Matthew Henry Commentary Hebrews 9:15-22

"And for this cause he is the mediator of a new covenant, that a death having taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, they that have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him that made it. For a testament is of force where there hath been death: for it doth never avail while he that made it liveth. 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 9:15-22 (ASV)

The solemn transactions between God and humankind are sometimes called a covenant; in this specific context, it is a testament. A testament is a person's voluntary act, bestowing legacies on the individuals described, and it only takes effect upon that person's death.

Thus, Christ died not only to obtain the blessings of salvation for us but also to give effect to their distribution.

Through sin, all people had become guilty before God and had forfeited everything good. But God, willing to show the greatness of His mercy, proclaimed a covenant of grace.

For a sinner, nothing could be clean, not even their religious duties, unless their guilt was removed by the death of a sacrifice of sufficient value for that purpose, and unless they continually depended upon it.

May we ascribe all real good works to the same originating cause, and offer our spiritual sacrifices, sprinkled with Christ's blood and thus purified from their defilement.