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Hebrews Chapter Eight

Hebrews 8

Chapter 8 in this respect is simple and clear; the last verses only give room for a few remarks.

The sum of the doctrine we have been considering is that we have a High Priest who is seated on the throne of the Majesty in the heavens a Minister of the heavenly sanctuary which is not made with hands. As such He must have an offering to present there. Jesus were He on earth would not be a Priest; there were priests on earth according to the law in which all things were but figures of the heavenly things; as Moses was told to make all according to the pattern that was shewn him in the mount. But the ministry of Jesus is more excellent because He is the Mediator of a better covenant spoken of in Jeremiah 31 which is here quoted; a clear and simple proof that the first covenant was not to continue.

We again find here that particular development of the truth which was called for by the character of the persons to whom this letter was addressed.

The first covenant was made with Israel; the second must be so likewise according to the prophecy of Jeremiah. The epistle however in this passage only makes use of the fact that there was to be a second covenant in order to demonstrate that the first was to last no longer. It had grown old and was to vanish away. He recites the terms of the new covenant. We shall find that he makes use of it afterwards. In that which follows he contrasts the services that belonged to the first with the perfect work on which Christianity is founded. Thus the extent and the value of the work of Christ are introduced.

Although there is no difficulty here it is important to have light with regard to these two covenants because some have very vague ideas on this point and many souls putting themselves under covenants that is in relationship with God under conditions in which He has not placed them-lose their simplicity and do not hold fast grace and the fullness of the work of Christ and the position He has acquired for them in heaven.

A covenant is a principle of relationship with God on the earth-conditions established by God under which man is to live with Him. The word may perhaps be used figuratively or by accommodation. It is applied to details of the relationship of God with Israel and so to Abraham (Gen.15) and like cases; but strictly speaking there are but two covenants in which God has dealt with man on earth or will-the old and the new. The old was established at Sinai. The new covenant is made also with the two houses of Israel. [1]

The gospel is not a covenant but the revelation of the salvation of God. It proclaims the great salvation of God. We enjoy indeed all the essential privileges of the new covenant its foundation being laid on God's part in the blood of Christ but we do so in spirit not according to the letter.

The new covenant will be established formally with Israel in the millennium. Meanwhile the old covenant is judged by the fact that there is a new one.

Footnotes

[1] We have also at the end of the epistle the expression " the blood of the everlasting covenant." " Covenant" he uses I doubt not (as the word "law" also is used) because it was commonly employed as the condition of relationship with God and " eternal " is characteristic of the Hebrews. There have been and will be covenants in time and for the earth; but we have eternal conditions of relationship with God of which the blood of Christ is the expression and security founded in everlasting grace and righteousness as well as grace by that precious blood in which all the character and all the purpose of God has been made good and glorified as well as our sins been put away.

── John Darby《Synopsis of Hebrews》

Hebrews 8

Chapter Contents

The excellence of Christ's priesthood above that of Aaron is shown. (1-6) The great excellence of the new covenant above the former. (7-13)

Commentary on Hebrews 8:1-6

(Read Hebrews 8:1-6)

The substance or summary of what had been declared was that Christians had such a High Priest as they needed. He took upon himself human nature appeared on earth and there gave himself as a sacrifice to God for the sins of his people. We must not dare to approach God or to present any thing to him but in and through Christ depending upon his merits and mediation; for we are accepted only in the Beloved. In all obedience and worship we should keep close to God's word which is the only and perfect standard. Christ is the substance and end of the law of righteousness. But the covenant here referred to was that made with Israel as a nation securing temporal benefits to them. The promises of all spiritual blessings and of eternal life revealed in the gospel and made sure through Christ are of infinitely greater value. Let us bless God that we have a High Priest that suits our helpless condition.

Commentary on Hebrews 8:7-13

(Read Hebrews 8:7-13)

The superior excellence of the priesthood of Christ above that of Aaron is shown from that covenant of grace of which Christ was Mediator. The law not only made all subject to it liable to be condemned for the guilt of sin but also was unable to remove that guilt and clear the conscience from the sense and terror of it. Whereas by the blood of Christ a full remission of sins was provided so that God would remember them no more. God once wrote his laws to his people now he will write his laws in them; he will give them understanding to know and to believe his laws; he will give them memories to retain them; he will give them hearts to love them courage to profess them and power to put them in practice. This is the foundation of the covenant; and when this is laid duty will be done wisely sincerely readily easily resolutely constantly and with comfort. A plentiful outpouring of the Spirit of God will make the ministration of the gospel so effectual that there shall be a mighty increase and spreading of Christian knowledge in persons of all sorts. Oh that this promise might be fulfilled in our days that the hand of God may be with his ministers so that great numbers may believe and be turned to the Lord! The pardon of sin will always be found to accompany the true knowledge of God. Notice the freeness of this pardon; its fulness; its fixedness. This pardoning mercy is connected with all other spiritual mercies: unpardoned sin hinders mercy and pulls down judgments; but the pardon of sin prevents judgment and opens a wide door to all spiritual blessings. Let us search whether we are taught by the Holy Spirit to know Christ so as uprightly to love fear trust and obey him. All worldly vanities outward privileges or mere notions of religion will soon vanish away and leave those who trust in them miserable for ever.

── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Hebrews》

Hebrews 8

Verse 1

[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;

We have such an high priest — Having finished his description of the type in Melchisedec the apostle begins to treat directly of the excellency of Christ's priesthood beyond the Levitical.

Who is set down — Having finished his oblation.

At the right hand of the Majesty — Of God.

Verse 2

[2] A minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man.

A minister — Who represents his own sacrifice as the high priest did the blood of those sacrifices once a year.

Of the sanctuary — Heaven typified by the holy of holies.

And of the true tabernacle — Perhaps his human nature of which the old tabernacle was a type.

Which the Lord hath fixed — Forever.

Not man — As Moses fixed the tabernacle.

Verse 4

[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:

But if he were on earth — If his priesthood terminated here.

He could not be a priest — At all consistently with the Jewish institutions.

There being other priests — To whom alone this office is allotted.

Verse 5

[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.

Who serve — The temple which was not yet destroyed.

After the pattern and shadow of heavenly things — Of spiritual evangelical worship and of everlasting glory.

The pattern — Somewhat like the strokes pencilled out upon a piece of fine linen which exhibit the figures of leaves and flowers but have not yet received their splendid colours and curious shades.

And shadow — Or shadowy representation which gives you some dim and imperfect idea of the body but not the fine features not the distinguishing air; none of those living graces which adorn the real person. Yet both the pattern and shadow lead our minds to something nobler than themselves: the pattern to that holiness and glory which complete it; the shadow to that which occasions it. Exodus 25:40.

Verse 6

[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.

And now he hath obtained a more excellent ministry — His priesthood as much excels theirs as the promises of the gospel (whereof he is a surety) excels those of the law. These better promises are specified Hebrews 8:10 11: those in the law were mostly temporal promises.

Verse 7

[7] For if that first covenant had been faultless then should no place have been sought for the second.

For if the first had been faultless — If that dispensation had answered all God's designs and man's wants if it had not been weak and unprofitable unable to make anything perfect no place would have been for a second.

Verse 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:

But there is; for finding fault with them - Who were under the old covenant he saith I make a new covenant with the house of Israel - With all the Israel of God in all ages and nations. It is new in many respects though not as to the substance of it: 1. Being ratified by the death of Christ. 2. Freed from those burdensome rites and ceremonies. 3. Containing a more full and clear account of spiritual religion. 4. Attended with larger influences of the Spirit 5. Extended to all men. And 6. Never to be abolished. Jeremiah 31:31 etc.

Verse 9

[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.

When I took them by the hand — With the care and tenderness of a parent. And just while this was fresh in their memory they obeyed; but presently after they shook off the yoke.

They continued not in my covenant and I regarded them not — So that covenant was soon broken in pieces.

Verse 10

[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:

This is the covenant I will make after those days — After the Mosaic dispensation is abolished.

I will put my laws in their minds — I will open their eyes and enlighten their understanding to see the true full spiritual meaning thereof.

And write them on their hearts — So that they shall inwardly experience whatever I have commanded.

And I will be to them a God — Their all-sufficient portion and exceeding great reward.

And they shall be to me a people — My treasure my beloved loving and obedient children.

Verse 11

[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.

And they who are under this covenant (though in other respects they will have need to teach each other to their lives' end yet) shall not need to teach every one his brother saying Know the Lord; for they shall all know me - All real Christians.

From the least to the greatest — In this order the saving knowledge of God ever did and ever will proceed; not first to the greatest and then to the least. But "the Lord shall save the tents " the poorest "of Judah first that the glory of the house of David " the royal seed "and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem " the nobles and the rich citizens "do not magnify themselves " Zechariah 12:7.

Verse 12

[12] For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

For I will justify them which is the root of all true knowledge of God. This therefore is God's method. First a sinner is pardoned: then he knows God as gracious and merciful then God's laws are written on his heart: he is God's and God is his.

Verse 13

[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.

In saying A new covenant he hath antiquated the first — Hath shown that it is disannulled and out of date.

Now that which is antiquated is ready to vanish away — As it did quickly after when the temple was destroyed.

── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on Hebrews》

Chapter 8. The Better New Covenant

Put in Their Minds
Write on Their Hearts

I. Serve in the True Tabernacle

1. Set up the Tabernacle
2. Sit in Heaven
3. Pattern Shown on the Mountain

II. Mediator of a Better Covenant

1. A Superior Ministry
2. Wrong with the Old Testament
3. Promise of a New covenant

III. Promise to Be with Men

1. Know the Lord Better
2. The Power of Removing Sins
3. Substitute the Old by the New

── Chih-Hsin Chang《An Outline of The New Testament》

 
Our Glorious High Priest (8:1-6)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. With the beginning of chapter eight
we come to the close of the 
 first major section of "The Epistle To The Hebrews"...
 a. In which the key thought is "The Superiority of Christ"
 b. In which Jesus is shown to be superior to:
 1) To the prophets - He 1:1-3
 2) To angels - He 1:4-2:18
 3) To Moses - He 3:1-5
 4) To Aaron and his Levitical priesthood - He 5:1-10; 7:1-28
 
2. The next major section really begins in earnest with verse 7...
 a. In which the key thought will be "The Superiority of the New 
 Covenant"
 b. In which this covenant is shown to be based upon:
 1) Better promises - He 8:7-13
 2) A better sanctuary - He 9:1-28
 3) A better sacrifice - He 10:1-18
 
3. In He 8:1-6
we find a transition...
 a. In which the main point of the first section is summarized
 b. In which the main points of the next section are introduced
 -- Indeed
these six verses truly summarize what the author seeks to
 establish in the first ten chapters of this epistle!
 
4. It can all be summarized in these words: "We have such a High 
 Priest..."
 a. In Jesus
we have a High Priest
 b. Not just any High Priest
but "such" a High Priest; i.e.
a 
 glorious High Priest!
 
[In what ways is Jesus "Our Glorious High Priest"? First
He is...]
 
I. SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD (1)
 
 A. THE PHRASE "THE MAJESTY IN THE HEAVENS"...
 1. A Jewish circumlocution meaning "God" (Believers' Study Bible)
 2. I.e.
a roundabout way of referring to God - cf. He 1:3
 
 B. MANY PASSAGES REFER TO JESUS AT GOD'S RIGHT HAND...
 1. David prophesied that the Messiah would sit at God's right 
 hand - Psa 110:1
 2. Jesus said that He would sit at the right hand of God - Mk 14:
 60-62
 3. When He ascended to heaven
He then sat down at God's right 
 hand - Mk 16:19; He 12:2
 4. At God's right hand
He poured forth the Holy Spirit - Ac 2:33
 5. Peter preached Jesus as being exalted to be at God's right 
 hand as our Prince and Savior - Ac 5:30-31
 6. Paul taught that Jesus is at God's right hand
interceding for
 us - Ro 8:34
 7. He is at God's right hand
"waiting till His enemies are made
 His footstool" - He 10:12-13
 8. Yet while He sits and waits
He rules! - Psa 110:1-2
5; cf.
 1 Co 15:24-26
 9. For at God's right hand
He is above all other authority 
 - Ep 1:20-22; 1 Pe 3:22
 -- In one place
we read of Jesus "standing at the right hand of
 God" (Ac 7:55-56); was Jesus showing His respect for Stephen

 the first Christian martyr?
 
[Exalted to such a place of honor and authority
we truly have a 
"glorious" High Priest
one who is "the ruler over the kings of the 
earth" (Re 1:5)! As we look at the next verse in our text
we see
that He is also...]
 
II. A MINISTER OF THE TRUE TABERNACLE (2-5)
 
 A. ERECTED BY GOD
NOT MAN...
 1. We are now introduced to a contrast between two "tabernacles"
 a. There had been the earthly sanctuary or tabernacle
 1) As ordained under the first covenant (i.e.
the Law) 
 - cf. He 9:1ff
 2) It was built by man
  b. But now we read of one "which the Lord erected"; i.e.
a
 heavenly tabernacle
 2. The heavenly tabernacle is none other than heaven itself! 
 - cf. He 9:11-12; 23-24
 
 B. IN WHICH HE OFFERS "SERVICE"...
 1. As a High Priest
it is necessary for Him to have something to
 offer - He 8:3
 a. Every high priest is appointed for this purpose - He 5:1
 b. What Jesus has to offer is not mention here
but will be
 later - cf. He 9:12
 2. This service He renders in heaven
not on the earth - He 8:4
 a. If He were on earth
He couldn't be a priest!
 b. For the Law required priests from the tribe of Levi
and 
 Jesus was from Judah
 3. As for priests on the earth...
 a. They serve only the copy and shadow of the heavenly things 
 - He 8:5
 b. For Moses had been told by God to build the earthly 
 tabernacle according to pattern shown to him on the 
 mountain - cf. Exo 25:40
 
[As "Our Glorious High Priest"
then
Jesus renders service in the 
true tabernacle
which is heaven itself. This thought will be expanded
upon in chapters nine and ten. But consider also how He is...]
 
III. THE MEDIATOR OF A BETTER COVENANT (6)
 
 A. HE HAS OBTAINED A MORE EXCELLENT MINISTRY...
 1. In contrast with the ministry of the Levitical priests
 2. Their ministry was simply a shadow and copy of His ministry 
 - cf. Co 2:16-17
 
 B. AS MEDIATOR OF A BETTER COVENANT...
 1. The word "mediator"...
 a. The Greek is "mesites" {mes-ee'-tace}
 b. It means "one who intervenes between two
either in order
 to make or restore peace and friendship
or form a compact

 or for ratifying a covenant"
 2. By His death on the cross
Jesus has become the Mediator of 
 the new covenant - cf. He 9:15; 12:24
 3. This new covenant is here referred to as "a better covenant"
 a. Better than what? Better than the "first covenant" - cf. 
 He 8:7
 b. I.e.
what had been established through Moses
 
 C. ESTABLISHED ON BETTER PROMISES...
 1. What makes the new covenant better than the old are its 
 promises
 2. Some of those promises are explained later - cf. He 8:10-12
 3. But Peter describes the promises we receive as "exceedingly
 great and precious promises" - cf. 2 Pe 1:3-4
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. With this transition passage
then
we are introduced to things that
 will be expounded upon as we proceed through the epistle...
 a. The better covenant we have in Christ
based upon its better 
 promises
 b. The better ministry Christ renders as our High Priest in heaven

 seated at God's right hand
 
2. When such things are properly understood
we can see how Jesus is 
 truly "Our Glorious High Priest"!
 a. One who stands ready to minister in our behalf
 b. He is "able to save to the uttermost those who come to God 
 through Him" - He 7:25
 c. He is "able to aid those who are tempted" - He 2:18
 
Have you accepted Jesus as your High Priest by obeying His gospel? He
is truly...
 
 "...the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him." (He 5:9)
 
For those who have not obeyed His gospel
we find this awesome warning:
 
 "...and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord
 Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels
in flaming
 fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God
and on those
 WHO DO NOT OBEY THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. These shall
 be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the
 Lord and from the glory of His power..." (2 Th 1:7-9)
 
Please render obedience to the gospel today if you have not yet done 
so! - cf. Ac 2:36-39

The Promises Of God's New Covenant (8:7-13)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. Up to this point
the focus of "The Epistle To The Hebrews" has 
 been on Christ...
 a. His superiority to prophets
angels
Moses
 b. The superiority of His priesthood to the Levitical priesthood
 
2. With the transition in He 8:1-6
the focus shifts to the New 
 Covenant...
 a. A new covenant in which Jesus has already been described as:
 1) The "surety" (guarantor) - He 7:22
 2) The "Mediator" (one who intervenes) - He 8:6
 b. In both passages
this covenant was described as a "better" 
 covenant
 
3. Better than what? Better in what way? In Hebrews 8
we learn the 
 answer...
 a. Better than the "first covenant" - cf. He 8:7
 b. Better because of the "promises" contained in it - cf. He 8:6
 
[In this study
"The Promises Of God's New Covenant"
we shall examine
our text (He 8:7-13) to ascertain how the New Covenant is better

especially with regard to its promises.
 
Let's begin by noticing...]
 
I. GOD'S PROMISE OF A NEW COVENANT (7-9
13)
 
 A. THE FIRST COVENANT WAS NOT FAULTLESS... (7)
 1. Otherwise
there would have been no need for a second covenant
 2. We have already seen concerning the first covenant that...
 a. The Levitical priesthood could not bring perfection - He 7:
 11
 b. The Law made nothing perfect
and was therefore annulled 
 due to its weakness and unprofitableness - He 7:18-19
 3. This inadequacy has special reference to the sacrifices of the
 first covenant...
 a. They could not make those who approach perfect - He 10:1-3
 b. The blood of animals offered by the priests could not take
 away sins - He 10:4
11
 
 B. THE PEOPLE OF THE FIRST COVENANT WERE ALSO AT FAULT... (8-9)
 1. God found fault because they did not continue in His covenant 
 - cf. Jer 11:7-10
 2. For this reason He disregarded them
allowing them to be taken
 away by their enemies - cf. Jer 11:11-14
 -- Even so
He did not leave them without some hope
for through
 the prophet Jeremiah He made a promise...
 
 C. GOD PROMISED A NEW COVENANT... (8-9)
 1. Promised in Jer 31:31-34
 2. In which God would make a "new covenant" with Israel and Judah
 2. A covenant different than the one made at Mt. Sinai (how
we
 shall see in a moment)
 
 D. THE NEW COVENANT HAS MADE THE FIRST "OBSOLETE"... (13)
 1. By even calling the promised covenant "new"
God made the
 first covenant obsolete
 a. The old covenant actually continued on for about 500 years
 after Jeremiah
 b. But with the promise of the new
attention would be taken
 away from the old covenant and directed toward the new one
 that was coming!
 2. Its obsolescence was especially seen in the days of the Hebrew
 writer...
 a. It was "becoming obsolete and growing old"
 1) The death of Jesus rendered the sacrifices of the first
 covenant unnecessary
 2) Before long
the temple itself would be destroyed
and
 along with it
the last vestiges of the Levitical 
 priesthood
 b. Truly
it was "ready to vanish away"
 
[So God promised a "new covenant" to replace the "old covenant"; and 
Jesus is the "Mediator" of this covenant
which is "a better covenant".
Better in what way?
 
Better because it "was established on better promises". Let's now 
consider some of...]
 
II. GOD'S PROMISES INVOLVING THE NEW COVENANT (10-12)
 
 A. IT WILL BE INWARD AND SPIRITUAL... (10)
 1. "I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their 
 hearts"
 2. The first covenant had its laws written on tablets of stone; 
 the new covenant is one that requires God's laws be written in
 our hearts
 3. It is not enough to have God's Word in our hands
on our 
 coffee tables
etc.
 a. We must plant God's Word into our hearts - cf. Ja 1:21
 b. For only then can we truly be born again by the 
 incorruptible seed
the word of God - 1 Pe 1:22-23
 -- Are you living up to intent of the New Covenant
or are you
 little different than those under the first covenant
who had
 the Word
but not on their hearts?
 
 B. IT WILL PROVIDE A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD... (10)
 1. "I will be their God
and they shall be My people"
 2. The actual terms of this promise is really nothing new - cf. 
 Exo 6:7; Lev 26:12
 3. But in each successive "age"
its promise is filled with fresh
 meaning; for example...
 a. In "this age"
we enjoy a closer relationship with God 
 - cf. 2 Co 6:16-18; 1 Pe 2:9-10
 b. But even more so
in the "age to come"
which is in 
  eternity - cf. Re 21:1-7
 -- Are you utilizing the blessings whereby you can have a closer
 relationship with God?
 
 C. IT WILL BE WITH PEOPLE WHO KNOW THE LORD... (11)
 1. "None of them shall teach...saying
'Know the Lord'
for all
 shall know Me..."
 2. The New Covenant will be with people who have already come to
 know the Lord
 a. Unlike the first covenant
in which people entered it at 
 birth; as they grew up
they needed to be taught about the 
 Lord
 b. In the new covenant
one must come to know the Lord before
 they can enter the covenant
 3. So it is that one must believe in Jesus before they can enter
 into a covenant relationship with their Lord through baptism 
 - cf. Ac 8:36-38
 -- Does not this feature of the New Covenant preclude the 
 practice of infant baptism?
 
 D. IT WILL PROVIDE TRUE FORGIVENESS FOR SIN... (12)
 1. "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness
and their
 sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more"
 2. Here is the ultimate basis of the blessing previously 
 described; by virtue of the forgiveness of sins can we truly 
 be God's people
and He our God!
 3. Thus the New Covenant provides what the first covenant could 
 not: true forgiveness of sins! - cf. He 10:1-4
11
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. Such are "The Promises Of God's New Covenant"...
 a. As foretold through the prophet Jeremiah
 b. Now fulfilled through the coming of Jesus and His death on the 
 cross
 -- By virtue of "better promises"
Christ is truly the Mediator of a
 "better covenant"!
 
3. But there is more to be said about why the New Covenant is a better
 covenant...
 a. It also has a better sanctuary
 b. It also has a better sacrifice
 -- But consideration of these things will be saved for later
 
At this point it might be appropriate to ask:
 
 Have you truly entered into a covenant relationship with the Lord?
 
The entrance terms of this New Covenant are simple: They involve faith
in Christ and a confession of that faith (Ro 10:9
10)
along with 
repentance of sins and baptism into Christ (Ac 2:36-39). 
 
The promised blessings of the New Covenant await any and all who are 
willing to so respond to the gospel of Christ!

－－《Executable Outlines》

The better new covenant

Put in their minds

Write on their hearts

I. Serve in the true tabernacle

1. Set up the tabernacle

2. Sit in heaven

3. Pattern shown on the mountain

II.Mediator of a better covenant

1. A superior ministry

2. Wrong with the Old Testament

3. Promise of a new covenant

III. Promise to be with men

1. Know the Lord better

2. The power of removing sins

3. Substitute the old by the new

－－ Chih-Hsin Chang《An Outline of The New Testament》