Hebrews 8
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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;
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.
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.
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
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.
13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
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Commentary
After seven chapters of discussion, the author now blurts out: Here is my main point! And so this entire chapter is his summary statement of all that you’ve read before. And what a summary it is!
Our Heavenly High Priest:
*Sits in honor right beside God the Father…
*Ministers for each of us from a real Heavenly Temple…
*Offers us a much superior covenant that truly changes our hearts…
*Reminds us that the “fault” of the covenant at Sinai was not the Ten Commandments, but rather, the people’s self-righteous response (see verse 8). They mistakingly believed that “we” can obey because we said so! (Think: Peter exclaiming the same sentiment just before he denied his Lord.)
The glorious beauty of chapter 8 is its lofty explanation of what we often refer to as the “New Covenant.” Interestingly, the New Covenant is older than the Old Covenant! Indeed, the Old Covenant was “created” when the people solemnly promised to obey—in their own strength and without the mixture of faith.
And the New Covenant is but a reiteration of God’s eternal covenant as given in Genesis 3:15 and repeated many times in Scripture. As v. 10 says of God: “I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts” (NLT). Amen and Amen!
David Grams
Chaplain, Hartland College, Rapidan, Virginia USA
