Meaning of Hebrews 9:20

This verse, Hebrews 9:20, directly quotes Moses as he institutes the covenant between God and Israel at Mount Sinai, as recorded in Exodus 24:8. The blood of the sacrificial animals, sprinkled by Moses, symbolized the ratification of God's covenant with His people. It represented the solemn agreement, the commitment, and the consequences of breaking the covenant. Jesus, in His discourse with the disciples at the Last Supper (as recounted in the Synoptic Gospels), appropriates this language, declaring His own blood to be "the blood of the new covenant." This highlights the continuity and ultimate fulfillment of God's redemptive plan, where Christ's sacrifice inaugurates a superior and more effective covenant.

Context and Background

The author of Hebrews is drawing a parallel between the Old Covenant established at Sinai and the New Covenant established through Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, covenants were often ratified with blood, signifying a binding agreement and a life-or-death commitment. Moses, acting as mediator, sprinkled the blood of bulls and goats on the people and the altar, declaring, "This is the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you according to all these words." This act sealed their relationship with God, outlining both His blessings for obedience and His judgments for disobedience. The Mosaic Law, therefore, was intrinsically linked to this covenant.

Key Themes and Messages

The central theme is the sacrificial ratification of covenants. The blood signifies a life given, a price paid, and a solemn oath. It underscores the seriousness of God's promises and His people's obligations. This verse also points to the mediatorial role of Moses in the Old Covenant and, by extension, the superior mediatorial role of Christ in the New Covenant. Furthermore, it introduces the concept of divine command – God is the one who commanded this covenant to be kept, emphasizing His authority and the divine origin of the agreement.

Spiritual Significance and Application

Spiritually, this verse points to the efficacy of Christ's blood. While the blood of animals in the Old Covenant could not fully atone for sin, it served as a foreshadowing and a symbol. Jesus' blood, however, is presented as the perfect sacrifice that atones for sin and establishes a new, unbreakable covenant. For believers today, it signifies the forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God, and the inauguration of a new life in relationship with Him through faith in Christ. It calls for a commitment to keeping the terms of this new covenant, which are centered on love for God and neighbor, and obedience to His will as revealed in Christ.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

Hebrews 9:20 is a crucial bridge connecting the Old Testament sacrificial system with the redemptive work of Christ. The Old Covenant, while divinely ordained, was temporary and imperfect, requiring repeated sacrifices. The author of Hebrews argues that Jesus’ sacrifice is once for all, establishing a perfect and eternal covenant. This verse, therefore, is foundational to understanding the progression of God's redemptive plan, moving from a covenant of law and animal sacrifice to a covenant of grace and the sacrifice of God's Son. It highlights the consistent theme of God's desire for relationship with humanity, expressed through successive covenants.

Analogies

One analogy for the Old Covenant ratification is like signing a contract with a complex set of legal clauses, where failure to adhere to any clause results in severe penalties, and the signatures are sealed with a binding oath. The blood sprinkled represents the solemnity of that oath. In contrast, Jesus' blood is like a magnanimous benefactor who, seeing the impossibility of the original contract's terms being met by the recipient, steps in to fully satisfy all obligations, not just on paper, but by bearing the ultimate consequence himself, thus creating a new, gracious, and unassailable agreement. Another analogy is that of an architect designing a building. The Old Covenant represents the blueprints with detailed instructions and materials that were good but ultimately temporary and in need of constant repair. Christ's sacrifice represents the completion of the perfect building, a structure that is eternal and requires no further additions or renovations.

Relation to Other Verses

This verse directly echoes Exodus 24:8, as previously mentioned, where Moses states, "Behold the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you according to all these words." In the New Testament, Luke 22:20 and 1 Corinthians 11:25 record Jesus' institution of the Lord's Supper, where He says, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood." Hebrews 8:6 further elaborates on the superiority of the New Covenant, stating that Christ is the mediator of a "better covenant, which is enacted on better promises." Hebrews 10:4 explicitly states that "the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins," underscoring the inadequacy of the Old Covenant sacrifices compared to Christ's. Finally, 1 Peter 1:18-19 speaks of believers being redeemed "with precious blood, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot, even the blood of Christ," connecting the sacrificial blood to redemption.