Claim 32
Once for all
Hebrews explicitly compares Christ's work with the Day of Atonement, while also stressing their differences.
The Old Testament text
Lev 16:15-17 · BSBAaron shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and bring its blood behind the veil, and with its blood he must do as he did with the bull’s blood: He is to sprinkle it against the mercy seat and in front of it. So he shall make atonement for the Most Holy Place because of the impurities and rebellious acts of the Israelites in regard to all their sins. He is to do the same for the Tent of Meeting which abides among them in the midst of their impurities. No one may be in the Tent of Meeting from the time Aaron goes in to make atonement in the Most Holy Place until he leaves, after he has made atonement for himself, his household, and the whole assembly of Israel.
Translation note:
The claimed New Testament fulfilment
Hebrews directly contrasts the annual high priest's entry with Christ entering a greater sanctuary by his own blood and securing lasting redemption.
But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made by hands and is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!
Why Christians see a prophecy
Hebrews itself makes the connection. Like the high priest entering the inner sanctuary with blood, Christ enters the heavenly sanctuary with his own blood. Unlike the annual rite, his offering secures lasting redemption once for all.
Why it is less convincing
Leviticus gives instructions for a repeated ceremony and never announces a future Messiah. Hebrews creates its Christian interpretation through contrasts as well as similarities: Jesus needs no sacrifice for himself and enters a different sanctuary.
Our assessment
Plausible typology, not predictionStrong typology, not prediction
This is explicit New Testament typology. It is not an advance forecast stated by Leviticus.
Sources and further reading
- Dennis E. Johnson, Hebrews. The Gospel Coalition Bible Commentary; Hebrews 9:11–14 and 9:23–10:18.
- Christian Eberhart, Sacrifice and the New Testament. St Andrews Encyclopaedia of Theology; sections on Hebrews and sacrificial interpretation.
- Roy Gane, The blood of Christ: Sacrificial death or moral authority?. Scottish Journal of Theology, Cambridge University Press; Blood as life and Resurrected life sections.
- BSB Publishing, Berean Standard Bible v5.9. BSB Publishing; Leviticus 16:15–17; Hebrews 9:7–14; 10:1–14.
Biblical quotations are from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), public domain.