Charles Spurgeon Commentary Hebrews 9:18-22

"Wherefore even the first [covenant] hath not been dedicated without blood. For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses unto all the people according to the law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded to you-ward. Moreover the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry he sprinkled in like manner with the blood. 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 9:18-22 (ASV)

Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Under the law, some things were purified by fire or by water, but "almost all things" were "purged with blood;" and there was and still is, no remission of sin "without shedding of blood."

Therefore, neither was the first testament dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, saying, This is the blood of the testament which God has enjoined to you. Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission (Hebrews 9:18–22).

There is no truth plainer than this in the whole of the Old Testament, and it must have within it a very weighty lesson for our souls. There are some who cannot endure the doctrine of a substitutionary atonement. Let them beware lest they cast away the very soul and essence of the gospel. It is evident that the sacrifice of Christ was intended to give ease to the conscience, for we read that the blood of bulls and of goats could not do that. I fail to see how any doctrine of atonement, except the doctrine of the vicarious sacrifice of Christ, can give ease to the guilty conscience.

Christ in my place, suffering the penalty of my sin—that pacifies my conscience, but nothing else does: Without shedding of blood is no remission.