Hebrews 9:15
Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The most striking, non-obvious truth here is that Christ's death wasn't just for our transgressions, but also redeems those committed under the first covenant. This means His sacrifice reaches back in time, making Him the mediator for believers both before and after His coming, securing their promised inheritance.
This verse explains the foundational reason for Jesus' mediatorial role. Following the description of the old covenant's limitations and the sacrifices that couldn't truly cleanse, it highlights that Christ's death accomplished what those sacrifices couldn't. This death, it argues, redeems transgressions from the first covenant and secures an eternal inheritance for those who are called into the new covenant.
What makes Christ the ultimate mediator between God and humanity? It's not just His actions, but the very nature of the covenant He established.
The verse highlights Jesus as the "mediator of a new covenant." This isn't just a title; it speaks to His unique role in bridging the gap between a holy God and sinful humanity.
A Covenant Ratified by Death
Unlike the old covenant, which was established through rituals and animal sacrifices, the new covenant is fundamentally sealed by Christ's own sacrificial death. This death is not a footnote but the very mechanism that brings the covenant into effect. It's this act of dying that makes Him the perfect mediator.
The Purpose of Mediation
Christ's mediation isn't for His own benefit, but for ours. The "reason why" (for this cause) He is the mediator is "so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance." His role as mediator directly leads to our reception of God's promises.
We often focus on how Christ's sacrifice deals with our present sins. But did you know it also reaches back to cover past failures?
The verse makes a profound statement about the scope of Christ's redemptive work: 'since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.'
The Insufficiency of the First Covenant
The 'first covenant' (the Old Covenant) involved laws and sacrifices that, while holy, could not fully atone for sin. They were a constant reminder of humanity's transgressions. The Levitical sacrifices could only achieve a 'purity of the flesh,' not a deep cleansing of the conscience.
Christ's Death: The Ultimate Expiation
Christ's death, therefore, serves as the ultimate expiation. It 'redeems' or liberates believers from the transgressions committed under that first covenant. This means His sacrifice has a retroactive power, dealing with sins that predated His coming, as well as those committed by believers today.
Understand the original words
mesitēs · Greek Noun
An authorized go-between or intercessor who brings two parties together. Christ acts as the mediator of the New Covenant, securing the relationship between God and humanity through his sacrifice.
diathēkē kainē · Greek Noun/Adjective phrase
The new relationship or testament established by God with his people through Christ’s blood, replacing the old, temporary system of the Law. It is characterized by internal transformation and full forgiveness.
klēronomia · Greek Noun
The spiritual and eternal blessings promised by God to his children. It signifies the secure, lasting possession of God’s kingdom and life, guaranteed by Christ's death.
parabasis · Greek Noun
This verse sits at the heart of the argument in Hebrews, contrasting the temporary, flawed system of the Old Covenant with the eternal, perfect reality brought by Christ's death. The historical context of the Old Covenant's establishment, its repeated failures, and its ultimate judgment (exile) underscore why a 'new covenant' was desperately needed and why Christ's sacrifice was so revolutionary.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus and Covenant at Sinai
God delivers Israel from Egypt and establishes the Mosaic covenant at Mount Sinai, marked by laws, sacrifices, and a tabernacle for worship. This covenant defines the 'first covenant' mentioned in Hebrews.
c. 931 BC
Divided Kingdom
After Solomon's death, the unified kingdom splits into the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. This division and subsequent unfaithfulness mark the ongoing transgressions under the first covenant.
722 BC
Fall of Israel
The Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel, scattering its people. This event highlights the consequences of covenant unfaithfulness and the inadequacy of the Levitical system to avert national disaster.
586 BC
Babylonian Exile
The Neo-Babylonian Empire destroys Jerusalem and the Temple, exiling many Judeans. This represents a severe judgment for persistent covenant violations and marks the end of the first covenant's earthly sanctuary system.
This passage highlights that Christ became a curse for us, echoing the idea in Hebrews 9:15 that His death redeems from past transgressions.
Romans 3:23-25It explains that God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement to demonstrate His righteousness, which directly relates to Christ's redemptive death for past sins mentioned in Hebrews 9:15.
Hebrews 8:6This verse introduces the new covenant as superior to the old, setting the stage for Hebrews 9:15's explanation of how Christ mediates this better covenant through His death.
1 Peter 1:18-19It states that believers were redeemed from their futile way of life not with perishable things, but with the precious blood of Christ, aligning with the redemptive aspect of Christ's death in Hebrews 9:15.
Colossians 1:13-14This passage emphasizes our deliverance from the domain of darkness and our redemption through Christ's blood, including forgiveness of sins, which directly parallels the redemption from transgressions in Hebrews 9:15.
ellicottHebrews 9:15: "And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance."
(15) And for this cause. —Or, And because of this. This verse looks back to the great truth of Hebrews 9:11-12 , which the last two verses have served to confirm and place in bolder relief. “Christ through His own blood entered once for all into the…
meyerHebrews 9:15: "And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance."
Hebrews 9:15 . Καὶ διὰ τοῦτο διαθήκης καινῆς μεσίτης ἐστίν ] and just for this cause is He the Mediator of a New Covenant . By means of καί , Hebrews 9:15 attaches itself closely to the preceding context, and διὰ τοῦτο points back to the main though…
The most striking, non-obvious truth here is that Christ's death wasn't just for our transgressions, but also redeems those committed under the first covenant. This means His sacrifice reaches back in time, making Him the mediator for believers both before and after His coming, securing their promised inheritance.
This verse explains the foundational reason for Jesus' mediatorial role. Following the description of the old covenant's limitations and the sacrifices that couldn't truly cleanse, it highlights that Christ's death accomplished what those sacrifices couldn't. This death, it argues, redeems transgressions from the first covenant and secures an eternal inheritance for those who are called into the new covenant.
This verse explains the foundational reason for Jesus' mediatorial role. Following the description of the old covenant's limitations and the sacrifices that couldn't truly cleanse, it highlights that Christ's death accomplished what those sacrifices couldn't. This death, it argues, redeems transgressions from the first covenant and secures an eternal inheritance for those who are called into the new covenant.
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The Promise of an Eternal Inheritance
This redemption from past failures is what enables those who are 'called' to receive the 'promised eternal inheritance.' Because Christ has dealt with the transgressions that kept us separated from God, we can now embrace the full inheritance promised in the new covenant.
What's the ultimate prize of this new covenant and Christ's sacrificial death? It's an inheritance that lasts forever.
The ultimate purpose woven through Hebrews 9:15 is our reception of a 'promised eternal inheritance.' This isn't a temporary blessing or a earthly reward; it's something enduring and heavenly.
Called to Receive
The recipients of this inheritance are 'those who are called.' This refers to all who respond in faith to God's invitation through Christ. It signifies a divine calling, setting us apart for a special purpose and future.
The Promise Fulfilled
This inheritance is a 'promise.' It was foretold in the Old Testament (think of Abraham's inheritance) and is fully realized and guaranteed through the new covenant established by Christ's death. It's the ultimate fulfillment of God's faithfulness to His people.
What is This Inheritance?
While not explicitly detailed here, the context of Hebrews and the New Testament points to this inheritance as encompassing full redemption, eternal life with God, a renewed creation, and reigning with Christ. It’s the complete package of salvation and eternal fellowship with our Creator.
An act of rebellion against divine law or moral failure. It describes the state of missing the mark and needing the atonement provided by Christ.
c. 516 BC
Second Temple Rebuilt
Exiles return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple, continuing the sacrificial system under Persian rule. While a restoration, it does not fully restore the glory of the first Temple and underscores the need for a new covenant.
c. AD 30— this verse
Jesus' Crucifixion
Jesus Christ is crucified. His death is understood as the atoning sacrifice that fulfills the first covenant's sacrificial system and inaugurates the new covenant.
c. AD 64-68
Writing of Hebrews
The Epistle to the Hebrews is written, likely in Rome, to Jewish believers facing persecution and tempted to revert to Mosaic practices. It argues for the supremacy of Christ and the new covenant over the old.
"Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant." — The most striking, non-obvious truth here is that Christ's death wasn't just for our transgressions, but also redeems those committed under the first covenant. This means His sacrifice reaches ba…
