Hebrews chapter 8

The main point is that Jesus Christ is the new Priest of the heavenly sanctuary. And he is the new Covenant. Thanks to him, all will know the LORD God.

 


 

JESUS CHRIST IS THE NEW PRIEST

 

VERSE 1. Now in the things which we are saying, the main point is this. We have such a high priest, who sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,

the main point is this. The author is summarizing the main point for us.

We have such a high priest. Jesus Christ is the new high priest.

sat down on the right hand. This alludes to Psalm 110:

Psalm 110:1. The LORD says to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool for your feet.”

 

VERSE 2. a servant of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.

servant. The Greek word is hleitourgos. It means “minister.”

true tabernacle. It is in the realm of eternity where the ongoing ministry of Jesus Christ takes place.

 

VERSE 3. For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer.

gifts. The Greek word is hdôra.

sacrifices. The Greek word is hthysias.

 

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

 

VERSE 5. who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, even as Moses was warned by God when he was about to make the tabernacle, for he said, “See, you shall make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain.”

copy. The Greek word is hhypodeigmati. The earthly temple in Jerusalem was a crude copy of the heavenly one. It was an approximation.

shadow. The Greek word is hskia. The earthly temple is a “shadow sanctuary.”

according to the pattern. It was important that the earthly temple in Jerusalem be made in strict accordance with the design given to Moses:

Exodus 25:40. See that you make them after their pattern, which has been shown to you on the mountain.

 

VERSE 6. But now he has obtained a more excellent ministry, by so much as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which on better promises has been given as law.

better promises. This involves the forgiveness of sins, as we see in verse 12, below.

 

JESUS CHRIST IS THE NEW COVENANT

 

VERSE 7. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.

that first covenant. That is, the “Old” Testament.

a second. That is, the “New” Testament.

 

VERSE 8. For finding fault with them, he said, “Behold, the days come”, says the Lord, “that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah;

The author is quoting from Jeremiah chapter 31:

Jeremiah 31:31. “Behold, the days come,” says the LORD, “that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

 

VERSE 9. not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers, in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; for they didn’t continue in my covenant, and I disregarded them,” says the Lord.

The author continues quoting from Jeremiah chapter 31:

Jeremiah 31:32.  not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which covenant of mine they broke, although I was a husband to them,” says the LORD.

 

VERSE 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 mind, I will also write them on their heart. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

The LORD God promises to write his Law on the tablet of our hearts. This is beautiful! May it be true in our own lives! Read more »

 

VERSE 11. They will not teach every man his fellow citizen, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all will know me, from their least to their greatest.

The author continues quoting from Jeremiah chapter 31:

Jeremiah 31:34. They will no longer each teach his neighbor, and every man teach his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD;’ for they will all know me, from their least to their greatest,” says the LORD: “for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

all will know me. There will come a day when everybody will know the Lord. The next verse tells us how that will happen.

Eternal life is knowing God the Father and Jesus Christ. Do you know them? Do you have a love-relationship with them? Here are the Bible verses about this »

 

VERSE 12. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness. I will remember their sins and lawless deeds no more.”

remember their sins … no moreThe previous verse told us a day would come when everybody knows the Lord.

This verse tells us how. Knowing the Lord is triggered by the forgiveness of sins.

The forgiveness of sins is the key ministry of Jesus Christ for us all. That is a more excellent ministry, a better covenant, and a better promise, as we saw in verse 6, above.

 

VERSE 13. In that he says, “A new covenant”, he has made the first old. But that which is becoming old and grows aged is near to vanishing away.

he has made the first old. The Greek word for “old” is hpalaioumenon. It means obsolete.

 


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HEBREWS

CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13

RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize

Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.