Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
patterns—"the suggestive representations"; the typical copies (see on Hebrews 8:5).
things in the heavens—the heavenly tabernacle and the things therein.
purified with these—with the blood of bulls and goats.
heavenly things themselves—the archetypes. Man's sin had introduced an element of disorder into the relations of God and His holy angels in respect to man. The purification removes this element of disorder and changes God's wrath against man in heaven (designed to be the place of God's revealing His grace to men and angels) into a smile of reconciliation. Compare "peace in heaven" (Luke 19:38). "The uncreated heaven of God, though in itself untroubled light, yet needed a purification in so far as the light of love was obscured by the fire of wrath against sinful man" [DELITZSCH in ALFORD]. Contrast Revelation 12:7-10. Christ's atonement had the effect also of casting Satan out of heaven (Luke 10:18; John 12:31, compare Hebrews 2:14). Christ's body, the true tabernacle (see on Hebrews 8:2; Hebrews 9:11), as bearing our imputed sin (II Corinthians 5:21), was consecrated (John 17:17, John 17:19) and purified by the shedding of His blood to be the meeting place of God and man.
sacrifices—The plural is used in expressing the general proposition, though strictly referring to the one sacrifice of Christ once for all. Paul implies that His one sacrifice, by its matchless excellency, is equivalent to the Levitical many sacrifices. It, though but one, is manifold in its effects and applicability to many.
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Hebrews 9:23:
Micah 6:8
Hebrews 3:5
Hebrews 9:10
Hebrews 9:12
Hebrews 9:14
Hebrews 9:19
Hebrews 9:24
Revelation 21:3
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