Heb 9:13-22 | TNotes | STEP | 9:13 The ashes of a heifer were used with water to cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity (see Num 19 ).

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).
Summary for Heb 9:16-22: 9:16-22 ⁿ The author gives a general principle about the nature of wills or covenants (9:16-17 ^o), which he then expounds in light of the inauguration of the first covenant (9:18-22 ^p).
Summary for Heb 9:18-19: 9:18-19 ^q was put into effect: Exod 24:3-8 ^r records Moses’ inauguration of the old covenant with the blood of the sacrifice.

• Hebrews alone among ancient sources states that Moses sprinkled the book of God’s law (cp. Exod 24:6-8 ^s).

• Hyssop branches have blue flowers and strongly aromatic leaves; they were used with sacrifices for cleansing (Exod 12:22 ^t; Lev 14:4 ^u; Num 19:6 ^v, 18 ^w).
9:20 ^x “This blood confirms the covenant God has made with you” (Exod 24:8 ^y): Jesus used similar language at the Lord’s Supper, referring to his own death (Matt 26:28 ^z; Mark 14:24 ^aa; 1 Cor 11:25 ^ab).
9:21 ^ac he sprinkled blood: See Exod 24:3-8 ^ad; Lev 16:14-19 ^ae.
9:22 ^af Many of the rituals of cleansing in the law of Moses involved the death of a sacrificial animal; blood was involved both in the rites of cleansing (see Exod 29:12 ^ag; 30:10 ^ah; Lev 4:6 ^ai, 17 ^aj; 16:14-19 ^ak; Num 19:4 ^al) and in making atonement (see Lev 16 ^am). The shedding of Christ’s blood established the new covenant, providing permanent purification and complete forgiveness of sins (Heb 8:12 ^an; 10:15-18 ^ao; Matt 26:28 ^ap; Eph 1:7 ^aq).