Jesus, The High Priest of a Better Covenant
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
You have probably seen the bumper sticker “Coexist.” (Show slide) We hear a lot about tolerance as well. Although this is a good sentiment, it can not replace the truth of the Gospel.
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
In the age of intellectualism, we must know what we believe.
15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
One of Satan’s tactics is to diminish the all sufficiency of Jesus Christ.
16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. 19 They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. 20 Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
You may not be slipping away but the enemy sometimes uses trials to take our focus off of Christ.
14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.
Tonight we are going to break the text down into 2 sections, we’re going to explain and then apply.
Jesus is the better High Priest who ministers in the true Tabernacle. (Hebrews 8:1-5)
Jesus is the better High Priest who ministers in the true Tabernacle. (Hebrews 8:1-5)
1 Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being. 3 Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer. 4 If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. 5 They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”
The author of Hebrews identifies 2 points to prove this:
1. He’s seated at the right hand of the Throne of the Majesty in Heaven. (8:1)
1. He’s seated at the right hand of the Throne of the Majesty in Heaven. (8:1)
God’s right hand man!
1 The Lord says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”
16 The Lord’s right hand is lifted high; the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!”
The Levitical priests were called by God but weak and imperfect.
28 For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.
The Levitical priests always stood, indicating their work was never complete. But Jesus …
30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
2. He ministers in the true, heavenly Tabernacle. (8:2-5)
2. He ministers in the true, heavenly Tabernacle. (8:2-5)
There’s a number of different interpretations of these verses but the best way to summarize it is this … The true Tabernacle is the presence of God in Heaven.
“Sanctuary” refers to the Holy of Holies. Only the High Priest could enter once a year (Yom Kippur)
Although Jesus is seated at the right hand of God, He is not inactive. He is ministering as a priest.
Jesus is our permanent priest and sacrifice… mediator, interceder, etc… (to give God’s grace).
18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
2 Application
1. Jesus serves in Heaven on our behalf, so let Him serve you!
1. Jesus serves in Heaven on our behalf, so let Him serve you!
Our tendency is to focus on how we should serve Jesus, and there is certainly a place for that (1 Cor. 15:58).
58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
But there is also a place for pausing from our busy activities and allowing Jesus to serve us.
Do you recall Peter’s horrified response when Jesus took the towel and basin and washed the disciples’ feet? He said, “Never shall You wash my feet!” But Jesus countered with, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me” (John 13:8-9).
We have to allow the Lord, through the water of His Word, to wash off the dirt that we pick up from walking in this world. As our high priest, He ministers on our behalf before the throne of the Majesty. Take the time before Him to allow His ministry to cleanse your soul.
2. The heavenly and spiritual is more real than the earthly and visible—keep seeking the things above!
2. The heavenly and spiritual is more real than the earthly and visible—keep seeking the things above!
The author is making the point that the earthly tabernacle was not the real thing. The real tabernacle is in heaven, where Jesus now is seated on our behalf.
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
At the very least this means that we should meditate so often on the things of God that they become more real to us than the things on earth. We can only apprehend the things of God by faith in the truths of His Word.
The second section is this …
Jesus mediates a better Covenant. (Hebrews 8:6-13)
Jesus mediates a better Covenant. (Hebrews 8:6-13)
6 But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises. 7 For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. 8 But God found fault with the people and said: “The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. 9 It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord. 10 This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 11 No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. 12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” 13 By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.
The better promises of this better covenant are those of the new covenant that Jeremiah prophesied of (Jeremiah 31:31-34).
Again, many books (and entire theological systems) have been based on the interpretation and application of these verses, so I can only skim the surface here. Note 2 things:
1. The better covenant would not have been needed if the first covenant was faultless. (8:7)
1. The better covenant would not have been needed if the first covenant was faultless. (8:7)
The idea of the Law of Moses being defective in any way would have been unthinkable for the Jews! The Law was the foundation of their entire way of life. It was the basis of their religious worship, which was the essence of being a Jew.
In chapter 7, the author argued that the change of the priesthood required a change of the law citing David’s prophecy in Psalm 110:4.
4 The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”
He also cites Jeremiah 31 to show that the Old Testament itself also predicted a new covenant that would replace the old, Mosaic covenant.
The reason for replacing the old covenant was that it was defective.
He is quick to add that the problem was not with the Law itself, but with the people who failed to keep it.
8 But God found fault with the people and said: “The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.
Paul said the same thing:
12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.
He goes on to say:
3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh,
As sinners, we are unable to keep God’s holy Law. It did not supply the change of heart or the enabling ministry of the Holy Spirit that we need to obey it.
19 Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator. 20 A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but God is one. 21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22 But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. 23 Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. 24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith.
2. Since God found fault with the people, He promised a New Covenant. (8:8-12)
2. Since God found fault with the people, He promised a New Covenant. (8:8-12)
This covenant would be made “with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.” Some argue that the church is the new Israel, and since Jesus said that the communion cup is the new covenant in His blood (Luke 22:20), the church has replaced Israel as the recipient of this new covenant. But according to Romans 11 … the branches of unbelieving Israel were broken off so that we (Gentiles) might be grafted in.
17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18 do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
Application:
1. The New Covenant is about putting God’s Word in the minds and hearts of His children. (8:10)
1. The New Covenant is about putting God’s Word in the minds and hearts of His children. (8:10)
10 This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
In Deuteronomy 29:4, just prior to his death, Moses told the Israelites:
4 But to this day the Lord has not given you a mind that understands or eyes that see or ears that hear.
They had the Law written in tablets of stone, but they lacked the heart to obey.
Ezekiel parallels the prophecy in Jeremiah 31
26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
2. The New Covenant is about a close relationship between God and His people. (8:10b)
2. The New Covenant is about a close relationship between God and His people. (8:10b)
This is not new …
7 I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.
Next Week: We will continue to look at the Old Covenant and the lessons we learn about the New Covenant and the sacrifice of Christ.
For now, ask yourself, “Is Jesus Christ, seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high, the mediator of the new covenant, the consuming focus of my Christian life? Do I daily seek to know Him, to love Him, and to glorify Him because He gave Himself on the cross for me?”