How Much More?
Hebrews 9:11-15
"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)
I wonder if there is anyone who still remembers an old radio program called The Shadow. It was one of my favorites as a boy. Lamont Cranston would say with each broadcast, "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows."
I don't know how extensive the Shadow's knowledge really was, but I am certain of the One who truly knows our hearts (1 Samuel 16:7), the One in whose wings' shadow we are safely hidden (Psalm 17:8).
Not only does He know our hearts, but He has cleansed them (Hebrews 10:22). The author of Hebrews contrasts the Old Testament sacrifices with the precious blood of Jesus, concluding, "How much more, then, will the blood of Christ... cleanse our consciences" (9:14).
Can you see that the animal sacrifices of that day were but shadows of a greater cleansing yet to come? Though the Israelite people were washed of their sin through the shedding of animal blood, there was no cleansing of the heart - only the blood of Jesus could do that. And it has!
INSIGHT
"HELP ME, LORD, TO APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR ME IN CHRIST."
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
1 Chronicles 1
Proverbs 24
Revelation 1-2
Hebrews 9:11-15
New International Version (NIV)
The Blood of Christ
11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here,[a] he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining[b] eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 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,[c] so that we may serve the living God!
15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance —now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
Footnotes:a.Hebrews 9:11 Some early manuscripts are to come
b.Hebrews 9:12 Or blood, having obtained
c.Hebrews 9:14 Or from useless rituals
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