http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 1 The High Priest of a New Covenant Hebrews 8:1-13
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 2 Text: Hebrews 8:1-13, The High Priest of a New Covenant 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; 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,
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 3 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. Introduction: I. Jesus is our high priest. (see chapters 5-7) II. Jesus is our sacrifice. (see chapters 9, 10) III. These two dimensions of Jesus ministry define the new covenant. (Girdwood Verkruyse) Commentary: The High Priest of a New Covenant Hebrews 8:1, 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; I. Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: A. The bottom line of what had been said is what we are going to say now. B. The chief, principal thing in what we are about to write is: II. We have such a high priest,
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 4 A. Jesus is that great high priest. B. All Jewish Christians had achieved far more than they had left behind by their conversion to Christ. III. who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens: A. Hebrews 10:11-13, And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. B. The very high priest mankind needed God has given us in the person of his Son. C. Christ is both King and sits on the majestic, royal throne in the heavens as well as our high priest. Hebrews 8:2, A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. I. A minister (who serves) of the sanctuary, A. Milligan notes that minister here means a public office of high and honorable rank. B. The word sanctuary here means heaven, the archtype of the Most Holy Place of the ancient tabernacle. (Milligan) 1. Hebrews 9:8, 12, 24, 25, The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Neither by the
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 5 blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 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: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 2. Hebrews 10:19, Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 3. Hebrews 13:10, We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. II. and of the true tabernacle, A. Milligan stated that the word true denotes not only the real as opposed to the false, but also the perfect and substantial as opposed to the imperfect and unsubstantial. B. The first tabernacle was made of earthy materials and constructed by human hands while the latter is the workmanship of God himself. III. which the Lord pitched, not man. A. To the question, Exactly what is the true tabernacle what the Lord, not man, built? many answers have been suggested. Hebrews 8:3, For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. I. For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices:
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 6 A. The basic duty of priests is to offer gifts and sacrifices. 1. Hebrews 5:1, For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: B. Our sins made it necessary for Christ, our high priest, to sacrificially offer himself on the cross. (Girdwood and Vekruyse) II. wherefore it is of necessity that this man have something also to offer. A. Christ, as the great high priest, must have a sacrifice to offer to God Almighty. B. Christ s sacrifice on the cross, that one atonement, is being by Christ in heaven applied to absolve penitent believers of the guilt of their sins on an on-going basis day by day eternally. 1. Hebrews 7:27, Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 2. Hebrews 9:26, 27, For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: Hebrews 8:4, For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: I. For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest,
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 7 A. Jewish priests were from the descendants of Aaron who was of the tribe of Levi. B. Jesus was from the tribe of Judah which disqualified him from serving as a Jewish priest. C. Numbers 18:1-7, And the LORD said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy father's house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary: and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood. And thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring thou with thee, that they may be joined unto thee, and minister unto thee: but thou and thy sons with thee shall minister before the tabernacle of witness. And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that neither they, nor ye also, die. And they shall be joined unto thee, and keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, for all the service of the tabernacle: and a stranger shall not come nigh unto you. And ye shall keep the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar: that there be no wrath any more upon the children of Israel. And I, behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel: to you they are given as a gift for the LORD, to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation. Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest's office for everything of the altar, and within the vail; and ye shall serve: I have given your priest's office unto you as a service of gift: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death. D. Christ is a priest after the order of Melchizedek. II. seeing that there are [priests] that offer gifts, according to, as prescribed by, the law:
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 8 A. Even though the Law of Moses with its priesthood legally ended at the cross, it continued among the Jews at the time Hebrews was written. B. This indicates that Hebrews was written before A.D. 70, the date of Jerusalem s destruction with its temple. Hebrews 8:5, 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. I. Who serve unto the copy, example, and shadow of heavenly things, A. Milligan wrote, The Jewish Tabernacle, with all that pertained to it, was but a faint symbolical representation of the heavenly sanctuary and the true Tabernacle. The old order was wholly destitute of the substance which is inherent in the heavenly realities. II. as Moses was warned, admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: A. Exodus 25:40, And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount. B. The Old Covenant priests served in a tabernacle made by men while Christ serves in the heavenly, spiritual tabernacle. II. for, see, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount. A. Only by following the pattern exactly could the Old Tabernacle be the type, shadow, image of the heavenly.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 9 B. Christians, in all we do religiously, must follow the scriptural pattern. Hebrews 8:6, 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. I. But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, A. Christ s ministry is more excellent than the ministry of the Levitical priests. B. The NIV renders the verse, But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and is founded on better promises. II. by how much also he is to the mediator of a better covenant, A. Milligan noted: 1. The Old Covenant was faulty, but the New Covenant is faultless. 2. The Old Covenant was written on the stones, but the New Covenant is written on the understanding and the heart. 3. The Old Covenant provided no forgiveness of sins while the New Covenant provides for the absolute forgiveness of sins. B. Moses and the High Priest were mediators of the Old Covenant while Christ alone is the Mediator of the New Covenant. 1. Exodus 20:19-21, And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 10 we die. And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. 2. 1 Timothy 2:5, For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 3. Romans 8:24, For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 4. Hebrews 7:25, Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. III. which was established upon better promises. A. Among these promises are the resurrection from the dead and heaven itself, better promises most certainly. B. What are some of these better promises? 1. Eternal, heavenly rest for the faithful rather than temporary occupancy of Palestine. 2. Forgiveness (perfection) through the sacrificial blood of Christ. 3. Better mediator, Christ as contrasted with Moses. 4. Restores fellowship between God and his people. Hebrews 8:7, For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 11 I. For if that first covenant had been faultless, A. Galatians 3:21, Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. B. Romans 3:20, Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. C. Galatians 2:16, Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. D. Galatians 3:11, But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. II. then should no place have been sought for the second. A. The Old Covenant was not needed. 1. It became obsolete and disappeared. (Girdwood and Verkruyse) B. Therefore, it had to be replaced by a new and better covenant. C. The Old Covenant accomplished its purpose. 1. Galatians 3:19, 24, Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 12 2. Matthew 19:17, And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 3. John 1:21, And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. 4. The first covenant was added because of transgression until the seed (Christ) should come. 5. The temporary nature of the first covenant was determined from the giving, the beginning of the first covenant. Hebrews 8:8, 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: I. For finding fault with them he saith, A. Milligan renders this phrase as follows: For finding fault he saith to them B. God found the Old Covenant to be inadequate to meet the needs of mankind and he also found the people to be at fault for not obeying the terms of the Covenant, Agreement, contract. II. Behold the days come, saith the Lord, A. Jeremiah 31:31-34, Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 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 my covenant they brake, although I
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 13 was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. B. The New Covenant was in God s eternal purpose, not an afterthought. C. Coffman well said that the original Jewish readers of Hebrews should not have been shocked by the fact the Old Covenant had been abrogated because Jeremiah had established the transient nature of the Old Covenant long before. III. when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. A. The house of Israel and the house of Judah includes all the descendants of Jacob. B. These phrases now refer to all the saved of earth regardless of race or nationality. C. Scriptures: 1. Galatians 3:28, There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 2. Colossians 2:14, 17, Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 14 took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Hebrews 8:9, 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. I. Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers, A. This refers to the covenant, Law of Moses, given at Mount Sinai. II. in the day (at the time) when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; A. This identifies the Old Covenant as the one given at the time Israel was led out of Egypt; that is, the Law of Moses given at Mount Sinai. III. because they continued not in my covenant, A. The Israelites did not keep the terms of the covenant, they broke the contract, which necessitated a proper response from God. IV. and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. A. The Israelites broke the covenant and God rejected them from being his people. Hebrews 8:10, 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:
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 15 I. For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days saith the Lord; II. I will put my laws into their mind, A. 2 Corinthians 3:6, Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. B. Psalm 119:11, Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. C. Psalm 110:3, Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. D. Girdwood and Verkruyse wrote, The new covenant creates internal realities in the minds and hearts of believers, not just external regulations. E. Galatians 4:2-7, But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. F. 2 Corinthians 3:7, 8, 18, But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 16 the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. III. and write them in their hearts: IV. and I will be to them a God, A. Exodus 19:5, Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: B. Leviticus 26:12, And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people. V. and they shall be to me a people: A. Galatians 4;6, And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. B. Zechariah 8:8, And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness. C. 2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Hebrews 8:11, 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. I. And they shall no longer, not teach every man his neighbor: A. Neighbor means citizen. Coupled with his the meaning is fellow-citizen.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 17 B. Israelites were physically born into the covenant without knowing anything about the provisions of the covenant. IV. for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. A. Without knowing basic facts about the New Covenant, a person cannot be a subject of it. B. James 1:18, Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. C. 2 Peter 3:18, But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. D. Genuine spiritual regeneration is an essential element of the New Covenant. E. John 1:12, 13, But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Hebrews 8:12, For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. I. For I will forgive, be merciful to their unrighteousness, wickedness, A. Isaiah 54:17, No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 18 B. Romans 8:33, Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. C. Girdwood and Verkruyse wrote, his sacrifice not only satisfied the law s demands but has changed the way God views believers. II. and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Hebrews 8:13, 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. I. In that he saith, II. A new covenant, he hath made the first old. A. The Old Covenant was even then ready to vanish away. B. Colossians 2:14, Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; C. The Old Covenant (Girdwood and Verkruyse) was first obsolete, then obsolete and aging and then it disappeared. D. Now that the new order has arrived, it is no longer needed and its regulations no longer apply. (Girdwood and Verkruyse) III. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 19 References Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version, The Gideons International, Nashville, TN, 37214, 1979, National Publishing Company. Holy Bible, New International Version, 1984, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49530. James Burton Coffman Commentaries, Hebrews, Abilene Christian University Press, Abilene, TX, 1971. New Testament Commentaries, Hebrews, Robert Milligan, Gospel Advocate Company, Nashville, TN, 1989. The College Press NIV Commentary, Hebrews, Jim Girdwood, Peter Verkruyse, College Press Publishing Company, Joplin, Missouri, 1997.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 20 Questions Hebrews 8:1-13 1. What is the main point the Hebrews writer was making in this chapter? 2. Who is our high priest? When did he become high priest? 3. How can our high priest serve while seated? There were no chairs in the tabernacle. 4. What is the sanctuary, true tabernacle?
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 21 5. Who sits on thrones, kings or priests? Is Jesus priest, king, or both? 6. What gift, sacrifice did our high priest have to offer? 7. Why could Jesus not be a priest if he were on earth? 8. Were Jerusalem and the temple still standing when the book of Hebrews was written? Give reasons for your answer.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 22 9. Explain how, in what ways, the sanctuary built in the wilderness was a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. What is in heaven? 10. Why was it necessary for Moses to make all things according to the pattern shown him? 11. What pattern are we to follow in all things religious? 12. The has received is to the ministry received by the Aaronite priests as the of which he is is to the old one, and it is on. (NIV)
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 23 13. What are the better promises on which the new covenant was founded? 14. What was wrong with the first covenant? 15. What would have happened in regard to the new covenant if there had been nothing wrong with the first covenant? 16. Why did God find fault with the people? See verse 8a.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 24 17. Verses 8b-12 is a direct quotation from the Old Testament. Where is this scripture found in the Old Testament? Who originally wrote/spoke these words? Under what circumstances historically was this scripture originally written? 18. When did the days come when the Lord made a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah? 19. Exactly who is included in the term house of Israel and the house of Judah? Give reasons and scripture to support your answer. 20. Why would the new covenant be different than the old covenant made with the Israelites when God led them out of Egypt?
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 25 21. What are the results of having God turn away from us? 22. List characteristics of the new covenant as given in verses 10-12. 23. What is the significance of the Lord s calling this covenant new? When did the first covenant become obsolete, old and when did it disappear? 24. Verse 11 says, No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying Know the Lord, because they will all know me, Since this is true, why do we preach every Lord s Day and have Bible study classes every week?
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 26 25. Who is the least of them and who is the greatest of them? What is necessary for a person to be greatest?