What parallels exist between a will's activation and Christ's sacrifice in Hebrews 9:16? Setting the Scene in Hebrews 9 • The writer is explaining why Christ’s death was essential for the “new covenant.” • Hebrews 9:16-17: “In the case of a will, it is necessary to establish the death of the one who made it, because a will is in force only when someone has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living.” What a First-Century Will Looked Like • A “will” (Greek: diathēkē) set out an inheritance. • It waited—powerless—until the testator’s death. • Only after that death could the heirs claim what was promised. Parallel 1: Death Required for Activation • Human will: cannot be executed before the testator dies. • Christ: “For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance” (Hebrews 9:15). His death unlocked every promise. • Supporting verses: Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25—“This cup is the new covenant in My blood.” Parallel 2: The Testator Is Also the Benefactor • Ordinary will: the deceased leaves property he once owned. • Christ: leaves what He eternally possesses—righteousness, life, and glory (John 17:22; 2 Corinthians 5:21). • He alone could both write the will and supply its riches. Parallel 3: Irrevocability After Death • Earthly wills: once death occurs, the terms cannot be changed. • New covenant: “It is finished” (John 19:30). Nothing can annul or add to it (Galatians 3:15). The benefits are settled forever. Parallel 4: Inheritance Distributed to Heirs • Human heirs: receive land, money, or titles. • Believers: receive “an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4). • Romans 8:17 calls us “heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.” Parallel 5: Blood as Legal Validation • Roman and Jewish practice often sealed covenants with blood sacrifices. • Hebrews 9:22: “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” • Christ’s blood functions as the legal signature confirming every clause. What the Executed Will Delivers • Forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:26). • Cleansed conscience (Hebrews 9:14). • Bold access to God (Hebrews 10:19-20). • Eternal life and kingdom citizenship (John 3:16; Colossians 1:13-14). Living Inside the Activated Covenant • Rest in assurance—our inheritance is secure (Ephesians 1:13-14). • Walk as heirs, not orphans—depend on the riches of grace (2 Corinthians 9:8). • Proclaim the terms—invite others to claim their inheritance through faith (Acts 20:24). Christ’s once-for-all death did for the new covenant exactly what a death does for a will: moved it from paper promise to living reality for every heir who believes. |
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