Hebrews 9:24-28 should be understood within the context formed by 8:1-9:28 which illustrates the superiority of Christ's priesthood in terms ot its worship, sanctuary and the covenant it mediates. The author does this through a chiastic structure as shown below:
The argument of this section is that the institutions through Moses -- the temple, the covenant, the institutions of worship -- were all foreshadows of the things that were instituted through Christ. This is an idea that is based on an exposition already made on the superiority of Christ over Moses as the Son over that of the Servant in th Household of God (cf. 3:1-6) and of the excellence of the priesthood of Melchizedek over that of the priesthood of Aaron (cf. 6:11-28).
Given the context, it is easy to understand the following affirmations in 9:24-28
(a) Christ has entered the true sanctuary, heaven itself, to appear before the presence of God (v.24)
(b) He has appeared to offer his sacrifice not repeatedly but once and for all (vv. 25-26)
(c) When he appears again, it would be to save those who eagerly wait for him (vv. 27-28)
Christ has entered the true sanctuary
In 4:14-16, the author has mentioned the passing of Jesus, the High Priest and Son of God, through the heavens as the basis for the Christian's boldness in approaching God's throne of mercy and grace. Here, the idea is strengthened with the affirmation that Heaven is the true sanctuary to which the tabernacle of the Desert Wanderings and the Holy of Holies of the Jerusalem Temple all pointed to. These latter were just shadows that pointed to the sanctuary that Jesus entered which is the presence of God Himself (8:2). This "real" presence before God makes his intercessions truly effective and his identification with those he calls "brothers" -- having been tempted like them but without sin -- makes his intercessions truly "on their behalf." (cf. Heb. 4:15;7:24).
Offered His Sacrifice Once and For All
Unlike the priests of the Old Covenant who had to offer sacrifices with the blood of animals first for themselves and then for the people every year during the Day of Atonement, Jesus Christ the High Priest does it differently. First, his sacrifice of his own blood, made once and for all, he makes present before God in the true sanctuary. The excellence of this sacrifice done out of obedience and once-for-all (cf. 10:1-18) is the source of forgiveness of sins (Heb. 9:25-26). He does not offer it for himself first, since he is sinless (cf. 7:27), but the sacrifice has been offered wholly for the sake of all.
Christ will appear again to save
The last idea we have in 9:27-28 is further explained in 10:19-39 by the admonition of the author to persevere and not to fall back. Jesus has appeared once before when he offered his sacrifice on the cross, "bearing the sins of many". When he appears again, it is to save those who have been waiting for his second coming. Since Jesus now appears before God in the true sanctuary presenting before Him the sacrifice he has offered once and for all, Christians can be confident in the promises of the Lord and be patient even the sufferings they endure as they await His return (cf. 10:22.35.39).
In the Catechism
| Hebrews | Catechism |
| 9:24 |
519. All Christ's riches "are for every individual and are everybody's property." Christ did not live his life for himself but for us, from his Incarnation "for us men and for our salvation" to his death "for our sins" and Resurrection "for our justification". He is still "our advocate with the Father", who "always lives to make intercession" for us. He remains ever "in the presence of God on our behalf, bringing before him all that he lived and suffered for us." 662."And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." The lifting up of Jesus on the cross signifies and announces his lifting up by his Ascension into heaven, and indeed begins it. Jesus Christ, the one priest of the new and eternal Covenant, "entered, not into a sanctuary made by human hands. . . but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf." There Christ permanently exercises his priesthood, for he "always lives to make intercession" for "those who draw near to God through him". As "high priest of the good things to come" he is the center and the principal actor of the liturgy that honors the Father in heaven. 2741. Jesus also prays for us - in our place and on our behalf. All our petitions were gathered up, once for all, in his cry on the Cross and, in his Resurrection, heard by the Father. This is why he never ceases to intercede for us with the Father. If our prayer is resolutely united with that of Jesus, in trust and boldness as children, we obtain all that we ask in his name, even more than any particular thing: the Holy Spirit himself, who contains all gifts.
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| 9:25 | 662 see above |
| 9:26 | 571The Paschal mystery of Christ's cross and Resurrection stands at the center of the Good News that the apostles, and the Church following them, are to proclaim to the world. God's saving plan was accomplished "once for all" by the redemptive death of his Son Jesus Christ. |
| 9:27 |
1013 Death is the end of man's earthly pilgrimage, of the time of grace and mercy which God offers him so as to work out his earthly life in keeping with the divine plan, and to decide his ultimate destiny. When "the single course of our earthly life" is completed, we shall not return to other earthly lives: "It is appointed for men to die once." There is no "reincarnation" after death. 1021 Death puts an end to human life as the time open to either accepting or rejecting the divine grace manifested in Christ. The New Testament speaks of judgment primarily in its aspect of the final encounter with Christ in his second coming, but also repeatedly affirms that each will be rewarded immediately after death in accordance with his works and faith. The parable of the poor man Lazarus and the words of Christ on the cross to the good thief, as well as other New Testament texts speak of a final destiny of the soul -- a destiny which can be different for some and for others.
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