John Calvin Commentary Hebrews 9:26

"else must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once at the end of the ages hath he been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." — Hebrews 9:26 (ASV)

For then must he often have suffered, etc. He shows how great an absurdity follows if we do not count it enough that an expiation has been made by the one sacrifice of Christ. For from this he concludes that he must have died often, for death is connected with sacrifices.

Because this latter supposition is most unreasonable, it then follows that the virtue of the one sacrifice is eternal and extends to all ages. And he says, since the foundation of the world, or from the beginning of the world; for in all ages from the beginning, there were sins which needed expiation. Unless, then, the sacrifice of Christ was efficacious, none of the fathers would have obtained salvation. For as they were exposed to God’s wrath, a remedy for deliverance would have failed them, if Christ, by suffering once, had not suffered as much as was necessary to reconcile men to God from the beginning of the world even to the end. Unless, then, we look for many deaths, we must be satisfied with the one true sacrifice.

And from this it is evident how frivolous is the distinction, in whose acuteness the Papists take so much delight. For they say that the sacrifice of Christ on the cross was bloody, but that the sacrifice of the mass, which they pretend to offer daily to God, is unbloody. If this subtle evasion were adopted, then the Spirit of God would be accused of inadvertence, for not having thought of such a thing; for the Apostle assumes it here as an admitted truth that there is no sacrifice without death.

I care nothing that ancient writers have spoken this way, for it is not in man's power to invent sacrifices as they please. Here stands a truth declared by the Holy Spirit: that sins are not expiated by a sacrifice unless blood is shed. Therefore, the notion that Christ is often offered is a device of the devil.

But now once in the end of the world, etc. He calls that the end of the world, or the consummation of the ages, which Paul calls the fullness of time (Galatians 4:4). For it was the maturity of that time which God had determined in his eternal purpose. And thus, every occasion for human curiosity is cut off, so that people may not dare to inquire why it was not sooner, or why in that age rather than in another.

For we ought to acquiesce in God’s secret purpose, the reason for which appears clear to him, though it may not be evident to us. In short, the Apostle intimates that Christ’s death was at the proper time, as he was sent into the world for this purpose by the Father, in whose power lies the lawful right to regulate all things as well as time, and who ordains their succession with consummate wisdom, though often hidden from us.

This consummation is also set in opposition to the imperfection of past time. For God so held his ancient people in suspense that it could have been easily concluded that things had not yet reached a fixed state. Hence Paul declares that the end of the ages had come upon us (1 Corinthians 10:11), by which he means that the kingdom of Christ contained the accomplishment of all things.

But since it was the fullness of time when Christ appeared to expiate sins, they are guilty of offering him an atrocious insult, who seek to renew his sacrifice, as though all things were not completed by his death. He then appeared once for all; for if he had done so once or twice, there must have been something defective in the first oblation, but this is inconsistent with fullness.

To put away, or to destroy sin, etc. This agrees with Daniel’s prophecy, in which the sealing up and the abolition of sins are promised, and in which it is also declared that there would be an end to sacrifices (Daniel 9:24–27). For to what purpose are expiations when sins are destroyed? But this destruction is effected only when sins are not imputed to those who flee to the sacrifice of Christ. For though pardon is to be sought daily, as we daily provoke God’s wrath, yet since we are reconciled to God in no other way than by the one death of Christ, sin is rightly said to be put away or destroyed by it.