Hebrews 9:23

9:23 So it was necessary for the sketches 1  of the things in heaven to be purified with these sacrifices, 2  but the heavenly things themselves required 3  better sacrifices than these.

Hebrews 11:26

11:26 He regarded abuse suffered for Christ 4  to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for his eyes were fixed on 5  the reward.

Hebrews 12:24

12:24 and to Jesus, the mediator 6  of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks of something better than Abel’s does. 7 

1 tn Or “prototypes,” “outlines,” referring to the earthly sanctuary. See Heb 8:5 above for the prior use of this term.

2 tn Grk “with these”; in the translation the referent (sacrifices) has been specified for clarity.

3 tn Grk “the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.”

4 tn Grk “the abuse [or ‘reproach’] of Christ.”

5 tn Grk “he was looking away to.”

6 tn The Greek word μεσίτης (mesith", “mediator”) in this context does not imply that Jesus was a mediator in the contemporary sense of the word, i.e., he worked for compromise between opposing parties. Here the term describes his function as the one who was used by God to enact a new covenant which established a new relationship between God and his people, but entirely on God’s terms.

7 sn Abel’s shed blood cried out to the Lord for justice and judgment, but Jesus’ blood speaks of redemption and forgiveness, something better than Abel’s does (Gen 4:10; Heb 9:11-14; 11:4).