Hebrews 8
I. A Superior Person: Christ (1-6)
A. \\#Heb 1:1-3\\ Christ is superior to the prophets.
B. \\#Heb 1:4-14\\ Christ is superior to the angels.
C. \\#Heb 2:1-18\\ Explanation and Emphasis
D. \\#Heb 3:1-6\\ Christ is superior to Moses.
E. \\#Heb 3:7-4:16\\ Explanation and Emphasis
F. \\#Heb 4:14-5:10\\ Christ is superior to the High Priest
G. \\#Heb 5:11-6:20\\ Explanation and Emphasis
II. Christ’s Superior Priesthood (7-10)
A. \\#Heb 7:1-11\\ Christ’s Priesthood Is of A Superior Origin
B. \\#Heb 7:12-14\\ Christ’s Priesthood Is by A Superior Covenant
C. \\#Heb 7:15-23\\ Christ’s Priesthood Is by A Superior Promise
D. \\#Heb 7:23-28\\ Christ’s Priesthood Has A Superior Nature
E. \\#Heb 8:1-5\\ Christ’s Priesthood Has A Superior Tabernacle
F. \\#Heb 8:6-10:18\\ Christ’s Priesthood Is A Superior Ministry
1. \\#8:6-7\\ His ministry is based on a superior covenant.
2. \\#8:6, 8-13\\ His ministry is based on a superior promise.
II. Superior Priesthood: Christ and Melchizedek (7-10)
E. \\#Heb 8:1-5\\ Christ’s Priesthood Has A Superior Tabernacle
1. \\#1\\ "this is the sum"-The writer often repeats himself. The
reason is simple. He knew the Hebrews to whom he was writing were not
going to accept these truths easily. His hope was that by explaining
the truths from as many different angles as possible, the truths
would eventually sink in.
2. "We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the
throne of the Majesty in the heavens"-This is the truth that he
has been attempting to get across.
3. \\#2-5\\ However, the writer also introduces some new thoughts.
a. \\#3\\ "For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and
sacrifices"-This section is based on the truth that since Jesus
is the heavenly High Priest, He must have a place to minister and
gifts to offer.
b. \\#2, 5\\ Jesus has a better place to serve.
(1) \\#2\\ "A minister of the sanctuary"-Jesus has a sanctuary
in which to serve. Since we have already been told that
Jesus is in the heavens \\#Heb 6:19-20\\, His sanctuary
must be a heavenly sanctuary.
(2) "the true tabernacle"-The word "true" means real. Jesus’
heavenly sanctuary is the real tabernacle where the real
work of God is carried out.
(3) "which the Lord pitched, and not man"-The real sanctuary
was not built by man’s hands. Another reference that this
is a heavenly sanctuary.
(4) \\#5\\ While the earthly priest "serve unto the example and
shadow of heavenly things…."
(a) The writer calls the Jewish tabernacle and its priests
a mere resemblance of the true tabernacle. (That
probably did not sit very well with some of the readers
either!)
(b) He then quotes from \\#Ex 25:40\\ to prove that the
tabernacle that Moses had built was based on "the
pattern" which God "shewed to thee in the mount."
Exodus 25:40 And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed
thee in the mount.
(5) In all of this, the writer is stating that although the
earthly tabernacle was important, it had always been an image
of the heavenly tabernacle. Now that the heavenly High
Priest had arrived in the heavenly tabernacle, there was no
need for the earthly tabernacle or priests.
(a) Many of the students of the Bible believe the book of
Hebrews was written before the destruction of the
temple.
(b) If so, it is evident that the Christians of that day
understood that the temple and the priest’s presence
were no longer necessary to the work of God.
c. \\#3-4\\ Jesus had a better gift to offer.
(1) \\#3\\ "For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and
sacrifices"-The main duty of the High Priest is to make
offerings to God.
(2) "wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat to
also to offer"-If Jesus is to serve as the High Priest, He
must have something of which to make an offering.
(3) The writer does not tell us at this point what gift Jesus had
to offer, but he will tell us later. At this point, the
writer changes his direction by telling us that Jesus does
not have a gift that was according to the Old Testament Law.
(4) \\#4\\ "For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest"
The writer alludes to a point here not previously made;
namely, that Jesus was never intended to be an earthly
priest.
(a) The writer has pointed out that God intended to change
the priesthood \\#Psalm 110:4\\ and indeed has changed
the priesthood \\#Heb 7:8, 12, 15, 20-21, 24\\.
(b) Thus the earthly priesthood is no longer needed or
appropriate.
(c) "seeing that there are priests that offer gifts
according to the law"-Yet, the writer’s point is that
Jesus did not qualify to serve on earth for the Law
already established an earthly priesthood and gave them
gifts to offer.
(d) So, even though the priesthood and covenant have been
changed, that change does not institute a new line of
earthly priests and laws.
(e) This verses tell us that if God were going to have any
earthly priests to serve Him, He would abide by His
Old Covenant and appoint Levitical priests who would
offer the gifts commanded in the Old Covenant.
(f) This is what God will do when He established His
millennial worship.
(g) These verses also prove that any group who claim to
be or have a priesthood to God, other than the Levitical
priesthood, is both bogus and fraudulent.
F. \\#Heb 8:6-13\\ Christ’s Priesthood Is A Superior Ministry
1. \\#6\\ "now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry"-Based on the
arguments the writer has given so far, he concludes that Jesus has
a superior priestly ministry. He will give additional details
concerning three of the arguments he has already given.
a. \\#6-7\\ His ministry is based on a superior covenant.
(1) \\#6\\ "he is the mediator of a better covenant"-The writer
reiterates a previous point.
(2) \\#7\\ "For if that first covenant had been faultless, then
should no place have been sought for the second"-The fact
that God created a second covenant proves there was fault
with the first.
b. \\#6, 8-13\\ His ministry is based on a superior promise.
(1) \\#6\\ "which was established upon better promises"-The
writer gave us one promise, \\#Psalm 110:4\\. In this section
quotes another Old Testament promise.
(2) \\#Heb 8:8-12\\ is a quote of Jer 31:31-38.
Jer 31:31 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:
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 my covenant
they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
33 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.
34 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.
2. The writer does not elaborate on the content of the promise.
a. \\#8\\ "Behold, the days come, said the Lord, when I will make a
new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah"
(1) In the quote, we do see that the New Covenant, the covenant
that we Gentiles enjoy today, is a JEWISH covenant.
(2) There is no doubt that, presently, the Gentiles are the
primary beneficiary of this covenant, but that is not because
of God’s design.
(3) It is because of the Jews’ blindness. \\#Romans 11:25\\
b. \\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"
(1) The writer’s main point is found in verse 13.
(2) By promising a new covenant, God was showing the old covenant
was imperfect.
(3) The writer concludes that it is time for the old to be done
away.
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