The sacrifices of the law were far inferior to that of Christ.
9:1. The former indeed had also justifications of divine service and a
sanctuary.
9:2. For there was a tabernacle made the first, wherein were the
candlesticks and the table and the setting forth of loaves, which is
called the Holy.
9:3. And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holy
of Holies:
9:4. Having a golden censer and the ark of the testament covered about
on every part with gold, in which was a golden pot that had manna and
the rod of Aaron that had blossomed and the tables of the testament.
9:5. And over it were the cherubims of glory overshadowing the
propitiatory: of which it is not needful to speak now particularly.
9:6. Now these things being thus ordered, into the first tabernacle,
the priests indeed always entered, accomplishing the offices of
sacrifices.
9:7. But into the second, the high priest alone, once a year: not
without blood, which he offereth for his own and the people's
ignorance:
9:8. The Holy Ghost signifying this: That the way into the Holies was
not yet made manifest, whilst the former tabernacle was yet standing.
9:9. Which is a parable of the time present: according to which gifts
and sacrifices are offered, which cannot, as to the conscience, make
him perfect that serveth, only in meats and in drinks,
9:10. And divers washings and justices of the flesh laid on them until
the time of correction.
Of correction. . .Viz., when Christ should correct and settle all
things.
9:11. But Christ, being come an high Priest of the good things to come,
by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hand, that is,
not of this creation:
9:12. Neither by the blood of goats or of calves, but by his own blood,
entered once into the Holies, having obtained eternal redemption.
Eternal redemption. . .By that one sacrifice of his blood, once offered
on the cross, Christ our Lord paid and exhibited, once for all, the
general price and ransom of all mankind: which no other priest could
do.
9:13. For if the blood of goats and of oxen, and the ashes of an
heifer, being sprinkled, sanctify such as are defiled, to the cleansing
of the flesh:
9:14. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who by the Holy Ghost
offered himself unspotted unto God, cleanse our conscience from dead
works, to serve the living God?
9:15. And therefore he is the mediator of the new testament: that by
means of his death for the redemption of those transgressions which
were under the former testament, they that are called may receive the
promise of eternal inheritance.
9:16. For where there is a testament the death of the testator must of
necessity come in.
9:17. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is
as yet of no strength, whilst the testator liveth.
9:18. Whereupon neither was the first indeed dedicated without blood.
9:19. For when every commandment of the law had been read by Moses to
all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, and
scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the
people.
9:20. Saying: This is the blood of the testament which God hath
enjoined unto you.
9:21. The tabernacle also and all the vessels of the ministry, in like
manner, he sprinkled with blood.
9:22. And almost all things, according to the law, are cleansed with
blood: and without shedding of blood there is no remission.
9:23. It is necessary therefore that the patterns of heavenly things
should be cleansed with these: but the heavenly things themselves with
better sacrifices than these.
9:24. For Jesus is not entered into the Holies made with hands, the
patterns of the true: but into Heaven itself, that he may appear now in
the presence of God for us.
9:25. Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest
entereth into the Holies every year with the blood of others:
Offer himself often. . .Christ shall never more offer himself in
sacrifice, in that violent, painful, and bloody manner, nor can there
be any occasion for it: since by that one sacrifice upon the cross, he
has furnished the full ransom, redemption, and remedy for all the sins
of the world. But this hinders not that he may offer himself daily in
the sacred mysteries in an unbloody manner, for the daily application
of that one sacrifice of redemption to our souls.
9:26. For then he ought to have suffered often from the beginning of
the world. But now once, at the end of ages, he hath appeared for the
destruction of sin by the sacrifice of himself.
9:27. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the
judgment:
9:28. So also Christ was offered once to exhaust the sins of many. The
second time he shall appear without sin to them that expect him unto
salvation.
To exhaust. . .That is, to empty, or draw out to the very bottom, by a
plentiful and perfect redemption.