Daily Bread 2010 - Hebrews 8
The High Priest of a New Covenant
1 Now the main 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, 2 and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.
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. 4 If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. 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.” 6 But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.
The author of Hebrews continues to describe how Jesus is our new high priest, and the author of a new covenant which is superior to the old one. He describes the old covenant and its sacrificial system at the temple, as a shadow or copy of what is to come. Meaning it was meant to illustrate or illuminate what heaven was like, but it was not heaven itself.
When Jesus came, he instituted a new covenant that was superior to the old one for many reasons. First, the old covenant was written on stone tablets (Ten Commandments given to Moses), and the new covenant is written on the hearts of those who believe. Second, in the old covenant, an earthly priest had to offer continual sacrifices to atone for the sins of the people, including himself. In the New Covenant, Jesus is the once and for all sacrifice for our sins, past, present and future.
At the end of the Hebrews 8, we see the benefits of this new covenant through Jesus, which has made the old covenant obsolete. First, since the Law is now written on believer’s heart (Jeremiah 31:31-34) we can know God personally. Second, it says God has forgiven our sins and He will remember them no more.
What does this mean? As we come to believe in Jesus we can know God. And as we come in faith trusting in these great promises, God inscribes His desire for us on our hearts. And this is a foretaste or shadow of what heaven is like. God has given us a deposit of His Spirit, which is a foreshadowing of what eternity is like. Instead of learning about God through a mediator, we can come to Him directly through His Son.
Take a moment to thank God for the new covenant He has given us, and relish the promise that because you believe in these promises. God’s purpose and desire to be in relationship with is written on your heart!
Jesus thank you for introducing us to God’s promises, through being our merciful high priest. We know the sacrifice you offered on the cross has accomplished for us the salvation that the old covenant could never bring. Help us to live in confidence that we have been called to this better covenant and live our lives as response to these great and precious promises, Amen.
1 Now the main 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, 2 and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.
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. 4 If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. 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.” 6 But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.
The author of Hebrews continues to describe how Jesus is our new high priest, and the author of a new covenant which is superior to the old one. He describes the old covenant and its sacrificial system at the temple, as a shadow or copy of what is to come. Meaning it was meant to illustrate or illuminate what heaven was like, but it was not heaven itself.
When Jesus came, he instituted a new covenant that was superior to the old one for many reasons. First, the old covenant was written on stone tablets (Ten Commandments given to Moses), and the new covenant is written on the hearts of those who believe. Second, in the old covenant, an earthly priest had to offer continual sacrifices to atone for the sins of the people, including himself. In the New Covenant, Jesus is the once and for all sacrifice for our sins, past, present and future.
At the end of the Hebrews 8, we see the benefits of this new covenant through Jesus, which has made the old covenant obsolete. First, since the Law is now written on believer’s heart (Jeremiah 31:31-34) we can know God personally. Second, it says God has forgiven our sins and He will remember them no more.
What does this mean? As we come to believe in Jesus we can know God. And as we come in faith trusting in these great promises, God inscribes His desire for us on our hearts. And this is a foretaste or shadow of what heaven is like. God has given us a deposit of His Spirit, which is a foreshadowing of what eternity is like. Instead of learning about God through a mediator, we can come to Him directly through His Son.
Take a moment to thank God for the new covenant He has given us, and relish the promise that because you believe in these promises. God’s purpose and desire to be in relationship with is written on your heart!
Jesus thank you for introducing us to God’s promises, through being our merciful high priest. We know the sacrifice you offered on the cross has accomplished for us the salvation that the old covenant could never bring. Help us to live in confidence that we have been called to this better covenant and live our lives as response to these great and precious promises, Amen.
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