9:10

various ceremonial washings: Lit., “various baptisms.” This expression refers to washings required by the Mosaic Law. For example, if a person had become ceremonially unclean for any reason, he had to cleanse himself before he was allowed to participate in formal acts of worship. In many cases, to become ceremonially clean, such a person had to be sprinkled with water prepared by the priests, water that contained the ashes of a heifer. Then he had to wash his garments and bathe. (Le 14:2, 8-11; 15:1, 5, 13, 14, 31; Nu 19:9, 13; see study notes on Heb 9:13; 10:22.) Priests, too, were required to bathe, and “the things used for the burnt offering,” such as various parts of the animals, were rinsed in water. (2Ch 4:6; Ex 29:4; 30:17-21; Le 1:13; 16:4) Even a utensil had to be immersed in water if it became ceremonially unclean. (Le 11:32) Such requirements “were imposed” to prevent the people from defiling Jehovah’s sanctuary and to remind them of their sinful state before him.​—Nu 19:20.

the appointed time to set things straight: This phrase refers to the time that began when “Christ came as a high priest” to carry out his God-given work on earth, maintaining perfect obedience and giving up his life as a sacrifice. (Heb 9:11 and study note, 12) Jesus “set things straight” by fulfilling the Mosaic Law covenant and establishing a “better covenant” in its place. (Heb 8:6 and study note) That new covenant made real forgiveness of sins available to Christ’s followers. Because Jesus fully carried out his Father’s will, features of the Mosaic Law, such as those Paul mentions in this verse, were no longer valid. (See study note on Heb 8:13.) Lovingly, Jehovah gave Jewish Christians ample time to adjust to the new arrangement.​—Ac 15:1-29; Ro 14:1-23.