Hebrews 9:11-28

Hebrews 9:11-28

[11] But  Christ  being come  an high priest  of good things  by  and  more perfect  tabernacle,  not  made with hands,  not  building;  [12] Neither  by  the blood  of goats  and  calves,  but  by  his own  blood  he entered in  once  into  having obtained  eternal  redemption  [13] For  if  the blood  of bulls  and  of goats,  and  the ashes  of an heifer  sprinkling  the unclean,  sanctifieth  to  the purifying  of the flesh:  [14] How much  more  the blood  of Christ,  who  through  the eternal  Spirit  offered  himself  without spot  to God,  purge  conscience  from  dead  works  to  serve  the living  God?  [15] And  cause  the mediator  of the new  testament,  that  by means  of death,  for  the redemption  of the transgressions  that were under  the first  testament,  they which are called  might receive  the promise  of eternal  inheritance.  [16] For  where  a testament  is, there must also of necessity  be  the death  of the testator.  [17] For  a testament  is of force  after  men are dead:  otherwise  strength  while  the testator  liveth.  [18] Whereupon  neither  the first  testament was dedicated  without  blood.  [19] 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,  [20] Saying,  is the blood  of the testament  which  God  hath enjoined  unto  [21] Moreover  he sprinkled  with blood  both  the tabernacle,  and  all  the vessels  of the ministry.  [22] And  almost  all things  by  the law  purged  with  blood;  and  without  shedding of blood  is  no  remission.  [23] It was therefore  necessary  that the patterns  of things  in  the heavens  should be purified  but  the heavenly things  themselves  with better  sacrifices  than  [24] For  Christ  not  entered  into  made with hands,  which are the figures  of the true;  but  into  heaven  itself,  now  to appear  in the presence  of God  for  [25] Nor  yet that  he should offer  himself  often,  as  the high priest  entereth  into  every  year  with  blood  of others;  [26] For then  must  he  often  have suffered  since  the foundation  of the world:  but  once  in  the end  of the world  hath he appeared  to  put away  sin  by  the sacrifice  of himself.  [27] And  as  it is appointed  unto men  once  to die,  but  after  the judgment:  [28] So  Christ  was once  offered  to  bear  the sins  of many;  and unto them that look  for him  the second time  without  sin  unto  salvation. 

What does Hebrews 9:11-28 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The writer now focused on the issue of sacrifice.
"The argument moves a stage further as the author turns specifically to what Christ has done. The sacrifices of the old covenant were ineffectual. But in strong contrast Christ made an offering that secures a redemption valid for all eternity. In the sacrifices, a good deal pertained to the use of blood. So in accord with this, the author considers the significance of the blood of animals and that of Christ." [1]
"Blood" in Scripture is frequently a metonym (a figure of speech in which one thing stands for another) for "death," particularly violent death involving bloodshed. There was nothing magical about Jesus" blood that made it a cleansing agent for sin. It was the death of Christ that saves us, not something special about His blood.
In Hebrews 9:11-14 the writer introduced Christ"s high priestly ministry, which climaxes in Hebrews 9:15. Hebrews 9:16-22 are parenthetical explaining Hebrews 9:15. Then Hebrews 9:23-28 resume the discussion of Jesus" priestly ministry in heaven.
"The conception of Christ"s death as a liturgical high priestly action is developed as a major argument in Hebrews 9:11-28. Prior to this point in the homily, the high priesthood tended to be linked with Christ"s present activity as heavenly intercessor (cf. Hebrews 2:18; Hebrews 4:15-16; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 8:1-2)." [2]