Hebrews 9:18-21

Hebrews 9:18-21

[18] Whereupon  neither  the first  testament was dedicated  without  blood.  [19] For  when  Moses  had spoken  every  precept  to all  the people  according  to the law,  he took  the blood  of calves  and  of goats,  with  water,  and  scarlet  wool,  and  hyssop,  and sprinkled  both  the book,  and  all  the people,  [20] Saying,  is the blood  of the testament  which  God  hath enjoined  unto  [21] Moreover  he sprinkled  with blood  both  the tabernacle,  and  all  the vessels  of the ministry. 

What does Hebrews 9:18-21 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The Old Covenant went into effect when the Levitical priests shed the blood of animal substitutes and applied that blood to the covenant beneficiaries. The beneficiaries were the Israelites ( Exodus 24:6-8) and the tabernacle (cf. Exodus 40:9-15). The New Covenant went into effect when Jesus Christ shed His blood and God applied it to its beneficiaries spiritually (cf. Matthew 26:28).
"The central thrust of the argument is that there is an intimate relationship between covenant and sacrificial blood." [1]