Hebrews - worksheet 17
Jesus’ blood - Hebrews 9:15-28
NKJV headings are The Mediator’s Death Necessary and Greatness of Christ’s Sacrifice

Teaching video by David Guzik

Hebrews 9:15-28 (NKJV) says ¹⁵And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. ¹⁶For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. ¹⁷For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. ¹⁸Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. ¹⁹For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, ²⁰saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.” ²¹Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. ²²And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without

there is no

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. ²³Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with

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than these. ²⁴For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; ²⁵not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another — ²⁶He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the

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, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. ²⁷And as it is appointed for men

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,

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, ²⁸so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a

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, apart from sin, for salvation.

Q1 There have been many mediatiors between God and man. However, verse 15 talks about another Mediator. List what is so new about that mediator. By what means? And what is the purpose?

Q2 In verses 15 and 16 the same Greek word diathēkēs is used for covenant and testament/will. What do verses 16 and 17 say what a testament needs to have in order the new covenant goes into effect?

Now, we look at verses 18-22. In verse 18 the writer speaks about th first covenant. Technically the covenant with Noah was the first covenant. But in this verse the writer means the Mosaic covenant, because his audience was the Hebrew people of his day, who used to follow the Mosaic Law. See also our study on the Covenants.

Q3 Verse 22 is a crucial verse. The word remission has to do with sin, to be covered or taken away: forgiveness of sin. What is the difference in the Old Testament shedding of blood (animals) and the New Testament shedding of blood (Jesus)?

Leviticus 17:11 (NKJV) says For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’

Q4 The blood of Jesus was voluntarily shed in His substitute death to give us life (verse 26b). Was it the literal physical blood of Jesus that saves us, like Roman Catholic doctrine wants us to believe in their so-called transubstantiation? Or was the blood signifying Jesus’ substitute death, the perfect sacrifice once and for all, that gives us believers life?

Q5 Read verse 27. Is it compatable with the idea of reincarnation? Do you believe that now is the time to trust Jesus?

Q6 Is verse 28 valid for you? Is this verse talking about the rapture of the church or the second advent of Jesus?

Close in prayerfully singing this song.