Let’s read through the book of Hebrews one verse at a time in 2023. Every day explore a single verse and its cross references. AI-generated text draws the passages together. RSS feed.
Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood.
These cross references all relate to the idea of sacrifice and the shedding of blood. In the Old Testament, the shedding of animal blood was a necessary part of the sacrificial system, and this is alluded to in several of the cross references. In addition, these references also point to the idea of a new covenant, which is only made possible through the shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ. Thus, the cross references all emphasize the idea that the shedding of blood is necessary for the inauguration of a new covenant.
| Passage | How It’s Related (AI-Generated) |
|---|---|
| Exodus 12:22: Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. None of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. | Both passages discuss the use of blood in the Old Testament. Hebrews 9:18 emphasizes that the first covenant was inaugurated with blood, signifying its importance in the covenant between God and his people. Exodus 12:22 specifically provides instructions for the Israelites to use blood to mark the doorposts of their houses, a sign of protection from the angel of death. |
| Exodus 24:3-8: Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the rules. And all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words that the Lord has spoken we will do.” And Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. He rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. And he sent young men of the people of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the Lord. And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” | Both passages emphasize the importance of blood in the covenant between God and the Israelites. Hebrews 9:18 states that the first covenant was inaugurated with blood, while Exodus 24:3–8 describes how Moses read the Book of the Covenant to the people and they agreed to it, with the blood of sacrifices being offered up to seal the agreement. This emphasizes the significance of blood in the covenant between God and the Israelites, as it provided a tangible reminder of the promises and obligations of the covenant. |
| Hebrews 8:7-9: For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second. For he finds fault with them when he says: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not continue in my covenant, and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord. | Both passages refer to the covenant God made with the Israelites, which was established through the shedding of blood. Hebrews 9:18 states that not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood, emphasizing the importance of the shedding of blood in the covenant. Hebrews 8:7–9 explains why a second covenant was necessary, as the first covenant had faults and the people did not continue in it. This passage also explains that the second covenant will be different from the first covenant, as it will be established with the house of Israel and Judah. |
| Hebrews 9:14: 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 serve the living God. | Both passages refer to the purifying power of Christ's blood. Hebrews 9:18 emphasizes that the inauguration of the first covenant was done through the shedding of blood, pointing to the importance of sacrificial blood for purification. Hebrews 9:14 further explains that the blood of Christ, offered through the eternal Spirit, has the power to purify our conscience from dead works and enable us to serve the living God. |
| Hebrews 9:22: Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. | Both passages refer to the importance of blood in terms of God's covenant with His people. Hebrews 9:18 explains that the first covenant, which was made with Moses, was inaugurated with blood. Hebrews 9:22 further explains that under the law, blood was used to purify, and without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins. |
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus Christ, and the blood He shed on the cross to purify us from our sins. We are grateful for the first covenant You made with Your people, and for the second covenant of grace that You established through Christ's blood. We thank You for the promise of forgiveness and new life that is made possible through His death.
We pray that You would help us to understand the importance of the shedding of blood and the power of the cross to cleanse us and make us right with You. May Your Spirit fill us with a desire to be obedient to Your commands and to serve You faithfully.
We ask that You would help us to remember the magnitude of Your sacrifice and to live our lives in a way that honors Your great love for us. In Jesus' name, Amen.
This reading plan reads through a single verse each day, six days a week, paired with the most-popular cross references for the verse. AI-generated (and human-reviewed) text provides an opening thought and concluding prayer along with an explanation for how each cross reference relates to the verse. In 2023, this reading plan works through Hebrews one verse at a time. Every seventh day is a catchup day. Want more info? Try this blog post.
Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com.