Hebrews 8:1
Review:
The Four Proofs of Melchizedek’s
Superiority (7:6-10)
1) Abraham gave him tithes
2) Melchizedek accepted tithes
indicating his superior position
3) Melchizedek’s priesthood was not
replaced, but Levitical priesthood would die and constantly be replaced
4)
The
new priesthood and the new covenant are superior to the old because:
These
things are no longer needed because they have given way to something better:
1) Aaronic priesthood is replaced with the better order
of Melchizedek
2) Old Covenant is replaced with the better New Covenant
3) The earthly sanctuary is replaced by the real heavenly sanctuary
4) The temporal are replaced by the effective and
eternal sacrifice.
8:1
The point of what we are saying is
this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the
throne of the Majesty in heaven,
This
verse begins the theme for the next two and a half chapters up to 10:18.
“The point of what we are saying” is
literally “Now a summary over the things being said”. The
author has said all that he said to get to this topic and explain it.
What
was his point? What is all this
information pointing at?
The
author is going to now explain two important things:
This
begins to explain where our high priest is serving. He is in the throne room of the Majesty in
heaven
“seated
at the right hand” has already been stated in 1:3. Now we know what is not clear in Heb. 1:3. Why he is seated in heaven: he is serving as our high priest
The
seated Christ in Hebrews:
1. 1:3 – “The son is. . .After he had provided
purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”
2. 8:1 – “We do have such a high priest, who sat
down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven. . . .
and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer.”
(8:1,3)
3. 10:12 – “When this priest had offered for all time
one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of
God.”
4. 12:2 – “for the joy set before him endured the
cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the
throne of God”
____________
5. PSALM 110:1 – “The Lord says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I
make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’”
8:2
and who serves in the sanctuary, the
true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man.
A
contrast is made between the “true” (real) and the shadow or image.
Between
God’s and man’s.
8:3
Every high priest is appointed to offer
both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have
something to offer.
The
next chapter will spend more time on these offerings.
8:4
If
he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already men who offer
the gifts prescribed by the law.
8:5
They
serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is
why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: "See to it
that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the
mountain."
8:6
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 it is founded on better
promises.
8:7
For
if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have
been sought for another.
8:8
But
God found fault with the people and said:
"The time is coming, declares the Lord,
when I will make a new covenant
with the house of
and with the house of
8:9
It
will not be like the covenant
I made with their forefathers
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of
because they did not remain faithful to my covenant,
and I turned away from them, declares the
Lord.
8:10
This
is the covenant I will make with the house of
after that time, declares the Lord.
I will put my laws in their minds
and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
8:11
No
longer will a man teach his neighbor,
or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,'
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest.
8:12
For
I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more."
8:13
By
calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one obsolete; and
what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.