Get To The Point

If you have a bible, open up or turn it on to the book of Hebrews Chapter 8

We are going to continue our expositional study through the book of Hebrews.

The overarching theme of the entire book is that ‘Jesus is better than anyone or anything.’

In our current series, Better Priest, Better Promise....we are learning together that Jesus is better than any Old Testament Priest or any old Testament Promise. Let’s explore those two things briefly...

PRIEST - The Judiazers..The writer takes chapter 7...Jesus as the priest

PROMISE - Briefly touch on covenant (Genesis 15) (The Law) (New)- chapter 8 of hebrews teaches this

God makes covenants with various people in the scriptures, but above all, these covenants are always with himself. God promises Himself that he will do things.

I do this all the time. I promise that I will do this or that. Im going to work out, Im going to wake up earlier, I’m going to cut back on my chickfila intake.....and what happens. I break promises with myself.

But God....He is a promise maker and a promise keeper.

The title of today’s sermon is Get To The Point

Let me read the text in its entirety, I’ll pray, and then I will preach

Have the church stand, read passage, then pray.

English Standard Version (Chapter 8)

Jesus, High Priest of a Better Covenant

8:1  Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. 4 Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law. 5 They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” 6 But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.

I have a friend, he is NOT a member of this church so don’t worry…its no one in here. Every time he calls me I look at my phone and before I answer I ask myself this one important question. Do I have 30 minutes to talk? I find myself wanting him to just get to the point of why he called. Save us both the time. You took thirty minutes to tell me something that really should have lasted 3 minutes. GET TO THE POINT

The writer of Hebrews is so considerate that he opens up chapter 8 with the main reason why he is writing. Right out of the gate he gets right to the point.

Look at verse one, Now the point in what we are saying is this....

THANK YOU WRITER! He gets everyones attention. Listen up. Here is the main point. I may have lost you in the last chapter talking about the priest and rambling on about this man Melkizedek…if you have checked out I’m going to summarize why I’m writing this section. I’m going to give you the PRINCIPLE POINT

Notice in that verse. He says the point in what WE are saying. That we is plural. Could there be more than one writer? Who knows. I found that interesting in my study this week.

The writer continues verse one and in to verse two to tell us Christ title, his location, and occupation.

TITLE - We have such a high priest....

Stand away from pulpit and preach

LOCATION - who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven

What a rich verse. Jesus Christ, my high priest is seated at the right hand on the throne with the Majesty of Heaven

John MacArthur says this, The right hand of a monarch symbolized honor, exultation, and power. To stand at his right hand was honor, but to sit there, supreme honor. Christ sat down at the right hand of the throne of thrones, God’s heavenly, eternal throne.

That word Majesty is capitalized, signifying its a name for someone. The Majesty of Heaven is none other than God the father.

This verse says that He is SEATED.

This verse was scandalous to the jewish audience. Why? Because the priest NEVER sat down.

Stand away from pulpit and preach about the finished work of Christ

So in these first two verses we see Christ title, his location, and finally we see his occupation. What does Christ do while he is seated on his rightful throne?

OCCUPATION - a minister in the holy place, in the true tent that the Lord set up not man.

Christ is ministering on behalf of the believers. He is serving us as our high priest.

The writer says he isn't ministering as a priest in the tent that man made, no, Jesus my high priest ministers in the true tent that THE LORD set up.

Stand away and explain the tents of worship in the OLD TESTAMENT

Look against verse two…he is a minister in the holy places. That places is plural. Multiple holy places. What are the holy places? Its you and me? Jesus the great high priest ministers to us and within us.

He calls us holy. That word Holy means sacred and set apart.

If you are a believer....you are holy! Not because of what you have done but what has already been done for you once and for all on the cross.

Christians MUST hear and accept this truth about themselves. Should we admit our sin. YES! But man don’t focus on that and stay there. God says you are holy.

No need for shame....no need for guilt…no need to feel dirty....you are holy, set apart to God.

Lets continue to verse three...

3 For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer.

I love this verse and so should you

Every priest had to offer sacrifices....my high priest is the sacrifice.

Jesus doesn’t bring anything to the altar except for himself.

He is the sufficient sacrifice because he alone is sinless.

What does Christ offer? Himself. And that is enough. A holy and righteous God says, ‘I’ll accept that payment. That will do.’

Verse 4....Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law.

This verse may seem confusing, let me help ya out. John MaCarthur’s commentary helped me out because it was confusing.

If the temple were still standing, we see that the writer says ‘He would not be a priest at all.’

Jesus could not minister for us on earth under the terms of the Old Covenant, or the law.

During his earthly ministry, Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, preached on the hillside and synagogue, he forgave sins, and called Himself the son of God.

Jesus never claimed the right to minister IN THE TEMPLE. He did not venture one step closer to the inner sanctuaries than any other Jew of His day who was not a priest. He was not of the priestly tribe of Levi…he was of the tribe of JUDAH.

Since he was not from the tribe of Levi he was not qualified for the old earthly ministry.

Verse 5 goes on and says, They (which being the Old Testament priest) serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things.

MacArthur closes out this section with this amazing quote and you need to write it down....

God never mixes the shadow with the substance.

Jesus Christ, my high priest is the substance....everything else is just a shadow.

HE IS BETTER THAN ANYONE OR ANYTHING.

Verse 5, For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.”

TALK ABOUT GOD GIVING MOSES INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE TABERNACLE

Notice what the writer says....its a pattern. Its not the final model or the end result. It is just a pattern to follow until the real thing appears.

Verse 6, But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.

What are the better promises? The promises of God?

The Old Covenant....promises were made with man. God knew that man would never hold up his end of the deal. The New Covenant? The promises are from God and with God. They are better.

We are going to dive into the new covenant next week....

Let’s end our study of the text with verse 7, For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.

The covenant of the law man us aware of our faults. (PREACH) WE NEEDED SOMETHING BETTER

For centuries, people looked for something better. Better is found in a person. Jesus.

HE IS BETTER THAN ANYONE OR ANYTHING

COMMUNION

I want to go back all the way to verse one to set up our time of reflection.

THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER. THE RIGHT HAND. NOT THE LEFT HAND.

Sanhedrin.....Jewish ruling council of 72 ELDERS.

Sanhedrin had both civil and religious authority. The even played a part in the trial of Jesus.

When the members of the Sanhedrin sat to judge, there was a secretary on the left and right side of the judge.

The one on the left was responsible for writing condemnations.

The one on the right was responsible for writing acquittals.

Jesus says I have not come in to the world to condemn the world, but to seek and save the lost.

Jesus, the great high priest is continually interceding for me....not handing out condemnation....no he sits at the right hand where grace, mercy, and acquittal is found.