught this truth I still have a tendency to revert to a religious way of thinking: that I do these acts in order to put God in my debt. I must repent of this sinful thinking and constantly remind myself, with the help of the Spirit, that I serve at the pleasure of God only because I have already been cleansed. God owes me nothing and never will. I owe God everything - not out of obligation, not because I could ever earn or repay him for his grace but because I am continually growing in my understanding of what Christ has done for me which stirs up a response of love which moves me to service.
The author contrasts the heavenly tabernacle (perfect and actual) to the earthly tabernacle (imperfect and symbolic), the ministry of the priests to the ministry of Christ and the blood of Christ to the blood of the bulls and goats. In doing this, the author is showing that the redemption that Christ secured for us is eternal and complete as contrasted to the redemption secured by goats and calves which is temporary and external.
The purpose for which Christ saves us is so that we may serve the living God. This blows apart the religious way of thinking: I serve God so that I can be saved. The author is asserting that the message and sacrifice of Christ tells us that it is impossible to serve and please God until we have been cleansed by the blood of Christ.
As much as I have been raised with this knowledge and have even taught this truth I still have a tendency to revert to a religious way of thinking: that I do these acts in order to put God in my debt. I must repent of this sinful thinking and constantly remind myself, with the help of the Spirit, that I serve at the pleasure of God only because I have already been cleansed. God owes me nothing and never will. I owe God everything - not out of obligation, not because I could ever earn or repay him for his grace but because I am continually growing in my understanding of what Christ has done for me which stirs up a response of love which moves me to service.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
A Virtual Tour of the Old Tabernacle
Hebrews 9:1-10
In this section, the author describes the layout and function of the old tabernacle. This continues the author's thought about the superiority of the heavenly temple compared to the earthly system. The train of thought is something like: since Jesus presides over a superior system, he must also be superior over all things.
There are two phrases that catch my attention. The first is in v. 8 where the author states that the Holy Spirit was showing that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed. The author isn't saying that there was some magic password that was necessary but that accss into the Most Holy Place had not been granted to the ordinary person - they were still dependent on the High Priest to represent them to God. The implication for me is that I now have access to the Most Holy Place through the blood of Christ - which the author will explore more fully in the next section.
The other phrase is at the end of verse 7 where it indicates that the high priest offered sacrifices for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. I'm not sure what that phrase means. It either means that the people had committed sins in ignorance and that the offering of the high priest covers even those sins or that the high priest was making an offering without knowing what the sins of the people were. Either way this is good news: either it means that the sins that I commit without even really knowing I was sinning are still covered by the blood of Christ or else it is a comparison; the high priest made offerings without even knowing what the sins of the people were but Jesus, fully knowing each one of my sins, took all that sin on himself, and all the wrath of God that went with them, when he died for me. Either way, my response is "hallelujah, what a Saviour!"
In this section, the author describes the layout and function of the old tabernacle. This continues the author's thought about the superiority of the heavenly temple compared to the earthly system. The train of thought is something like: since Jesus presides over a superior system, he must also be superior over all things.
There are two phrases that catch my attention. The first is in v. 8 where the author states that the Holy Spirit was showing that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed. The author isn't saying that there was some magic password that was necessary but that accss into the Most Holy Place had not been granted to the ordinary person - they were still dependent on the High Priest to represent them to God. The implication for me is that I now have access to the Most Holy Place through the blood of Christ - which the author will explore more fully in the next section.
The other phrase is at the end of verse 7 where it indicates that the high priest offered sacrifices for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. I'm not sure what that phrase means. It either means that the people had committed sins in ignorance and that the offering of the high priest covers even those sins or that the high priest was making an offering without knowing what the sins of the people were. Either way this is good news: either it means that the sins that I commit without even really knowing I was sinning are still covered by the blood of Christ or else it is a comparison; the high priest made offerings without even knowing what the sins of the people were but Jesus, fully knowing each one of my sins, took all that sin on himself, and all the wrath of God that went with them, when he died for me. Either way, my response is "hallelujah, what a Saviour!"
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