Hebrews 9:16-22 The Necessity Of The Mediator’s Death.
“The Greek word for “testament” (diatheke) is the same word translated “covenant” in this passage and elsewhere. The point being made is that a death is required in order to secure what God promised to do” (NGSB p. 1947). The writer is not writing about a last will, and the translators should be more consistent, instead of forcing the text through their own presuppositions. Our author is “referring to the ratification of a covenant by means of a representative sacrifice such as is found in Gen. 15” (Ibid. p. 1947). “Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood” (v. 18).
To this end our author refers back to what had been prescribed through Moses (v. 19 Cf. Ex. 24:5-6), saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you” (v. 20; Ex. 24:3-8). He also “sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry” (v. 21 Cf. Ex. 29:12, 36; Lev. 16:16). This is in back of the significant words spoken by the Son with the inauguration of the new covenant (Mt. 26:28). His blood does make effectual the remission of sins as a ransom (20:28). “And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission” (v. 22 Cf. Lev. 17:11).
