Study in the Book of Hebrews: Hebrews 8:1-13

In this chapter, the author brings to the fore-front the superior position of the priesthood of Christ due to his heavenly ministry. Also, he makes the case that the new covenant under Jesus’ ministry renders the old covenant obsolete.

What are some things that we used everyday, but have now become obsolete.

Likewise, the old covenant was comfortable to the Jews. They interacted with it on an on-going basis; however, they need to realize that the new covenant in Jesus’ blood has rendered the old covenant obsolete.

1. The Main Point of the Discussion ()

These two verses serve as an important transition. They move the discussion forward. He summarizes the whole argument he was making by saying, “we have this kind of high priest.” In other words, the type of priest he has described in the rest of his argument is the type of priest we have in the person of Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 8:1–2 CSB

1 Now the main point of what is being said is this: We have this kind of high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a minister of the sanctuary and the true tabernacle that was set up by the Lord and not man.

A. Our high priest’s work is finished, once for all. ()

He sat down. Nothing more needs to be done. No more sacrifices to be made. It is finished.

B. Our high priest ministers from the heavenly realm. ()

C. Our high priest’s ministry was done in a heavenly tabernacle set up by God and not by man. ()

2. Jesus is the superior high priest. ()

A. The offering Jesus made in the heavenly tabernacle is superior to earthly offerings. ()

Hebrews 8:3–4 CSB

3 For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; therefore, it was necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. 4 Now if he were on earth, he wouldn’t be a priest, since there are those offering the gifts prescribed by the law.

B. Jesus made his offering in a superior location. ()

Hebrews 8:5 CSB

5 These serve as a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was warned when he was about to complete the tabernacle. For God said, Be careful that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain.

This reminds me of Plato’s world of forms. Plato's Theory of Forms asserts that the physical realm is only a shadow, or image, of the true reality of the Realm of Forms. So what are these Forms, according to Plato? The Forms are abstract, perfect, unchanging concepts or ideals that transcend time and space; they exist in the Realm of Forms. It feels like that is what the author is saying. The earthly tabernacle build under the supervision of Moses was a pattern or a form of the real one which existed in heaven. Jesus didn’t offer a sacrifice in the earthly temple or tabernacle, but rather, he offered it in the heaven tabernacle.

C. Therefore, Jesus has a superior ministry of a better covenant established on better promises. ()

Hebrews 8:6 CSB

6 But Jesus has now obtained a superior ministry, and to that degree he is the mediator of a better covenant, which has been established on better promises.

3. The superiority of the new covenant ()

The author focuses on the inadequacy of the old covenant, which echo what Jeremiah wrote about in . His logic is simple. Because we have a new covenant, there must have been something wrong with the old covenant.

A. The old covenant had flaws which necessitated a new covenant. ()

Hebrews 8:7 CSB

7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second one.

The word the author used which is translated “faultless” means “blameless” or “nothing wrong”. The first covenant came up short. It missed the mark. It was unable to deliver the fullness of a relationship with God that he wanted to have with humanity. It is not that God’s plan was bad. It is that people are the problem.

B. The problem with the old covenant stems from the faults of people. ()

Hebrews 8:8 CSB

8 But finding fault with his people, he says: See, 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—

The old covenant was defective because of the sinful nature of people. The next few verses quote from

Hebrews 8:8–12 CSB

8 But finding fault with his people, he says: See, 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 like the covenant that I made with their ancestors on the day I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt. I showed no concern for them, says the Lord, because they did not continue in my covenant. 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 into their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 11 And each person will not teach his fellow citizen, and each his brother or sister, saying, “Know the Lord,” because they will all know me, from the least to the greatest of them. 12 For I will forgive their wrongdoing, and I will never again remember their sins.

There are three parts to this quote.

a. The Lord promised a time when he would make a new covenant with his people.

b. The new covenant would not be like the Sinai covenant.

The reason for the change is clear. God’s people did not remain faithful to obey what they said they would obey.

c. The new covenant would be written on their hearts.

The relationship between God and his people would be firmly established.

Everyone that is part of the covenant will personally know God.

God will forgive their sins.

The emphasis is on the relational aspects of the covenant and the internal qualities of the covenant. The new covenant makes and establishes a personal relationship with God. The laws of God are internalized and the forgiveness of sin is obtained.

C. Because we have a new covenant, the old covenant is “obsolete”. ()

Hebrews 8:13 CSB

13 By saying a new covenant, he has declared that the first is obsolete. And what is obsolete and growing old is about to pass away.

Since God gave a new covenant, the old covenant has lost its usefulness. It is obsolete. The old covenant and the new covenant do not co-exist. The complete demise of the old covenant has come. Some people might use obsolete things for a time, but they are only doing so because of their stubbornness and there unwillingness to have something better.

4. What is the New Covenant?

A. It is grounded in Judaism ()

You cannot unhitch the New Testament from the Old Testament anymore than you can have an oak tree without roots. If you are going to understand Christianity, you must understand the Jewish roots.

B. It is about the internalization, not just the external practice of religion. ()

God’s laws are now written on our hearts and minds. It is transformative.

C. It is about relationship with God, not merely doing the right things. ()

D. It is about the forgiveness of sins. ()

This forms the basis of the new covenant. Our sins are completely forgiven, not just covered.

5. Possible Misconceptions about the implications of the new covenant

A. Christianity is a rejection of the Jewish people.

TRUTH: Christianity is not about the rejection of the Jewish people.

It is because of this misconception about the new covenant that gave rise to anti-Semitism. Christians grew in contempt for the Jewish people because of their rejection of the new covenant. It is an ugly reality that many of the perpetrators of the Holocaust used Christianity as a justification for the eradication of the Jewish people. The New Covenant is not anti-Jewish. The founder of the new covenant was a Jewish man. All the apostles were Jewish. Except for Luke, all of the authors of the NT, the new covenant, were Jewish. God gave the new covenant to the Jewish people first before extending it to the Gentiles. Christianity is not a Gentile religion. It is a Jewish religion that grafted in Gentiles. It is impossible to be anti-Semitic and be a true Christian. We must rejects all forms of anti-Semitism and language that can be understood as anti-Semitic. It is no wonder that godless anti-Semitism is on the rise. Reject any person or religion that allows for the hatred of the Jews. Some of you might not like this, but I am not the one saying it. The PM of Israel has said that our President is the most friendly President he has ever seen towards the Jewish people. He said that Israel has never had a better friend than President Trump. I think that is significant. Mean while, we have several members of Congress who has made openly anti-Semitic statement. Watch out for things like that.

B. The New Covenant minimizes the external practices of the faith.

TRUTH: The New Covenant does not mean that Christians need not give attention to external practices such as morality, kindness, and church attendance.

Some have thought, “Well, if God writes the new covenant on my heart, then I can just follow my heart.” This is a gross misunderstanding of the operation of the new covenant and the writers of the New Testament repeatedly warned of this error in thinking.

C. The New Covenant implies that it doesn’t matter if a Christian sins or not.

TRUTH: The New Covenant neither implies that true Christians cease from sin completely nor provides us with a license to sin.

Coming up in , the writer says:

Hebrews 12:1 CSB

1 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,