BLOOD MUST BE SHED FOR FORGIVENESS

Passage: Hebrews 9:15-22

Key verse: 22b

NIV

15 For this reason Christ is the mediator(A) of a new covenant,(B) that those who are called(C) may receive the promised(D) eternal inheritance(E)—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.(F)

16 In the case of a will,[a] it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 17 because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. 18 This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.(G) 19 When Moses had proclaimed(H) every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves,(I) together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people.(J) 20 He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”[b](K) 21 In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. 22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood,(L) and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.(M)

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Hebrews 9:16 Same Greek word as covenant; also in verse 17
  2. Hebrews 9:20 Exodus 24:8
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

15 Therefore he is (A)the mediator of a new covenant, so that (B)those who are called may (C)receive the promised eternal inheritance, (D)since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.[a] 16 For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17 For (E)a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated (F)without blood. 19 For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took (G)the blood of calves and goats, (H)with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, (I)“This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” 21 And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both (J)the tent and all the vessels used in worship. 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and (K)without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Hebrews 9:15 The Greek word means both covenant and will; also verses 16, 17
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. The Mediator of a new covenant (15)

The old covenant was a binding agreement between God and the people of Israel. It was ratified on Mount Sinai when the people listened to the law and said, 'We will obey.' Then, Moses sprinkled them with blood (Ex 19,24). But they broke the law and became helplessly in bondage to sin. So God promised to make a new covenant, a covenant of grace (Jer 31:31). God sent Jesus to be the mediator of the new covenant. He died as a ransom sacrifice for sin, so that all who believe in him might be forgiven and become God's holy people.

2. Without the shedding of blood (16-22)

A covenant with God is a life and death matter. It is like a will, which is ratified by a death. A covenant with God must be ratified by blood because we are sinners, and the wages of sin is death. Moses sprinkled the people with blood when they promised to obey the law; for without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Prayer: Lord, I am bound to you by the covenant sealed in Christ's blood.

One Word: Forgiveness through the blood