How much more!
Today's reading Hebrews 9:1-14
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Today’s blog
“How much more then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God.” (Hebrews 9:14)
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The good news of Jesus often has “how much more” expression (e.g. Matt.7:11; Rom.5:9-10,15-17). In a verse that echoes Part 1 of Hebrews, the apostle Paul writes, “If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!” (2 Cor.3:9). Likewise, in today’s reading, the “how much more” work of Jesus is contrasted with the Old Testament sacrificial system, and the difference in outcome is huge.
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The priestly offerings in the earthly tabernacle had been ordained by God as “an illustration” of what was needed “but they not able to clear the conscience of the worshipper” (9). The “external regulations” (10) of animal sacrifices could only make people ceremonially clean – an outward sign of the need for inner cleansing of the conscience (13). And that’s what “the blood of Christ” can do i.e. through the self-offering of the “unblemished” Son of God, the promised forgiveness and internal experience of the new covenant became possible (8:10-12).
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Because Jesus lived and died without sin, he uniquely could be a perfect sacrifice, able to “cleanse our consciences” from things that produce only death (14). This true inner cleansing leads to a transformed life. Forgiveness is not the end in itself. Rather the purpose is “so that we may serve the living God”. This is the “how much more” of inner cleansing – the fulfilment of what we were made for. Serving God is our intended destiny both in this world and the next (Rom.12:1; 1 Th.1:9; Rev.5:10).
(To dig a bit deeper into Hebrews 9:1-14 click here for some commentary notes.)