Hebrews 9:15-28 – How is Christ a more superior sacrifice?

Verse 15 began by saying, “for this reason” meaning because of His superior sacrifice and work, Christ became the Mediator of a New Covenant. His mediation work fulfilled two purposes. Firstly, it redeemed believers from their transgression committed under the Mosaic Covenant. The Mosaic Covenant was like a death sentence because it defined what had to be done but did not empower the people to obey and perform God’s command. Hence, the people had transgressed regarding its command. However, Christ’s death redeemed believers from their transgression of those commands, stipulated in that covenant. The second purpose was for those who have been called to receive the promise of an eternal inheritance.

In verses 16-17, the author likened the Covenant of God to the will that man would make. The beneficiaries of any will can experience the effects of the will only when the person who made the will had passed on. The content of the will can never be executed as long as the person who had made it remains alive. And just like the Old Covenant was inaugurated by the blood of animals, the New was also inaugurated with blood. It is the precious Blood of Jesus Christ. Just as the blood of animals was applied on the Old Covenant beneficiaries, the Israelites and the tabernacle; the New Covenant went into effect when Christ's shed Blood was applied to its beneficiaries, the believers, spiritually.

In verse 22, the phrase “one may almost say, all things” appears to imply God’s provision for the poor. Blood sacrifice was required except for the poor where God allowed them to bring a flour offering instead of an animal (Leviticus 5:11). However, God had stipulated under the Law of Moses that without the shedding of blood or death there would be no forgiveness. This principle was also true of the New Covenant. There would be no purging of sin for the believers, if not for the shed Blood of Christ. This verse tells us that blood was used for the cleansing. In the Old Testament, blood offering was also used to sanctify and cleanse the altar (Leviticus 8:15, 19); lepers (Leviticus 14:6-7); and sanctuary (Leviticus 16:15-19), etc. Like the copy of the things to come; the altar, the tabernacle, etc. that needed to be cleansed by blood, so also the heavenly things had to be cleansed by blood. But it had to be cleansed by the blood of a better sacrifice: the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

In verse 24, the author continued to discuss where Christ was serving. He did not enter into a holy place made with hand, which was just a replica of the true one. Christ went into heaven itself and into the very presence of God. He entered in for us, believers. Then in verses 25-26, the author made a double comparison: Firstly, he compared the single offering made by Christ and the repeated offerings made by the high priest on the Day of Atonement year by year. Secondly, in saying that the high priest’s offering was “with blood not his own”, he was implying that Christ offered blood that was His own when He offered Himself. The point of the author is this: if the sacrifice of Christ was insufficient to pay the penalty for man’s sin for all times, then He would need to be sacrificed again and again since the beginning of the world. But this was not necessary, for Christ appeared at the end of the age once and for all “to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” The author took into account the Jewish idea that history was divided into two ages. They thought that at the end of the age, God would send the Messiah to provide the possibility of true forgiveness and thus to inaugurate the age to come.

So we see that Jesus Christ entered the presence of God rather than an earthly tabernacle (verse 24). And that He made only one offering rather than repeated offerings (verse 25). And He put away sins forever rather than temporarily (verse 26).

The last two verses 27 and 28 tell us that because Jesus Christ died for our sins, believers should have no fear of condemnation after death. Verse 27 suggests that death is only the end of physical life on earth but not the final end. For there will come a judgment following death where men will have to give an account to God. These verses also suggest that believers should look forward to the ultimate deliverance. In His death at His First Coming, Christ brought deliverance from the penalty of sin. He will come again but this time, there will be no reference to sin. He will come to usher those who eagerly wait for Him into their eternal inheritance.

Praise the Lord that in Christ Jesus, we not only have a more superior sanctuary but also a more superior sacrifice! Besides, we also have a more superior salvation. What more can we ask? Let’s embrace Christ with all that we are and serve Him with all that we have!