Hebrews 9:16

For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. An axiomatic truth; "a (not 'the') testament." The testator must die before his testament takes effect (Hebrews 9:17) [a common meaning of diatheekee (G1242)]. So Luke 22:29, "I appoint [by testamentary disposition: the cognate diatitheemai] unto you a kingdom," etc. The need of death before the testamentary appointment takes effect holds good only in Christ's relation as MAN to us. BE, [ feresthai (G5342)] - 'be borne;' 'be involved in the case;' or else 'be brought forward in court,' to give effect to the will. [This sense...

16._For where a testament is, etc. _Even this one passage is a sufficient proof, that this Epistle was not written in Hebrew; for ברית means in Hebrew a covenant, but not a testament; but in Greek , διαθήκη, includes both ideas; and the Apostle, alluding to its secondary meaning, holds that the promises should not have been otherwise ratified and valid, had they not been sealed by the death of Christ. And this he proves by referring to what is usually the case as to wills or testaments, the effect of which is suspended until the death of those whose wills they are. The Apostle may yet seem to rest on too weak an argument, so that what he says may be easily disproved. For it may be said, that God made no testament or will under the Law; but it was a covenant that he made with the ancient people. Thus, neither from the fact nor from the name, can it be concluded that Chr

15-22 The solemn transactions between God and man, are sometimes called a covenant, here a testament, which is a willing deed of a person, bestowing legacies on such persons as are described, and it only takes effect upon his death. Thus Christ died, not only to obtain the blessings of salvation for us, but to give power to the disposal of them. All, by sin, were become guilty before God, had forfeited every thing that is good; but God, willing to show the greatness of his mercy, proclaimed a covenant of grace. Nothing could be clean to a sinner, not even his religious duties; except as his guilt was done away by the death of a sacrifice, of value sufficient for that end, and unless he continually depended upon it. May we ascribe all real good works to the same all-procuring cause, and offer our spiritual sacrifices as sprinkled with Christ's blood, and so purified from their defilement....

Verse 16. _FOR WHERE A TESTAMENT IS_] A learned and judicious friend furnishes me with the following translation of this and the _17_th verse:- "For where there is a covenant, it is necessary that the death of the appointed _victim_ should be exhibited, because a covenant is confirmed over dead _victims_, since it is not at all valid while the appointed _victim_ is alive." He observes, "There is no word signifying _testator_, or _men_, in the original. διαθεμενος is not a substantive, but a participle, or a participial adjective, derived from the same root as διατηκη, and must have a substantive understood. I therefore render it _the_ _disposed_ or _appointed_ victim, alluding to the manner of _disposing_ or _setting apart_ the pieces of the victim, when they were going to ratify a covenant; and you know well the old custom of ratifying a covenant, to which the apostle alludes

FOR WHERE A TESTAMENT IS - This is the same word - διαθήκη diathēkē - which in Hebrews 8:6, is rendered “covenant.” For the general signification of the word, see note on that verse. There is so much depending, however, on the meaning of the word, not only in the interpretation of this passage, but also of other parts of the Bible, that it may be proper to explain it here more at length. The word - διαθήκη diathēkē - occurs in the New Testament thirty-three times. It is translated “covenant” in the common version, in Luke 1:72; Acts 3:25;...

EXPOSITION _The sphere _of Christ's "more excellent ministry," as the "Mediator of a better covenant," having been shown to be elsewhere than in the earthly tabernacle, the ministry itself is now contrasted with that of the superseded priesthood. With this view the latter is described, and shown to express in itself its own insufficiency and to point to a more availing one to come. HEBREWS 9:1 THEN VERILY (or, _now indeed_)_ _THE FIRST COVENANT ALSO (or, _even the first covenant_)_ _HAD ORDINANCES OF DIVINE SERVICE, AND A WORLDLY SANCTUARY (rather _its sanctuary of this world _(τὸ ἅγιον κοσμεκόν). The definite article points to the well-known one of the Mosaic dispensation, which, unlike the true one, was in its bearings, as well as locally and materially

FOR WHERE A TESTAMENT IS,.... The covenant of grace, as administered under the Gospel dispensation, is a testament or will. The Jews have adopted the Greek word, here used, into their language, and pronounce it דייתיקי, and by it understand a dying man's last will and testament d. Some of them make it to be of Hebrew derivation; as if it was said, דא תהי למיקם, "this shall be to confirm" e, or this shall be stable and firm; though others own it to be the same with this Greek word διαθηκη f. The covenant of grace, is properly a covenant to Christ, and a testament or will to his people: it is his and their Father's will, concerning giving them both grace and glory; it consists of many gifts and legacies; in it Christ is made heir of all things, and his people are made joint heirs with him; they are given to him as his portion; and they have all things pertaining to life and godliness beque...

1 _Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary._ An external sanctuary, a material structure, and therefore belonging to this world. Hebrews 9:2. _For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread: which is called the sanctuary._ Or, «the Holy Place.» Hebrews 9:3. And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All; which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; and over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. Now when these

CHAPTER 9 _ 1. The first tabernacle and its worship (Hebrews 9:1)_ 2. The blood and the perfect work accomplished (Hebrews 9:11) 3. The Priest in heaven (Hebrews 9:24) Hebrews 9:1 The Spirit of God now brings forth the greatest and most blessed facts concerning Christ, the offering He brought, and what has been accomplished by that offering. First the worldly sanctuary, the tabernacle, which was connected with the old covenant is briefly mentioned. It was erected by divine command, exhibiting divine wisdom and foreshadowed, like the levitical priesthood, the better things to come. Yet it was a “worldly

It is shown, in a brief digression, that the death of Christ was necessary in order that the new covenant should come into force. An eternal inheritance_ i.e._ an enduring fellowship with God was promised long ago to God's people; and they could not obtain it under the first covenant, which afforded no real deliverance from sin. Before it could be obtained a death had to take place, so that all the sins of the past might be removed and men might start afresh under a new covenant (Hebrews 9:15). Why a death was necessary is explained by the analogy of a will or testament. The Greek word _diatheke_ can mean either a covenant or a will, and the writer avails himself of this double meaning in order to bring out a particular aspect of the death of Christ. For a will to come into effect, the person who made it must die. This was recognised even in the case of the first covenant or will, which...