Hebrews chapter eight

Heb 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;

Heb 8:2  A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

Heb 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.

Heb 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:

Heb 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.

Heb 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.

Heb 8:7  For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.

Heb 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:

Heb 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.

Heb 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:

Heb 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.

Heb 8:12  For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Heb 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.

 

“Now of the things which we have spoken…” (Heb. 8:1). So far we have learned from the writer of Hebrews (WoH) that Jesus, the Son of God, was, “by inheritance” (Heb. 1:4), greater than the angels. They excel in strength and can disappear into a fire’s flame (Ps. 103:20;Jdg. 13:20;Heb. 1:7); they come and go like a flash of lightning (Eze. 1:14), but He is greater than them. They were His “fellows”, but He was “anointed…with the oil of gladness above” them all. (Heb. 1:9). They worship Him. (Heb. 1:6).

He was greater than all creation. “Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Thine hands: they shall perish; but Thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; and as a vesture shalt Thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but Thou art the same, and Thy years shall not fail.” (Heb. 1:10-12).

 

Far above the actions of the cherubim of heaven, He sits enthroned; He is “made higher than the heavens.” (Heb. 7:26;Eze. 1:22-28).

 

He was greater than Abraham (Heb. 7:4) and Aaron (Heb. 7:6-10), more faithful than Moses (Heb. 3:3), His priesthood excels Aaron’s as Melchisidec excelled Abram, the ancient forefather of Aaron. (Heb. 7:11). Adonai’s priesthood was declared directly by God, and then He confirmed it by an oath, while Aaron’s was commanded through a human mediator (Heb. 7:20-22). His priesthood was better than Aaron’s because He ever lives and is not subject to the spiritual deformities and perversions (Lev. 10:1,2;1Sam. 2:12-17,22), physical infirmities (Heb. 7:28) and death (Heb. 7:16,23) of the sons of Aaron. He is “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners.” (Heb. 7:26). Messiah Jesus’s High Priesthood was “made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. For He testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” (Heb. 7:16-17).

 

Thus, Jesus has an unchanging priesthood, He will never be superseded (Mal. 3:6;Heb. 13:8;7:24). The heavens will pass away, but He abideth the same forever; and He lives for making intercession for us. As He lived for union with His Father (Matt. 27:46) so He lives for reconciling and reuniting His creation together to His Father. He is the quintessential Mediator for our redemption. As a mother loves to be surrounded by her children, so does He desire of His children, and that throughout all eternity (Matt. 23:37).

 

“… this is the sum…” (Heb. 8:1). Taken all together, what comes next sums all up all the greatness, power, eternal existence, and exceeding purity of Jesus. “We have such an High Priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.” (Heb. 8:1,2).

 

The abiding place of the King of kings, where thousand thousands minister unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stand before Him (Daniel 7:10); that temple, filled with the glory of the eternal throne, where seraphim, its shining guardians, veil their faces in adoration, could find, in the most magnificent structure ever reared by human hands, but a faint reflection of its vastness and glory. Great Controversy, p. 414.

 

The vast space of the heavenly temple in the Nebula Orion, the abiding place of the King of creation, is beyond all human comprehension. This is the holy tent which the Father pitched and not man. “And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings. And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it. And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of His loins even upward, and from the appearance of His loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.” (Eze. 1:25-28).

 

“Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of His holiness.” (Ps. 48:1).

 

“For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this Man have somewhat also to offer.” (Heb. 8:3). Following the logic of type and antitype, the Aaronic priests “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.” (Heb. 8:5). Therefore, the WoH claims the necessity of a temple for Jesus to officiate in and a sacrificial system of His own; but an infinitely better one than the earthly, “as the heavens are higher than the earth” (Isa. 55:9), the earthly system being infinitely flawed in comparison to the heavenly.

 

“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.” (Heb. 8:6).

 

Not only is the heavenly original a billion times more powerful than the earthly to change our sinful natures to overcome our sins, but the heavenly principles involved are infinitely better than a carnal economy that, as effective as it was to convict of sin, righteousness, and the judgment, and to reconcile the soul to God, the object that portrayed truth and grace fell far short of the infinite portrayal of truth by the almighty Messiah, Adonai come in the flesh and justified in the Spirit.

 

“For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.” (Heb. 7:18). “For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.” (Heb. 7:19). “For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.” (Heb. 8:7).

 

The flaws of the Mosaic covenant, previously noted by the WoH, lay in the weakness and inefficiency of the human priests and animal sacrifices and the earthliness of it which limited its ability to communicate the love and grace of God. But, the Person to whom the Mosaic system as a shadow pointed, brought to fallen humanity a fuller measure of grace, the soul struck by the sight of its beloved Jesus on the cross, fixed and now abiding in Christ, sealed by the Spirit of God. In addition, the first covenant had waxed old, decayed, and was “ready to vanish away.” (Heb. 8:13).

 

“For finding fault with them [the many faults surrounding the imperfect covenant and less desirable promises (Heb. 8:6) of the ailing Israelite economy, allowed to be infiltrated by the apostatizing Israelites with yet another false religion, Babylonian Judaism (Mal. 2:11-13) with its resultant unholy, humanistic Mishnah], 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.” (Heb. 8:8). That original promise through Jeremiah of a second covenant that came with the Messiah, Lord of heaven and royal Prince of peace, must wait during a long period of punishment and humbling for Israel, 600 years of captivity and degradation by Satan.

That new covenant, born out of adversity and humiliation prior to the Messiah’s arrival, could have come to Israel if they had conformed to God’s will for His character to be imparted to them. “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.” (Dan. 9:24).

 

If they had happily accepted the will and character transfer from Adonai, they would have become the humble, self-denying gospel warriors to take to the world the good news of the Messiah’s coming and of the robe of His righteousness by His Spirit which He offered everyone who would receive Him. They would have avoided the fulfillment of the warning and threat forecasted against them to Daniel in his 70 week prophecy. That is, if they were to reject the original desire of God for their nation to be a light to the world, then the final nation facilitating their 600 year Babylonian captivity—the Roman Empire—would come and destroy them, as Adonai had warned them from the beginning (Lev. 26:14ff;Deut. 28:15ff;Deut. 29:18-28;Isa. 10:17,18,22,23).

 

“And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for [because of] Himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And He shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week He shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for [because of] the overspreading of abominations He shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” (Dan. 9:26,27).

 

“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:

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.

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:

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.

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

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.” (Heb. 8:8-13).

 “At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people.

Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.

The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.

Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things.

For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God.

For thus saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O LORD, save thy people, the remnant of Israel.

Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither.

They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn.

Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.

For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he.

Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.

Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.

And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, saith the LORD.

Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.

Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.

And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border.

I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn Thou me, and I shall be turned; for Thou art the LORD my God.

Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.

Is Ephraim My dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore My bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD.

Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.

How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man.

Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity; The LORD bless thee, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness.

And there shall dwell in Judah itself, and in all the cities thereof together, husbandmen, and they that go forth with flocks.

For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.

Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me.

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast.

And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith the LORD.

In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.

But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.

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 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.

Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is His name:

If those ordinances depart from before Me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before Me for ever.

Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the city shall be built to the LORD from the tower of Hananeel unto the gate of the corner.

And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it upon the hill Gareb, and shall compass about to Goath.

And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook of Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever.” (Jer. 31).