The new covenant is the last will and testament of Christ sealed by His blood. Heb. 9:6-22 (97)
“Whereupon neither the first Ex. 12:22; 24:3–8 was dedicated or, purified. ver. 14, 22 without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people…, he took the blood Ex. 24:5, 6, 8, Lev. 1:2, 3, 10; 3:6; 16:14–18, of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet Lev. 14:4–6, 49–52, Num. 19:6, Mk. 15:17, 20. Jno. 19:2, 5, wool, and hyssop Ex. 12:22, Num. 19:18, Ps. 51:7, and sprinkled Ex. 24:8, Is. 52:15, Eze. 36:25, 1Pet. 1:2 both the book, and all the people, saying, This Zec. 9:11, Matt. 26:28, Heb. 13:20 is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you… he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are… purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission” vv. 18–22. The Holy Spirit is not here limiting our view to Exodus 24, but also to show the whole use of the blood under the law, as unto purification and remission of sin. To declare the virtue and efficacy of the blood of Christ under the new testament.
- The new testament was confirmed by the death of the Testator, for the first one also was confirmed in the same manner; and that, not only by death, but not “without blood,” which was required for the ratification of a solemn covenant. John Owen said, “for the first time, was any part of God’s Word committed to writing. This book of the law was written that it might be read to all the people: not to be restricted to the priests. It was written and read in the language which the people understood. Moses sprinkled the blood, Ex. 24:6 “half of the blood” and sprinkled it “on the altar” (on which was the book); the other half on the people. The one was God’s part; the other theirs. Thereby the mutual agreement of Jehovah and the people was indicated. Typically, this foreshadowed the twofold efficacy of Christ’s blood, to make salvation God-wards and to save man-wards; or, to the remission of our sins unto justification, and the purification of our persons unto sanctification. The “scarlet wool,” probably bound around the “hyssop” (which was a common weed), was employed as a sprinkler, to apply the blood in the basons upon the people; “water” being mixed with the blood to keep it fluid and aspersible. In like manner, the benefits of Christ’s death unto our sanctification, is called the “sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ” 1Pet. 1:2. To avail us, the blood must not only be “shed,” but “sprinkled.” “This blood and water signified the blood and water that came out of our Saviour’s pierced side Jn 19:34, 35, for justification and sanctification, and also shadowed forth the two sacraments of the N. T., baptism and the Lord’s supper, with scarlet wool, signifying the righteousness of Christ with which we must be clothed, the hyssop signifying that faith by which we must apply all. Moses sprinkled, [1. The book of the law and covenant, to show that the covenant of grace is confirmed by the blood of Christ and made effectual to our good. [2. The people, intimating that the shedding of the blood of Christ will be no advantage to us if it be not applied to us. And the sprinkling of both the book and the people signified the mutual consent of both parties, their mutual engagements through Christ. M. Henry
- These words of Moses “this is the blood of the testament,” the apostle proves that sacrificial death, was required to the establishment of the first covenant. The blood was the confirmatory sign, the token between God and the people. Christ also said, in His “supper”: “This is My blood of the new testament” Matt, 26:28 i.e., the shedding of which the new testament is confirmed. The spiritual meaning of the tabernacle’s furniture being sprinkled with blood was at least twofold: first, in themselves those vessels were holy by God’s institution, yet in the use of them by polluted men, they became defiled, and needed purging. Second, to teach the Israelites and us that, the very means of grace which we use, are only made acceptable to God through the merits of Christ’s sacrifice. The best of our performances are defiled by the flesh; our very prayers and repentances are unclean, and cannot be received by God except as we plead before Him the precious blood of Christ. “The people were hereby taught that, God could not be looked to for salvation, nor rightly worshipped, except faith in every case looked to an intervening blood. We should know that He is pacified towards us through the blood of Christ, which affords to us a free access. All kinds of worship are faulty and impure until, Christ cleanses them by the sprinkling of His blood” (John Calvin).
