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THE BLOOD OF THE
COVENANT
It is said that "the blood of
the covenant" (Heb 9:20; Matt 26:28; Mark 14:24 ) refers only to Jesus'
death "for those who violated the covenant," not to dedicate a covenant
(Notes by Jim Puterbaugh, 11/13/96). Note Ex 24:6-8 and Heb 9:18-23:
- Heb. 9:18, "Not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood."
- Moses was not sacrificing for a covenant which had been broken
earlier -- he was dedicating the covenant, functioning as a mediator.
- Parallel idea is that since the "copies of the things in the
heavens should be purified with these," but "the heavenly things
with better sacrifices." Were sins of a earlier broken covenant
the heavenly things dedicated with better sacrifices? NO.
- Heb. 10:9-10 -- Christ "took away the first that He may establish
the second. By which will we have been sanctified through the offering
of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Vv. 28-29 -- contrast between
those who violated Moses law (which was dedicated by the blood of animals)
with those who "count the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified
a common thing."
- Heb. 9:16 -- "Where a covenant is (which is a general way of referring
to any and all covenants) there must of necessity be death."
- Christ did not die to ratify a covenant with Abraham or Israel
but the new covenant.
- Note the statements in vv. 15-16 3. V. 18-20 affirm that the
first one was dedicated by blood -- consistent with the context
the second one was also ratified by blood.
Questions Covering "The Blood of the Covenant"
- When Jesus died, did His blood ratify the new covenant or is His blood
called "the blood of the covenant," because He died for those who violated
the covenant?
- Hebrews 9:18, says that the first covenant (covenant with Israel
at Sinai -- note Exodus 24:6-8) was dedicated by blood. Was the blood
of that covenant shed for those who had violated a previous covenant?
- Hebrews 9:16, says that "where a covenant is, there must of necessity
be death." When Christ died, did He die to ratify a covenant with Abraham,
Israel or a new covenant?
- Hebrews 9:18-20 affirms that the first covenant was ratified by blood.
If that is true, then how was the second covenant ratified?
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