Hebrews 08
The High Priest of a Better Covenant
8:1 Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We have such a high priest, one who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,
In this chapter, the author will demonstrate that the New Covenant is better than the Mosaic Covenant. Jesus is currently sitting at the right hand of the Father, interceding for the believers. During the 1000 year Millennial Kingdom, Jesus will come down to earth and sit at the throne of David, ruling with a rod of iron.
8:2 a minister in the sanctuary and the true tabernacle that the Lord, not man, set up.
The sanctuary on earth was a copy of the actual sanctuary which is in heaven. Jesus is the minister of the actual sanctuary in heaven. This heavenly tabernacle was not built or established by men. It was built and established by God.
8:3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. So this one too had to have something to offer.
Just as the earthly priests offered sacrifices on earth, so does the heavenly priest offer a sacrifice in heaven.
8:4 Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law.
The high priest in heaven does not live on earth, so he must offer a different kind of sacrifice than those on earth. The exact sacrifice will be detailed in chapter nine.
8:5 The place where they serve is a sketch and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary, just as Moses was warned by God as he was about to complete the tabernacle. For he says, “See that you make everything according to the design shown to you on the mountain.”
Since Jesus was not a human born from the tribe of Levi, He could not serve in the earthly tabernacle. Therefore, He must serve in the heavenly tabernacle. The earthly tabernacle is just a copy of the heavenly tabernacle. Moses was commanded to build the earthly tabernacle from the design which God showed him on Mount Sinai.
8:6 But now Jesus has obtained a superior ministry, since the covenant that he mediates is also better and is enacted on better promises.
Jesus obtained a superior ministry than that of the Levitical priests, because He possessed a better covenant. Moses was the mediator of the old covenant. The Levites were the priests of the old covenant. Jesus was the mediator and the priest of the New Covenant. The old covenant was based upon the Law, which could point out sin, but never save. The New Covenant was based upon God’s grace, which can save. The old covenant could only promise death to those who broke it. The New Covenant promised eternal life to those who believed it.
8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, no one would have looked for a second one.
The Old Testament prophets knew that the Mosaic Law was faulty and could not save anyone. Therefore, they predicted that a new covenant would replace the Mosaic Law.
8:8 But showing its fault, God says to them, “Look, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will complete a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. 8:9 “It will not be like the covenant that I made with their fathers, on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not continue in my covenant and I had no regard for them, says the Lord. 8:10 “For this is the covenant that I will establish with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and I will inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God and they will be my people. 8:11 “And there will be no need at all for each one to teach his countryman or each one to teach his brother saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ since they will all know me, from the least to the greatest. 8:12 “For I will be merciful toward their evil deeds, and their sins I will remember no longer.”
The Mosaic Law was perfect, good and righteous, but the people of Israel were too evil to keep it. The author quoted Jeremiah 31:31-34 to demonstrate that Jesus operated under a better covenant.
In Jeremiah’s prophecy, God predicted that he would make a new covenant with Israel. It would be different from the Mosaic Covenant, which was made at Mount Sinai. The Mosaic Covenant was a conditional covenant which Israel failed to keep. In this New Covenant, God would inscribe it not on tablets of stone, but in the hearts and minds of the chosen people. This New Covenant will be offered at the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom, so all of Israel will be saved. All of Israel will worship God. Evangelism will not be needed, because every Jew and Gentile will know about God. God will forgive Israel for crucifying their own Messiah. He will remember their sins no more.
8:13 When he speaks of a new covenant, he makes the first obsolete. Now what is growing obsolete and aging is about to disappear.
The Mosaic Covenant was temporary and obsolete, so it was replaced with the eternal and new covenant. Therefore, the Messianic believers do not need to return under the Mosaic Covenant. The New Covenant is the only covenant left for them. Going back into Judaism is impossiblea because it no longer exists.