Hebrews 9:26

Hebrews 9:26 Meaning and Explanation

For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

King James Version (KJV)

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Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer repeatedly through the ages; instead he appeared once, at the climax of history, to put away sin by sacrificing himself.

What Does Hebrews 9:26 Mean?

The writer reasons it out. If Christ's offering needed repeating like the old sacrifices, he would have had to suffer over and over since the world began, an unthinkable thought. But that is not the case. Now, at the climax of the ages, he has appeared one time to deal with sin, putting it away by the sacrifice of himself.

Here the whole argument crests in a single radiant sentence. Christ's death was not one event among many; it was the decisive moment of history, the once-for-all sacrifice that puts away sin at its root. He gave himself, and that giving was enough. The repetition of the old altars gives way to the finished work of the cross, and the long story of sacrifice reaches its appointed end in him.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hebrews 9:26

What does Hebrews 9:26 mean?

Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer repeatedly through the ages; instead he appeared once, at the climax of history, to put away sin by sacrificing himself.

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