Christ: Mediator of a New Covenant

Hebrews 9:11-15

The Biblical text from the NRSV is always found in the first column.

The reflection by Fr. Dennis Chriszt, CPPS is always found in the second column.

When Christ came as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation), he entered once for all into the Holy Place, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.

For if the blood of goats and bulls, with the sprinkling of the ashes of a heifer, sanctifies those who have been defiled so that their flesh is purified, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to worship the living God!

For this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, because a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant.

The people of Israel, in accord with the Mosaic covenant, offered the blood of sheep and goats as a sin offering to the Lord. They offered it year after year, believing that it had only a temporary effect on their relationship with God.

In the new covenant, Christ offered his own precious blood, once and for all, for the forgiveness of sin. This is the sacrifice of the new and eternal covenant in Christ’s blood. It takes away sin once and for all time.