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Letter to the Hebrews

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International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Feb 17, 1890

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 16, No. 7.

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Letter to the Hebrews.

CHAPTER 9: 20-23.

(Lesson 22, March 1, 1890.)
1. WHO spoke to Israel in behalf of the Lord when the first covenant was made?
2. What did he do with the blood?
3. What did he then say? Ex. 24:8; Heb. 9:20.
4. Is there any difference in these texts? Ans.—The first says, made; the second, enjoined. The Hebrew word used has a number of significations. The conditions of the covenant were not arranged between the parties, but were matters enjoined.
5. What similar language did Jesus use in establishing the new covenant? Matt. 26:28; Mark 14:24.
6. What more did Moses sprinkle with blood? Heb. 9:21.
7. In the typical law, were all things purified by blood? Verse 22.
8. What was the nature of the exceptions? See Num. 19. See note.
9. What is necessary to the remission of sin? Heb. 9:22.
10. Why was the blood chosen to make atonement? Lev. 17:11.
11. What is meant in Gen. 9:6 by the words, "Whoso sheddeth man's blood"? Ans.—As the life is in the blood, it is equivalent to saying, Whoso taketh man's life.
12. What should be the fate of him who sheds the blood of man? Gen. 9:6.
13. What does this teach? Ans.—That only blood, or life, can atone for life.
14. Whose lives are forfeited to the law? See Rom. 3:19, 23; 6:23.
15. Must we still depend upon blood to be cleared before the law? 1 John 1:7; Eph. 1:7.
16. What was necessary in the earthly sanctuary? Heb. 9:23.
17. Were the earthly holy places purified by the blood of bulls and goats? Lev. 16:14, 15, 19.
18. What are the earthly things called? Heb. 9:23.
19. Do the heavenly things need purifying?—Ib.
20. How did the patterns become defiled? See note.
21. Who takes away our sins? John 1:29.
22. Why did Christ take our sins upon himself? Ans.—Because he is our High Priest; the priest bears the judgment of the people. Ex. 28:29, 30.
23. Where is he filling his priestly office? See Heb. 8:1, 2.
24. Are the heavenly things defiled by our sins going to our priest?
25. With what is it necessary, the heavenly things to be cleansed? Heb.

NOTE

HERE again in very good faith, that which we do not believe is true. But we learn that such was the case, and in this instance their tradition must have been correct. In the account of the erection of the tabernacle, and the dedication of the holy things, it is recorded that they were anointed with oil, but the sprinkling of blood is not mentioned. This, however, does not involve any contradiction.
THE fact that some things, and in some cases persons, were purified without blood, as see Numbers 19, does not disagree with the reasonable statement that without shedding of blood is no remission; for, in cases of purification with oil or water, there was no sin. There were misfortunes, as in certain sicknesses, or accidents, fleshly defilements. But the wages of sin is death, always, and where the penalty is death nothing but life can meet the demand of the law. Now as the blood is the life of man (Deut. 12:23), it is given to make atonement. Lev. 17:11. The offering of blood for life signifies life for life. Hence the statement that we have redemption through the blood of Christ. It means that our lives are purchased with his life. God's appointments are in strict accord with reason and justice.
No objection against the true doctrine of the atonement is more persistently urged than this, that there can be nothing in heaven that needs cleansing. Such pleading for heaven reminds us of the zeal of Peter in vindicating his Lord. Matt. 16:21-23. But to prove that the heavenly sanctuary does need cleansing because of our sins taken by our Priest, and that nothing but the blood of Christ can cleanse it, is the whole drift of the apostle's argument. Take away this great truth, and his labored argument would be without any logical conclusion. Not only were the earthly sacrifices typical of Christ's sacrifice, and the earthly priests typical of his priesthood, but the earthly sanctuary was typical of the heavenly holy places. And of course the cleansing of the sanctuary on earth with the blood of bulls and goats was typical of the purifying of the heavenly things with better sacrifice. In the whole argument of this remarkable letter, nothing is made more plain than this.