Mediator of a New Covenant

True tabernacle - vs.1-2

High priest sitting at the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens - derives His authority from the Majesty - Heb 1:3; 12:2

Hebrews 1:3 ESV

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Hebrews 12:2 ESV

looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Minister in the sanctuary - holy place, temple

True tabernacle - place where God dwells among His people

It is “true” in the sense that it is the only tabernacle that is NOT a copy of another, but the original - Exod 25:8

Exodus 25:8 ESV

And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst.

Offered gift and sacrifice - vs.3-5

This is the primary role of a high priest, to offer gifts and sacrifices for the people to God

This High Priest also needed to have something to offer (one time for all time - His offering is not repeated frequently, nor is ongoing, but has been completed)

He could not do this on earth, since there are those who fulfill this role according to the Law

The Law was a copy and a shadow of the heavenly things, built according to a heavenly pattern, to reveal in type what is “true”

More excellent ministry - v.6

More excellent in comparison to the high priests of the Law (and the role they fulfilled)

Mediator - one who go between two parties to bring them closer together (Israel means “strives with God”) - Gal 6:16; Job 9:33

Galatians 6:16 ESV

And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

Job 9:33 ESV

There is no arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both.

Better covenant, better promises - the promises, not law, are the foundation of the covenant - Heb 7:22

Hebrews 7:22 ESV

This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.

New, not improved, covenant - vs.7-13

God had already found fault with the first covenant, even though He was the grantor of that covenant - Jer 31:31-34

Jeremiah 31:31–34 ESV

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

House of Israel and the house of Judah (combines that which had been separated) - Eph 2:11-15

Ephesians 2:11–15 ESV

Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,

Covenant unlike the Mosaic covenant, because that covenant failed when they failed - Matt 5:17-20

Matthew 5:17–20 ESV

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

This covenant will work from the inside out, not the outside in - Matt 15:15-20

Matthew 15:15–20 ESV

But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”

It is not a covenant that we must be persuaded to keep (as the priests of Israel needed to do, but one we accept only when we know our Lord)

It is a covenant of mercy and forgiveness for sin, not the constant reminder of sin - Heb 10:2-4

Hebrews 10:2–4 ESV

Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

God’s promise of a new covenant made the first obsolete, and now the time is near for it to end

Questions for Next Week:

1- Up to this point in the narrative of Hebrews, what has Jesus done Himself?

2- What does the Holy Spirit tell us is necessary concerning Herod’s temple in Jerusalem?

3- How did Jesus enter the greater tabernacle?

4- Why was death necessary? (multiple answers to this question)

5- What is the purpose for the second coming of Jesus?