The Death of the Testator Hebrews 9:16

The writer of Hebrews declared Jesus to be “the mediator of the new testament” who through His “death” was able to give “they which are called” “the promise of eternal inheritance”. In chapter nine and verse sixteen of Hebrews, the writer shares how whenever there is a “testament”, “there must be” “the death of the testator” where we read:

For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

The verse begins, “For where a testament is,...”. The writer began with the word, “For” which means “even as, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, verily and therefore” “where a testament is” or “wheresoever there is a disposition, arrangement, compact or covenant”. The writer refers to a time when there is an “arrangement or covenant” in place.

The verse continues, “...there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.” The writer continued with the words, “there must also of necessity” which means “need imposed either by the circumstances or by law of duty regarding to one's advantage, custom or argument” “be the death” or “that separation (whether natural or violent) of the soul and the body by which the life on earth is ended” “of the testator” which means “the one who disposes of by will, makes a covenant or appointment”. There must be one who “dies” to enforce and release the “testament” or “will”.

When we think through these words in Hebrews, we see when a “testament” or “will” is opened or released, there was first commenced a “death”. Jesus Christ “died” for our sins and thereby “released” the “new testament” or “covenant” of God. Now we have access to the throne of God through Jesus Christ's sacrifice for our sins, and the “new testament” holds the promise of “eternal life” for all who “trust in, rely upon and cling to” Him.

Next time the writer shares how “a testament is of force after men are dead”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.