OUR GLORIOUS HIGH PRIEST
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION
With the beginning of chapter eight, we come to the close of the first major section of The Epistle To The Hebrews...
With the beginning of chapter eight, we come to the close of the first major section of The Epistle To The Hebrews...
In which the key thought is “The Superiority of Christ”
In these chapters Jesus is shown to be superior to:
To the prophets - Heb 1:1-3
To angels - Heb 1:4-2:18
To Moses - Heb 3:1-5
To Aaron and his Levitical priesthood - Heb 5:1-10; 7:1-28
The next major section really begins in Hebrews 8:7...
The next major section really begins in Hebrews 8:7...
In which the key thought will be “The Superiority of the New Covenant”
In this section this New Covenant is shown to be based upon:
Better promises - Heb 8:7-13
A better sanctuary - Heb 9:1-28
A better sacrifice - Heb 10:1-18
In Hebrews 8:1-6, we find a transition...
In Hebrews 8:1-6, we find a transition...
In which the main point of the first section is summarized
And in which the main points of the next section are introduced
Indeed, these six verses truly summarize what the author seeks to establish in the first ten chapters of this epistle!
It can all be summarized in these words: “We have such a High Priest...”
It can all be summarized in these words: “We have such a High Priest...”
In Jesus, we have a High Priest
Not just any High Priest, but “such” a High Priest; i.e., a glorious High Priest!
In what ways is Jesus “Our Glorious High Priest”? First, He is...
DISCUSSION
SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD
SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD
1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
The phrase “the Majesty in the heavens...”
The phrase “the Majesty in the heavens...”
A Jewish indirect way of meaning “God”
This phraseology also used in..
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Many passages refer to Jesus at God’s right hand...
Many passages refer to Jesus at God’s right hand...
David prophesied that the Messiah would sit at God’s right hand
1 The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, Until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
Jesus said that He would sit at the right hand of God
60 And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? 61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? 62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
When He ascended to heaven, He then sat down at God’s right hand
19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
At God’s right hand, He poured forth the Holy Spirit
33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
Peter preached Jesus as being exalted to be at God’s right hand as our Prince and Savior
30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
Paul taught that Jesus is at God’s right hand, interceding for us
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
He is at God’s right hand, “waiting till His enemies are made His footstool”
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
Yet while He sits and waits, He rules!
1 The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, Until I make thine enemies thy footstool. 2 The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
5 The Lord at thy right hand Shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.
cf...
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be abolished is death.
For at God’s right hand, He is above all other authority
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
In one place, we read of Jesus “standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:55-56); was Jesus showing His respect for Stephen, the first Christian martyr?
Exalted to such a place of honor and authority, we truly have a “glorious” High Priest, one who is “the ruler over the kings of the earth” (Re 1:5)!
Exalted to such a place of honor and authority, we truly have a “glorious” High Priest, one who is “the ruler over the kings of the earth” (Re 1:5)!
As we look at the next verse in our text, we see that He is also...
As we look at the next verse in our text, we see that He is also...
A MINISTER OF THE TRUE TABERNACLE
A MINISTER OF THE TRUE TABERNACLE
2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. 3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. 4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: 5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
The True Tabernacle is Erected by God, not man
The True Tabernacle is Erected by God, not man
We are now introduced to a contrast between two “tabernacles”
There had been the earthly sanctuary or tabernacle
As ordained under the first covenant (i.e., the Law) - cf. Heb 9:1ff
It was built by man
But now we read of one “which the Lord pitched” (or, erected); i.e., a heavenly tabernacle
The heavenly tabernacle is none other than heaven itself! - cf...
11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
In this True Tabernacle He offers “service”
In this True Tabernacle He offers “service”
As a High Priest, it is necessary for Him to have something to offer - Heb 8:3
Every high priest is appointed for this purpose - cf. Heb 5:1
What Jesus has to offer is not mention here, but will be later - cf. Heb 9:12
This service He renders is in heaven, not on the earth - Heb 8:4
If He were on earth, He couldn’t be a priest!
For the Law required priests from the tribe of Levi, and Jesus was from Judah
As for priests on the earth...
They serve only the copy and shadow of the heavenly things - Heb 8:5
For Moses had been told by God to build the earthly tabernacle according to the pattern shown to him on the mountain - cf. Exo 25:40
As “Our Glorious High Priest”, then, Jesus renders service in the true tabernacle, which is heaven itself.
As “Our Glorious High Priest”, then, Jesus renders service in the true tabernacle, which is heaven itself.
This thought will be expanded upon in chapters nine and ten.
But consider also how He is...
THE MEDIATOR OF A BETTER COVENANT
THE MEDIATOR OF A BETTER COVENANT
6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
Christ has obtained a more excellent ministry
Christ has obtained a more excellent ministry
In contrast with the ministry of the Levitical priests
Their ministry was simply a shadow and copy of His ministry - cf.
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
Christ is the mediator of a better covenant
Christ is the mediator of a better covenant
The word “mediator” means “one who intervenes between two, either in order to make or restore peace and friendship, or form a compact, or for ratifying a covenant”
By His death on the cross, Jesus has become the Mediator of the new covenant - cf.
15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
This new covenant is here referred to as “a better covenant”
Better than what? Better than the “first covenant” - cf...
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
I.e., what had been established through Moses
The better covenant was established on better promises
The better covenant was established on better promises
What makes the new covenant better than the old are its promises
Some of those promises are explained later - cf.
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: 11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
But Peter describes the promises we receive as “exceedingly great and precious promises” - cf...
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
CONCLUSION
With this transition passage, then, we are introduced to things that will be expounded upon as we proceed through the epistle...
With this transition passage, then, we are introduced to things that will be expounded upon as we proceed through the epistle...
The better covenant we have in Christ, based upon its better promises
The better ministry Christ renders as our High Priest in heaven, seated at God’s right hand
When such things are properly understood, we can see how Jesus is truly “Our Glorious High Priest”...!
When such things are properly understood, we can see how Jesus is truly “Our Glorious High Priest”...!
One who stands ready to minister in our behalf
He is “able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him” - Heb 7:25
He is “able to aid those who are tempted” - Heb 2:18
Have you accepted Jesus as your High Priest by obeying His gospel? He is truly “...the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” (Heb 5:9)
For those who have not obeyed His gospel, we find this awesome warning:
7 and to you that are afflicted rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire, 8 rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus: 9 who shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might,
Please render obedience to the gospel today if you have not yet done so! - cf. Ac 2:36-39
