Albert Barnes Commentary Hebrews 9:22

"And according to the law, I may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission." — Hebrews 9:22 (ASV)

And almost all things. It is a general custom to purify everything by blood. This rule was not universal, for some things were purified by fire and water (Numbers 31:22–23), and some by water only (Numbers 31:24; Leviticus 16:26, 28).

But the exceptions to the general rule were few. Almost everything in the tabernacle and temple service was consecrated or purified by blood.

And without shedding of blood is no remission. Remission or forgiveness of sins. That is, though some things were purified by fire and water, yet when the matter pertained to the forgiveness of sins, it was universally true that no sins were pardoned except by the shedding of blood. Some impurities might be removed by water and fire, but the stain of sin could be removed only by blood.

This declaration referred, in its primary meaning, to the Jewish rites; and the sense is, that under that dispensation it was universally true that in order to the forgiveness of sin blood must be shed. But it contains a truth of higher order and importance still. It is universally true that sin never has been, and never will be forgiven, except in connection with and by virtue of the shedding of blood.

It is on this principle that the plan of salvation by the atonement is based, and on this that God in fact bestows pardon on men. There is not the slightest evidence that any man has ever been pardoned except through the blood shed for the remission of sins.

The unbeliever who rejects the atonement has no evidence that his sins are pardoned; the man who lives in neglect of the gospel, though he has abundant evidence that he is a sinner, furnishes no evidence that his sins are forgiven; and the Muslim and the pagan can point to no proof that their sins are blotted out.

It remains to be demonstrated that one single member of the human family has ever had the slightest evidence of pardoned sin, except through the blood of expiation. In the Divine arrangement there is no principle better established than this, that all sin which is forgiven is remitted through the blood of the atonement; a principle which has never been departed from until now, and which never will be. It follows, therefore,

1. that no sinner can hope for forgiveness except through the blood of Christ;
2. that if men are ever saved they must be willing to rely on the merits of that blood;
3. that all men are on a level in regard to salvation, since all are to be saved in the same way; and
4. that there will be one and the same song in heaven—the song of redeeming love.