Hebrews 9:23-26
9:23 a This verse argues from lesser to greater (see study note on 9:14). Just as heaven is greater than the earthly Tabernacle, so Christ’s sacrifice had to be . . . far better than the earthly sacrifices.• That is why: See 9:16-22 b; Lev 16:14-19 c.
• copies of things in heaven: See study note on Heb 8:5.
• in heaven, had to be purified: Just as the Tabernacle had to be cleansed because of the sin of the Israelites (Lev 16:16-19 d), the heavenly Tabernacle required that the uncleanness be removed from those who would enter heaven under the new covenant.
9:24 e Under the new covenant, Christ did not offer his sacrifice in the earthly Tabernacle. Rather, he entered into the very presence of God in heaven to act on our behalf. His sacrifice makes him a much better mediator to bring us into a right relationship with God (2 Cor 5:19-21 f).
Summary for Heb 9:25-26: 9:25-26 g Under the old covenant, the sacrifice on the Day of Atonement had to be made again and again (Lev 16:29-34 h). Christ’s superior sacrifice was made once for all time.
9:26 i If that had been necessary: The author makes an argument using reductio ad absurdum (reduction to absurdity), logically showing that Christ’s one-time sacrifice must be permanently effective. Since Christ himself is the sacrifice as well as the high priest, if his offering were made every year as with the earthly high priests, he would have to die again and again. But of course this is absurd; so, clearly, Christ died once for all time . . . to remove sin.
Copyright information for
TNotes