“For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh…”

The Hebrews had accepted that the blood and sacrifices of the Old Covenant were accomplishing the necessary purification of their fleshly sins. Those things were limited in scope and power but they did do what they were intended to do. The question now being raised is was that enough? Was cleansing the flesh but not the inner person enough? Those sacrifices were temporary and had to be repeated day after day and year after year. Not only were they temporary they were lacking in power to make the necessary changes in man’s relationship with God.

Jesus came as the promised one to make the temporary permanent and cleanse the inner self as well as the outer person. The previous verse tells us He offered His own blood, the perfect lamb’s blood which had the power to cleanse humankind in and out. His blood wiped out sin and its penalty once and for all time. His blood paved the road for eternal redemption. He is the only high priest that could make such an offering.

Task for Today:  Decide whether you want the eternal cleansing of the blood of the Christ or the temporary cleansing of the blood of animals. Decide whether you want to be holy and spotless in the sight of God or if you will have to go through the procedure over and over again. The Hebrews were hanging on to the old way when a perfect way was not available. Do not do that today. Leave the Old Covenant and its sacrifices and come to the Christ and the New Covenant.