Hebrews Chapter 8

Yeshua/Jesus brings a New Covenant

8:1

Now the Author of Hebrews turns from giving us Jesus’ credentials, character and status as High Priest. He summarizes, and clearly states the importance of everything we have been learning: We have a High Priest and King that is Eternal; the God-Man, Yeshua, Jesus! He now sits at the right hand of God in Heaven. This “sitting” confirms that His work is completed. The Hebrew Priests never sat, as their work was never ‘completed’. In fact there was no place to sit. He, Jesus, has taken God’s Judgement of sin upon Himself and we are now freed from the penalty of sin ~ only by accepting it through Faith. The Gift of Eternal Life is available to anyone who would come to Christ. God Loves us with an Eternal Love, yet He does not force His Love upon us; we choose to accept Him or reject Him.

The Holy Spirit wants the Hebrews, and us, to clearly understand that this New Covenant, or Testament, is perfect! God has provided us with exactly what we need. This New Covenant replaces the old one, which was imperfect. In fact, the New Testament, what we today call these 27 books of the Bible, actually got it’s name from this book of Hebrews, outlining and explaining the New Covenant, or Testament given to all mankind.

8:2-3

Now we learn another important Truth: Yeshua, Jesus, dwells, or exists, in the Holy Tabernacle, which is in Heaven. This Holy Tabernacle, or “Temple” has been created by God, not man. The earthly Tent of Meeting, or Tabernacle, had been built by men at the instruction of God. See Exodus 25-30. The plans had been provided to Moses to be a copy of the True Tabernacle, which is in Heaven. The Temple built by Solomon was to replace the moveable Tabernacle. Yet, the True Temple is in Heaven; made by God and not by man. (3.) All the High Priests were appointed for the purpose of offering up gifts and sacrifices on behalf of the people. So it is with our Eternal High Priest, He must be offering up something on our behalf.

8:4

If Jesus were still on earth, He would not even be a “Priest” as there are already ‘priests’ serving on earth. Now, since the writer states that the High Priests of their day were “offering sacrifices” it would appear that the Temple still existed at the time Hebrews was written. So, even though the Temple was destroyed in 70 AD; and is no longer in existence today on earth, it has always been in existence in Heaven; that’s where Jesus is now serving as High Priest on our behalf. This also proves the superiority of the New Covenant, it is ministered from Heaven, not earth.

8:5

All the Priests of the Temple were to be a foreshadowing, or prophetic pattern, of what was to come in the Heavenly Temple. The writer reminds them of how Moses was warned by God to make the earthly Tabernacle exactly according to the pattern, or model, he had shown him on the mountain. This was a pattern of what already existed in Heaven. See Exodus 25:40. From the very beginning, it was revealed to the Israelites that the Tabernacle and worship, was a prelude to the “real thing in Heaven”. We need to remember this also; our worship is still “on earth”. True, Heavenly worship is yet to come! The glory and joy of Heaven is unknown to us, we long for it and our inner souls cry out for Jesus. Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

8:6

Now we are reminded that Jesus already has the perfect ministry on our behalf. Jesus is the mediator of a better Covenant, which was established upon better promises. In fact, these promises are eternal and the Covenant is perfect: Guaranteeing that we are Forgiven, we are being Sanctified, and we will be Glorified! This is truly the excellent and perfect ministry on our behalf. See Jeremiah 31:31-34.

8:7-8

The Author of Hebrews reminded them that if God had intended the Mosaic Covenant to be permanent, then He would not have promised another one. Nor would there even be any need for another covenant. Also see 2 Cor. 3; Gal. 3,4; etc. (8.) The fault was with the people, not the Old Covenant. The people were sinful and were unable to keep the Covenant. God promised them that in the future He would establish a New Covenant. God tells them He will make and ratify a New Covenant. Again see Jeremiah 31:30-34. So the New Covenant brought by Jesus, gives us true forgiveness of sin, rather than just a “covering up” of sin.

8:9-10

This New Covenant would not be the same, or similar to, the one God made with the Israelites when He brought them out of Egypt. The Author reminds them that God said they were unable to keep the Covenant. The New Covenant would be perfect, just as God is perfect. He reminds them that even though God miraculously brought them out of bondage and slavery of Egypt, they did not keep the Covenant He set up for them. (10.) The New Covenant that had been promised was not written on stone, as were the Ten Commandments, but was to be written on the hearts of the Believers. The Holy Spirit writes God’s Truth in our hearts. As we learn and obey His Word, His Truth becomes a reality in our being. Remember, all Truth comes from God. External laws can never change a person. The law can restrict us, or restrain us, but it cannot change us. Only the Holy Spirit can change our hearts and souls. As we obey the leading of the Holy Spirit, then our inner man, or soul and spirit, are slowly transformed into righteous behavior. See Romans 8:4. So what is your soul? Your soul is your Identity, who you really are; your character traits, your beliefs, ideals, attitudes, everything that makes you as a person. Your spirit becomes alive when you invite the Holy Spirit to enter into your being and become part of you, forever. Once this “transaction” occurs, you belong to God forever!

8:11-12

The writer continues to give us a glimpse of the future: The day will come when it will not be necessary for men to teach one another; for everyone will know God, as He is within us. We are truly one with the Spirit and with God. This “Oneness” with God will be explored later. (12.) This promise of being merciful to us as unrighteous sinners, and not remembering our sins, has been fulfilled by Jesus. Once we truly confess our sins and honestly repent and seek God’s forgiveness, then He is faithful to forgive us and NEVER remember those sins.

8:13

This old covenant was no longer of any use. Thus the Hebrews were to put it away, or not to be any part of it. This was a call to come out of the old ‘law of Judaism’ completely and embrace the New Covenant with Jesus. This was to be the new, fulfilled, Judaism. It may shock some Christians to realize that what we believe; both the old and new Testaments, are actually the REAL TRUE JUDAISM! Jesus told them, and us, that He came to fulfill the Law, or Covenant. That means that the old covenant is now annulled and useless. Once the perfect New Covenant came, that old one was gone, vanished. Note that the High Priest was never to tear his garments. See Lev. 10:6. Yet, Caiaphas, the High priest at Jesus’ trial, tore his clothes. Then upon the death of Jesus, the veil of the Temple was torn from top to bottom at Jesus’ death. Thus this confirmed that the old covenant was destroyed. Then in 70 AD the temple itself was destroyed. It has never been rebuilt to this very day.