Hebrews 12:24 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Hebrews 12:24

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Some people going back across the centuries have thought that the blood of Abel refers to the blood of Abel’s sacrifice. Abel made a sacrifice, but it was only a symbol, a token. He did not believe that the animal he sacrificed could take away sin. God taught him that it was a picture of a coming Messiah, whereas Christ when he came offered up his own blood, as the perfect sacrifice, which actually has efficacy. That is one view, but the much more popular view in Reformed comment, and I think the correct view, is that ‘the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel’ is Abel’s own blood, which was shed when he was murdered by his brother Cain. This was the first murder; indeed it was the first death recorded in the Bible. How does the blood of Christ speak much better things than Abel’s blood? The word ‘speaketh’ refers to what God said to Cain: ‘What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground’ (Genesis 4:10). The blood of Abel cries or speaks to God from the ground. It speaks of the need for God to avenge the terrible act of murder. It was not so much that Abel’s heart would have cried for vengeance, but that his blood that stained the ground cried out to God for judgement upon the murderer, for condemnation on the perpetrator. By contrast, the blood of Christ calls for mercy; it secures mercy and pardon and forgiveness for billions. Abel’s blood called down judgement upon one person; Christ's blood produces mercy for a host which no man can number. The blood of the Old Testament sacrifices was sprinkled on the furniture of the tabernacle; the blood of Christ is sprinkled on human consciences and convinces them that God has forgiven them their sin. This is the only way that they can be persuaded to stop accusing us.

Application

Questions

How is it that blood of Abel and of Christ have such different effects, such vastly different results? This is a very telling comparison. Both deaths came about by an act of murder. There was no less guilt involved in the shedding of Christ’s blood than of Abel’s, in fact, there was far, far more. Abel was a comparatively righteous man, a man of faith, and he was hated by his brother just because of this. But Christ was the Son of God, who fulfilled all that the prophets had foretold, and demonstrated his divinity to all the people by signs and wonders, who conducted himself perfectly before all men so that no one could accuse him of sin; his life left his enemies without excuse. Abel was killed in secret as act of personal hatred; Christ was killed publicly following a mock trial carried out by hypocrites who sought to coerce the law to fulfil their evil purpose. They hated him no less than Cain hated Abel. Abel’s life was taken from him unwillingly; Christ laid down his life for his sheep, and he took it up again by rising from the dead. How could the blood of the Messiah cry out any the less for justice from God? The difference is that Abel died as a private individual, whose blood God chose to avenge, but Christ died as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Infinite grace was at work in the death of Jesus Christ, and he was suffering the eternal punishment of the sins of all the elect. Those who put him to death certainly hated him, but many knew not what they were doing; they did not understand who he was. On the Day of Pentecost and at the Beautiful Gate, some understood for the first time by the preaching of Peter that they had killed the Prince of life, but his blood had already paid the price for their sins and they could be forgiven.

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Hebrews 12:24 Commentary and Bible Study