Looking At The “Sprinkling Of The Heart”
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles Tags: Bulletin Articles on the Heart
In the context of Hebrews 10:22, reference is made first to the offering for sin “once for all” by Jesus who is our High Priest (Hebrews 10:10; Hebrews 3:1; Hebrews 4:14-15). His sacrifice stands opposed to animal sacrifices which had to be offered yearly (Hebrews 10:3). God had before spoken of the “new covenant” where sins would be remembered no more (Hebrews 8:8; Hebrews 8:10-12; Hebrews 10:15-18; cf. Jeremiah 31:31-34). As God’s people, we can now come boldly before the throne of grace to ask forgiveness (Hebrews 10:19-21; cf. Hebrews 4:16).
The Recipients Of God’s Blessing
Note that the recipients of this letter are addressed in Hebrews 10:19, as “brethren.” There is, as brothers and sisters in Christ, a common identity of a common accessibility to God’s mercy in forgiveness made by “his flesh,” (Hebrews 10:20 — flesh made the sacrifice possible — Hebrews 10:8-12).
As “brethren,” we are to continue to draw near, as the High Priest could draw near to God’s presence in the “Most Holy” place (Hebrews 9:7; cf. Exodus 30:1-19) in full assurance of faith (truly trusting – cf. James 1:6) with a “true heart” (a genuine heart). Something happened to us — the text reads, “having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience” (Hebrews 10:22b). And that requires of us that we hold fast the confession of our hope, unyieldingly (“without wavering” – Hebrews 10:23 ESV).
The “Sprinkling Of The Heart”
The “sprinkling of the heart” (Hebrews 10:22), is a figure that alludes to the O.T. practice of purification by sprinkling (cf. Hebrews 9:19; Exodus 29:21; Leviticus 8:30). The heart is “sprinkled” from an evil conscience and the substance for the sprinkling is the blood of Christ (Hebrews 12:24; cf. 1 Peter 1:2; 1 John 1:7).
The conscience is associated with the heart, and relates to our awareness of sin – it becomes evil as we violate law (cf. 1 John 3:4; Acts 24:16; Titus 1:15-16). It is designed to sit in judgment upon our behavior as it compares our behavior with law (cf. John 8:6-9).
The “sprinkling of the heart” is also associated with “bodies washed with pure water.” This is a figure that alludes to the Old Testament purification process (cf. Exodus 19:10; Leviticus 11:23-25; Leviticus 14:1-9; Leviticus 15:5-13; Leviticus 16:26-28; Leviticus 22:1-7; Numbers 19; Numbers 31:22-24).
However, the New Testament speaks of only one kind of washing (John 3:3-5; Acts 8:35-39; Acts 22:16; Ephesians 4:5; Ephesians 5:25-27; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 3:21). In these verses of Scripture, we see that sins are washed away in baptism, but not by any power in the water.
Just as cleansing from defilement took place when Old Testament washings were completed, our cleansing takes place in the mind of God, when we comply with God’s conditions (Acts 2:38; Acts 8:36-44; Acts 22:16; Romans 6:3-4; Gal. 3:27; Colossians 2:12). Peter says that baptism “saves us” because it is “the answer of a good conscience toward God” (1 Peter 3:21).
When we are baptized, we are cleansed from sin (Acts 22:16). In this way, the heart is “sprinkled from an evil conscience” (Hebrews 10:22). What was once evil and defiled, is now cleansed and pure. Only those so cleansed may come boldly before the throne of grace (cf. Hebrews 4:16; Hebrews 10:19).
Conclusion:
It is possible to manipulate the thinking so as not to feel guilty (cf. 1 Timothy 4:1-2; Ephesians 4:19), but God gave us a conscience for a reason — it makes us aware of violating law. For some people, mistake is piled upon mistake and everyone else is to blame – society, parents, schools, etc. This is an attempt to avoid self-condemnation by the conscience. These people are plagued by an evil conscience, but do not know how to come to grips with their real problem – sin.
God remedies the problem of sin, as He offers to all (1 Timothy 2:4; Titus 2:11; 2 Peter 3:9), the cleansing of the heart from an evil conscience, and the right to come boldly into His presence to ask for continued forgiveness and favor through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:10-22; 1 John 1:7-9).
What a wonderful gift and blessing this truly is! (Romans 5:15-19; Ephesians 1:3).