Letter to the Hebrews Volume 90

 The Necessary Death of the Mediator of the New Testament Part 3

Hebrews 9:18-20 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. 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 hath enjoined unto you. KJV

As we declared in the last study, the necessity of blood to be spilled, splattered, and shed for the covering of human beings sin before a Holy God is of the utmost priority in the halls of heaven and it is needed in order for a covenant between God and humanity to be received by Him, remembered by Him, and ratified by Him. Therefore, we now find the writer of Hebrews making this analogy with the first covenant between Jehovah God and the Hebrew people with these words, "Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood." (Hebrews 9:18) (KJV). If the first testament or covenant required blood sacrifices, then surely the second testament/covenant would require the same. The English word 'dedicated'  used here in verse 18 is translated by the Greek word egkainizō meaning to renew, that is, inaugurate: - consecrate, dedicate. Here is what the JFB Commentary had to say of Hebrews 9:18, "The Old Testament strictly and formally began on that day of inauguration. 'Where the disposition, or arrangement, is ratified by the blood of another, namely, of animals, which cannot make a covenant, much less make a testament, it is not strictly a testament, where it is ratified by the death of him that makes the arrangement, it is strictly, Greek 'diathece,' Hebrew 'berith,' taken in a wider sense, a testament' [Bengel]; thus, in Hebrews 9:18, referring to the old dispensation, we may translate, 'the first (covenant)': or better, retain 'the first (testament),' not that the old dispensation, regarded by itself, is a testament, but it is so when regarded as the typical representative of the new, which is strictly a Testament."

Now the writer gives the word picture of the very nature of the ratification of the old covenant with these words, "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 hath enjoined unto you." (Hebrews 9:19-20) (KJV). This was the process by which the Lord God had given to Moses to confirm the covenant between Himself and the Hebrew people. Why the blood of calves and of goats? Why use hyssop and scarlet wool? Simple answer, because God commanded Moses to use them. There is no power in calves blood or goats blood or hyssop or scarlet wool, but there is power in the Word of God and whatever He thereby commands immediately it is transformed into power because of His Divine decree. The English word 'precept' in verse 19 is translated by the Greek word entolē which means injunction, that is, an authoritative prescription: - commandment, precept. The Scripture reference from the Old Testament (which the writer of Hebrews declares here in verse 19 and 20) was written by Moses with these words, "And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient. And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words." (Exodus 24:7-8) (KJV). The mixing of the blood and water (Hebrews 9:19) is thought by many Biblical scholars over the centuries to have been done to thin out the blood, so that it would be easier to sprinkle on the people who came forward, however, the mixing of blood and water naturally occurs within the human body and I believe that it had and has a supernatural purpose, remember what the Apostle John documented for us with these words, "But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water." (John 19:34) (KJV). This same Apostle John also wrote these words concerning blood and water, "This is He that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these Three are One. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which He hath testified of His Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (1 John 5:6-12) (KJV).

Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of Hebrews 9:19-20, "All men by sin had become guilty before God, had forfeited their inheritance, their liberties, and their very lives, into the hands of divine justice; but God, being willing to show the greatness of His mercy, proclaimed a covenant of grace, and ordered it to be typically administered under the Old Testament, but not without the blood and life of the creature; and God accepted the blood of bulls and goats, as typifying the Blood of Christ; and by these means the covenant of grace was ratified under the former dispensation. The method taken by Moses, according to the direction he had received from God, is here particularly related (1.) Moses spoke every precept to all the people, according to the law, Hebrews 9:19. He published to them the tenour of the covenant, the duties required, the rewards promised to those who did their duty, and the punishment threatened against the transgressors, and he called for their consent to the terms of the covenant; and this in an express manner. (2.) Then he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and applied this blood by sprinkling it. This blood and water signified the blood and water that came out of our Saviour's pierced side, for justification and sanctification, and also shadowed forth the two sacraments of the New Testament, baptism and the Lord's supper, with scarlet wool, signifying the righteousness of Christ with which we must be clothed, the hyssop signifying that faith by which we must apply all. Now with these Moses sprinkled, [1.] The book of the law and covenant, to show that the covenant of grace is confirmed by the Blood of Christ and made effectual to our good. [2.] The people, intimating that the shedding of the Blood of Christ will be no advantage to us if it be not applied to us. And the sprinkling of both the book and the people signified the mutual consent of both parties, God and man, and their mutual engagements to each other in this covenant through Christ, Moses at the same time using these words, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. This blood, typifying the Blood of Christ, is the ratification of the covenant of grace to all true believers. [3.] He sprinkled the tabernacle and all the utensils of it, intimating that all the sacrifices offered up and services performed there were accepted only through the Blood of Christ, which procures the remission of that iniquity that cleaves to our holy things, which could not have been remitted but by that Atoning Blood."
 
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…