Hebrews 9:13

13. For An argument in these two verses for the divine efficiency of the atonement, drawn from three comparative points; thus 1. The blood of animals the blood of Christ. 2. The purifying of the flesh the purifying of the conscience. 3. Through animal life through eternal Spirit. If Not implying a doubt, but assuming a fundamental certainty as basis of the momentous inference.

Ashes of a heifer Numbers 19:2-6. Under Jewish law a corpse, as a memento of death and sin, was unclean; and its contact rendered a man unclean, excluding him from the congregation of Israel until purified. A red heifer red as the ruddy colour of life was burned, and its ashes, mixed with water, were reserved as a purifier to be sprinkled on every person who was unclean by the death-touch. The solemn awe of sin and death was impressed by several additional points. The heifer was burned without the camp. All the persons performing the rite were unclean until evening, and not only the unclean man, but the tent in which was the corpse, must be purified by the ashes and water. In all this was impressed upon Israel the divine antithesis of God, purity, and life, on one side, and Satan, sin, and death, on the other.

Purifying of the flesh Producing a typical purity, and deriving all the power for that from the antitype it represented. Hence, even though it made the conscience quiet, it received not that benefit from the mere material character of the substances used in the rite.