Hebrews 9:13-15
9:13 a The ashes of a heifer were used with water to cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity (see Num 19 b).9:14 c how much more: This is an argument from lesser to greater, a traditional Jewish rhetorical strategy; the logic is that if something is true in a lesser situation, it will be even more true in a greater situation (see also 2:1-4 d; 12:25-29 e). If the blood of animals had some effect in cleansing, the blood of Christ will be much more effective.
• will purify our consciences: Christ’s sacrifice, unlike the sacrifices of the old covenant, removes the paralyzing guilt that keeps us from God by decisively cleansing us from sinful deeds.
9:15 f the one who mediates: This term refers to an arbiter in a difficult legal dispute or political disagreement. In the old covenant, Moses and the angels were understood as mediators between God and the people (Gal 3:19-20 g). In the new covenant, Christ mediates the relationship between God and people by his sacrificial death (Heb 8:6 h; 12:24 i; Rom 6:23 j; 1 Tim 2:5 k; 1 Pet 3:18 l) and ongoing intercession (Heb 7:25 m).
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