Hebrews 9:16-28

9:16-18 | The word used for testament can mean both a covenant and a will. Here, in a play on words, the author understands the covenant in terms of a will. A will becomes effective upon the death of the testator to whom the will belongs. Without death, no benefits can accrue to the beneficiary. God put His people in His will, and Jesus went to the cross to fulfill the requirement of death.

9:19 | Sprinkled both the book itself and all the people refers directly to the ratifying of the Mosaic Covenant. The Old Covenant sailed on a sea of blood precisely because the Bible takes sin so seriously. Sin alienates people from God and leads to death (9:21-22; Ex. 24:3-8; Lev. 17:11). Jesus’ sacrifice removed sin’s effects and eliminated the need for any more bloodshed.

9:22 | As the ultimate sign of life, blood is a fitting atonement for sin (Lev. )). Indeed, the Mosaic Covenant was initiated by blood (Ex. 24:3-8) and required ongoing blood sacrifices to attempt to pay for sin. Jesus was the ultimate, one-time sacrifice - the perfect One who shed His blood as the offering for all (10:1-10).

9:26 | Because Christ’s sacrifice to put away sin… once was sufficient, it needs no repeating like the OT sacrifices did. For this reason Communion services today do not repeat the death of Christ but celebrate His once-for-all sacrifice (Rom. 6:10; 1 Pet. 3:18).