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The next passage refers to the fact that almost all things by the law are purified with
blood, and that the Tabernacle, the book and the people were thus purified.
"For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he
took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and
sprinkled both the book, and all the people, saying, This is the blood of the testament
which God hath enjoined unto you. Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the
tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law
purged with blood" (Heb. 9: 19-22).
Here we have the other type of purifying, not the ashes of an heifer this time, but the
blood of calves and goats. The effect, however, is the same; the result is purifying, and
also a solemn dedication; the covenant, the Tabernacle, and all the vessels of the
ministry, all had to be CLEAN. The parallelism of Heb. 10: 22 will perhaps now be more
obvious, as also the way in which the type merges into the antitype, "hearts sprinkled
from an evil conscience" is the New Covenant equivalent of "bodies washed with pure
water", as also the words, "let us draw near", which is impossible without purifying. It
will be evident that we must include "the blood of sprinkling" (Heb. 12: 24), and indeed
all the references to blood in Hebrews.
Speaking without the book, and from a superficial acquaintance with its theme, one
would feel certain that in the epistle to the Hebrews a full statement concerning
redemption by the blood of Christ would be found. Redemption is not conspicuous in the
first reference (Heb. 1: 3) to the work of Christ, the whole imagery and teaching has to do
with a people already saved, who have access to God, who are pressing on to Canaan,
and who need the continual ministrations of the priest and offering for their
sanctification. But let us see for ourselves; here are the references to blood in this
epistle:
"The children are partakers of flesh and blood" (2: 14).
"Into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which
he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people" (9: 7).
"Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once
into the holy place, having obtained aionian redemption for us" (9: 12).
"For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the
unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh" (9: 13).
"How much more shall the blood of Christ, Who through the aionian Spirit offered
Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living
God?" (9: 14).
"Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood" (9: 18).
"He took the blood . . . . . and sprinkled both the book, and all the people" (9: 19).
"Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you" (9: 20).
"Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the
ministry" (9: 21).
"And almost all things are by the law purged with blood" (9: 22).
"And without shedding of blood is no remission" (9: 22).
"Nor yet that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy
place . . . . . with blood of others" (9: 25).
"For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins" (10: 4).
"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus"
(10: 19).