Letter to the Hebrews Volume 89

 The Necessary Death of the Mediator of the New Testament Part 2

Hebrews 8:16-17 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. KJV

From the very beginning of the first man's disobedience to God the Father in the Garden of Eden, when he transgressed against the precept and principle of God given to him in the Garden, God then used animal skin to cover the nakedness of the man (Adam) and his wife (Eve) from the shame of their nakedness. This meant that God the Father slew, that is, killed intentionally and with premeditation an animal in order to cover their nakedness they for the first time felt between the two of them and also to cover their sin against Him for the first time opening up within them a different inner man and inner woman that was now corrupt and sinful, read Genesis Chapter 3. Adam and Eve subsequently passed on this evil corrupt nature to all their human descendants right down to all of us human beings who are alive today. We learned from the last study/commentary that like the slaying of animals and the shedding of their blood unto death was required by the Hebrew people to serve as an offering to God to expiate, that is, to make up for, compensate or make reparation for wrongdoing or causing offence, so did Jesus Christ sacrificial death at Calvary serve as a one time offering to God the Father for the sins of the whole world, meaning that every sinner who would come to Him by faith would be forgiven for all time and eternity for their sins and transgressions against God the Father, therefore, Christ death was necessary to seal, stamp, and secure the New Covenant or New Testament between God and all humanity belonging to our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. So, now we find the writer of Hebrews making this very next statement to the new Hebrew converts to Christ and to we converts now and of every generation and era, "For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth." (Hebrews 9:16-17) (KJV). The English word 'testament' used here by the writer is translated by the Greek word diathēkē meaning properly a disposition, that is, (specifically) a contract (especially a devisory will): - covenant, testament. The English word 'testator' is translated by the Greek word diatithemai meaning (figuratively) dispose (by assignment, compact or bequest): - appoint, make, testator; the person who makes a will. In this unique case, the contract is made between God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ and all of us who belong to Him by virtue of the new birth (John 3:3-8) as His adopted sons and daughters are heirs, as it is written by the Apostle Paul with these words, "Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together." (Romans 8:12-17) (KJV).

Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say of Hebrews 9:16-17, "The covenant of grace, as administered under the Gospel dispensation, is a testament or will. The Jews have adopted the Greek word, here used, into their language, and pronounce it דייתיקי, and by it understand a dying man's last will and testament (d). Some of them make it to be of Hebrew derivation; as if it was said, דא תהי למיקם, 'this shall be to confirm' (e), or this shall be stable and firm; though others own it to be the same with this Greek word διαθηκη (f). The covenant of grace, is properly a covenant to Christ, and a testament or will to His people: it is His and their Father's will, concerning giving them both grace and glory; it consists of many gifts and legacies; in it Christ is made heir of all things, and His people are made joint heirs with Him; they are given to Him as His portion; and they have all things pertaining to life and godliness bequeathed to them, even all spiritual blessings; the witnesses of it are Father, Son, and Spirit; and the seals of it are the Blood of Christ, and the grace of the Spirit; and this is registered in the Scriptures by holy men as notaries; and is unalterable and immutable: and this being made, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator; who is Christ; He has various parts in this will or testament; He is the surety and Mediator of it; and He is the executor of it; what is given in it, is first given to Him, in order to be given to others; all things are put into His hands, and He has a power to give them to as many as the Father has given Him; and here He is called the 'testator': Christ, as God, has an equal right to dispose of the inheritance, both of grace and glory; and as Mediator, nothing is given without his consent; and whatever is given, is given with a view to his 'death', and comes through it, and by virtue of it: hence there is a 'necessity' of that, and that on the account of the divine perfections; particularly for the declaration of God's righteousness, or by reason of His justice; and also because of His purposes and decrees, which have fixed it, and of His promises, which are yea and amen in Christ, and are ratified by His Blood, called therefore the Blood of the Covenant; and likewise on account of the engagements of Christ to suffer and die; as well as for the accomplishment of Scripture prophecies concerning it; and moreover, on account of the blessings which were to come to the saints through it, as a justifying righteousness, pardon of sin, peace and reconciliation, adoption and eternal life. The necessity of Christ's death is here urged, from the nature and force of a testament or will, among men, which does not take place, and cannot be executed, till a man is dead. Otherwise it is of no strength at all whilst the testator liveth; no claim can be made by the legatees for the part they have in it, nor can any disposition be made by the executor of it; not that hereby is suggested, that the testament or will of God was uncertain and precarious till the death of Christ, and subject to change and alteration as men's wills are till they die; nor that the inheritance could not be enjoyed by the Old Testament saints; for it is certain, it was entered upon by them before the death of Christ; but the sense is, that there was a necessity of it, that the saints right unto it, upon the foot of justice, might be evident by it."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…