What Old Testament practices does Hebrews 9:23 connect to Christ's heavenly sacrifice? A Single, Sweeping Verse “So it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.” Old Testament Scenes in View • The inaugural sprinkling of blood at Sinai – Exodus 24:6-8 records Moses taking “the blood and sprinkled it on the people,” declaring, “This is the blood of the covenant.” – Hebrews 9:19-20 reaches back to the same moment, tying it directly to the cleansing theme. • The consecration of the tabernacle and its vessels – Exodus 40:9-11; Leviticus 8:10, 30 note oil and blood applied to furniture and priests alike. – Numbers 7:1 groups these acts under the headline of dedication and purification. • The annual Day of Atonement – Leviticus 16:15-19 describes the high priest entering the Most Holy Place with blood “to make atonement for the Most Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the Israelites.” – Hebrews 9:7 reminds us this was done “but once a year, and never without blood.” • Everyday sacrifices that maintained covenant fellowship – Morning and evening offerings (Exodus 29:38-42). – Sin and guilt offerings for specific transgressions (Leviticus 4–6). All of these together form the “these sacrifices” of Hebrews 9:23. Copies Versus Realities • Earthly objects: tabernacle, ark, altar, veils, priestly garments. • Heavenly realities: God’s true dwelling, presence, and throne (Hebrews 9:24). • Earthly blood: calves and goats (Hebrews 9:12-13). • Heavenly blood: Christ’s own “once for all” offering (Hebrews 9:12, 26). The writer calls the earthly sanctuary a “copy and shadow” (Hebrews 8:5), highlighting that every Old Covenant ritual was designed as a tangible preview of the heavenly, eternal work accomplished by Jesus. Why Blood Was Central • “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22). • Animal blood symbolized life given in place of the sinner (Leviticus 17:11). • Christ’s blood provides the reality those symbols anticipated, perfectly cleansing conscience and not merely outward ritual impurity (Hebrews 9:14). Christ’s Better Sacrifice • Location: not an earthly tent but “heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us” (Hebrews 9:24). • Frequency: “once for all time” (Hebrews 10:10), unlike the repeated animal offerings. • Efficacy: achieves “eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:12) and perfects “for all time those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14). Putting It Together Hebrews 9:23 gathers the blood-soaked rituals of Sinai, the tabernacle dedication, and the Day of Atonement into one sweeping category—“these sacrifices.” Each acted as a copy, a scaled-down model, purified by animal blood so that worship could take place. Christ steps into the true sanctuary with His own blood, fulfilling and surpassing every Old Testament practice, leaving nothing more to add. |
    |