Hebrews 8

Intro

The writer continues here in Chapter 8 with a summation. In verse one he uses a Greek word kephalion which means this is the principal thing, the main thing, we might say “this is the point”.

So lets begin with the question: what is the main point? Why do we study the Bible, go to Church, and all the other things?

The answer, the principal thing is Jesus. It’s all about Him.

Let’s read vs 1- 13

1 Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.

In these first verses I like how the NKJV say it: “We have such a High Priest”. We like to say of a child, he is such a good student or whatever the case may be. The main point is that Jesus Christ is unlike any other High Priest or better no other is like Him.

The writer says, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, the word for seated means to sit down but carries with it the idea of being “set in place”. The idea being that Jesus’ work is finished.

It is also interesting to note that He is seated in the true tabernacle in heaven, built by God. In Chapter 9 we will go into more detail on the earthly tabernacle but we are told the one built by Moses was a copy of the one in heaven. But notice, in light of what we are reading something is missing? There is no seat in the Holy of Holies. The High Priests always stood while they ministered.

3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. 4 For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; 5 who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”

The writer continues his comparison pointing out the duties of the HP. Which are? To offer gifts and sacrifices. So then Jesus, he argues also must have something to offer.

Why does he say, For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest,? He was from the wrong tribe. Courson says, “only one tribe can serve as priest and it is the”501’s”. Because it all about your jeans..”

The Jews were very proud of the Temple, with all its majesty and beauty, but it was only a shadow of the real.

We also must be careful to not get enamored with the shadows in this life.

What are some “shadows” we can get wrapped up in? Our physical body, a house, a church building..

“See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” is from

This idea of accurately representing God is emphasized throughout the whole Bible.

Moses striking the Rock twice.

Prophets were to be 100% accurate.

Warning of stricter judgement to teachers in

Shame follows not “rightly dividing the Word”

6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.

The writer continues the point stressing that not only is Jesus Christ a superior HP but a mediator of a better covenant.

It would help us to recall who he is speaking too here, discouraged Jewish Believers in the first century who were considering throw in the towel.

A New Covenant

7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. 8 Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— 9 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the LORD. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 11 None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds[fn] I will remember no more.”[fn]

13 In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

The writer begins this section reminding his audience that this concept of a new covenant was not something Christians had made up but that it was God’s idea and was mentioned several times in the OT.

Here he is quoting from Jer 31:31-34

So how is the new covenant different and better than than the old one based on this passage from Jeremiah?

Basically, He says the Jews were not able to keep their end of the agreement. So in the Old it was a bilateral covenant with performance requirements on both parties. Israel did not keep theirs, and its says, He (God) disregarded them.

The Old was a religious and external covenant.

The new Covenant is an internal one, one of the heart, where God writes His Will in their hearts and mind.

How has God accomplished this? He has put His Holy Spirit in our hearts. So if we are walking in the Spirit God is directing us all the time. He speaks to our mind and impresses us with His will. All we have to do is obey.

What if we do not sense His specific direction on something? God has given us free will to choose what seems best, except to not sin.

Other times we may need to wait on Him for specific direction but He makes us aware of that also.

Share about a time when God specifically impressed you to do something?

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Differences Between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant

Differences Between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant

1. They were instituted at different times.

· The Old Covenant around 1446 b.c.· The New Covenant around a.d. 33

2. They were instituted at different places.

· The Old Covenant at Mount Sinai.· The New Covenant at Mount Zion.

3. They were spoken in different ways.

· The Old Covenant was thundered with fear and dread at Mount Sinai ().· Jesus Christ, God the Son, declared the New Covenant with love and grace.

4. They have different mediators.

· Moses mediated the Old Covenant.· Jesus is the mediator of the New Covenant.

5. They are different in their subject matter.

· The Old Covenant demanded a covenant of works.· The New Covenant fulfills the covenant of works through the completed work of Jesus.

6. They are different in how they were dedicated.

· The Old Covenant was dedicated with the blood of animals sprinkled on the people ().· The New Covenant was dedicated with Jesus’ blood (signifying His sacrificial death) spiritually applied to His people.

7. They are different in their priests.

· The Old Covenant is represented by the priesthood of the Law of Moses and high priests descended from Aaron.· The New Covenant has a priesthood of all believers and a High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

8. They are different in their sacrifices.

· The Old Covenant demanded endless repetition of imperfect sacrifices.· The New Covenant provides a once and for all, perfect sacrifice of the Son of God Himself.

9. They are different in how and where they were written.

· The Old Covenant was written by God on tablets of stone.· The New Covenant is written by God on the hearts of His people.

10. They are different in their goals.

· The goal of the Old Covenant was to discover sin, to condemn it, and to set a “fence” around it.· The goal of the New Covenant is to declare the love, grace, and mercy of God, and to give repentance, remission of sin, and eternal life.

11. They are different in their practical effect on living.

· The Old Covenant ends in bondage (through no fault of its own).· The New Covenant provides true liberty.

12. They are different in their giving of the Holy Spirit.

· Under the Old Covenant the Holy Spirit was given to certain people for certain specific duties.· Under the New Covenant the Holy Spirit is poured out freely on all who will receive Him by faith.

13. They are different in their idea of the Kingdom of God.

· Under the Old Covenant, the Kingdom of God is mainly seen as the supreme rule of Israel over the nations.· Under the New Covenant, the Kingdom of God is both a present spiritual reality and a coming literal fact.

14. They are different in their substance.

· The Old Covenant has vivid shadows.· The New Covenant has the reality.

15. They are different in the extent of their administration.

· The Old Covenant was confined to the descendants of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob according to the flesh.· The New Covenant is extended to all nations and races under heaven.

16. They are different in what they actually accomplish.

· The Old Covenant made nothing perfect.· The New Covenant can and will bring in the perfection of God’s people.

17. They are different in their duration.

· The Old Covenant was designed to prepare the way for the New Covenant and then pass away as a principle of God’s dealing with men.· The New Covenant was designed to last forever