William Burkitt on Hebrews 9:13

The Apostle had asserted, in the former verse, That eternal redemption was the fruit of Christ's sacrifice; he proves it in these, and that by an argument drawn from the less to the greater: Thus, "If," says he, "the blood of bulls and goats, and the water that was mixed with the ashes of the burnt heifer, (or red cow, mentioned, Num 19:1-22) purified from ceremonial uncleanness, and procured the external sanctification of the flesh, or outward man; how much more shall the blood of Christ, who by the eternal spirit, (that is, Godhead, his divine nature) offered up himself, his whole man, soul, and body, a sacrifice, without spot, to God the Father, be able to purge our consciences from all spiritual impurity and uncleaness of sin, (that dead, because deadly work), and render us fit to serve the living God in an holy course of christian obedience?

Note here, 1. That Christ's offering himself to God was a special act, as High Priest of the church, wherein he gave up himself in a way of most profound obedience, to do and to suffer whatever the justice of God required unto the expiation of sin, even to the shedding of his blood.

Note, 2. That Christ's Godhead it was, which rendered the suffering of his manhood infinitely meritorious; or that Christ's blood was effectual, not simply, as it was material blood, but as offered by the eternal spirit; his blood, though not the blood of God, yet was the blood of him that was God.

Note, 3. That the purging of our consciences from dead works is and immediated effect of the death of Christ, and a benefit which, upon our faith and obedience, we are made partakers of.

Note, 4. That the best works of men, antecedently unto the purging of their consciences by the blood of Crist, are but dead works, unsuitable to the nature of the living God.

Lord help us to remember, that when we come to hear, to pray, or perform any act of worship, that we are doing it to the living God.

O how improper for, and unsuitable to, a living God, are dead services wihout life, wihout heart, without spirit!