Chapter 8: Christ is Our High Priest

Introduction

Hebrews Chapter 8 shifts from discussing the superiority of Melchizedek’s priesthood to focus on Jesus as our High Priest. This chapter is pivotal as it emphasizes Christ’s heavenly ministry and introduces the concept of a new and better covenant.

Main Point of Hebrews

Verses 8:1-2:  (Gen Z) "¹ So basically, to sum up everything we've been talking about, we've got this awesome high priest, chilling on the right side of the throne of the Almighty up in the heavens. ² A TikToker of the holy vibes, and of the legit hangout spot, which God set up, not us." This statement encapsulates the essence of Jesus’ priesthood, highlighting His seated position of authority and His ongoing ministry in the true, heavenly sanctuary.

The Necessity of a Heavenly Priesthood (verses 8:3-4)

Verses 8:3-4: Every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices. Therefore, it was necessary for Jesus, our High Priest, to have something to offer as well. If He were on earth, He would not be a priest since there are already priests who serve according to the law. This underscores the distinct and superior nature of Christ’s priesthood, which is based not on the law but on a better (perfect) sacrifice.

The Heavenly Sanctuary and Earthly Copies (verse 8:5)

Verse 8:5: The earthly priests serve in a system that is only a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. God instructed Moses to make everything according to the pattern shown on the mountain (Exodus 25:40). This emphasizes that the earthly tabernacle was a shadow of the true, heavenly tabernacle where Christ now ministers.

A Superior Ministry (verse 8:6)

Verse 8:6: Jesus has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood. He mediates a better covenant, established on better promises. This new covenant signifies a profound shift in how God relates to humanity, moving beyond the limitations of the old covenant.

The Need for a New Covenant (verses 8:7-8)

Verses 8:7-8: The author argues that if the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second covenant. The fact that God spoke of a new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34) indicates that the first covenant was becoming obsolete and would soon disappear. This is a key theological point, showing the transition from the old to the new covenant.

Details and Promises of the New Covenant (verses 8:8-12)

1. The day is coming when God will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah.
   
   Explanation: This verse references a prophetic promise where God declares that He will establish a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. This new covenant is characterized by its enduring and intimate nature, designed to address the failures of the old covenant.
2. This new covenant will not be like the one made with their ancestors when they were led out of Egypt because they did not remain faithful to it.
   
   Explanation: The new covenant will differ from the old Mosaic covenant, which was based on the law given at Sinai. The people failed to keep this covenant, leading to its ineffectiveness in bringing about true righteousness. The new covenant is designed to overcome human unfaithfulness through God's transformative work within the believer.
3. God will put His laws in their minds and write them on their hearts.
   
   Explanation: Unlike the old covenant, which was external and focused on compliance with the law, the new covenant involves an internal transformation. God's laws will be inscribed on the minds and hearts of His people, making them a natural part of their lives (cf. Romans 2:14-15).
4. God will be their God, and they will be His people.
   
   Explanation: This declaration reinforces the covenant relationship between God and His people. It signifies a deep and personal connection, where God takes ownership and care of His people, and they, in turn, live in faithful relationship with Him. (cf. Romans 9:25-26).
5. Everyone will know the Lord, from the least to the greatest, and there will be no need to teach others to know Him.
   
   Explanation: Under the new covenant, knowing God becomes a universal experience, accessible to all people regardless of social status. This knowledge of God is direct and personal, eliminating the need for intermediaries or teachers to impart it.
6. God will forgive their wickedness and will never again remember their sins.
   
   Explanation: A key promise of the new covenant is the complete and irrevocable forgiveness of sins. The new covenant provides total forgiveness through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Discussion Questions

1. What parts of the new covenant were fulfilled by Jesus' death and resurrection, and how does that impact our understanding of God's promise today?
2. How are believers currently experiencing God's laws written on their hearts, and how does this shape our relationship with Him?
3. What does the promise of forgiveness in the new covenant mean for us now, and how does it continue to offer hope for the future?
4. How do we see the promise of universal knowledge of the Lord unfolding, and what does it suggest about the future fulfillment of the new covenant?

OT Verses Quoted in Hebrews Chapter 8

• Hebrews 8:5 - Exodus 25:40

  "Be sure that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain."

• Hebrews 8:8-12 - Jeremiah 31:31-34

  "The day is coming," says the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves his wife," says the Lord. "But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days," says the Lord. "I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, 'You should know the Lord.' For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already," says the Lord. "And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins."

Key Themes and Takeaways

1. Christ’s Superior Priesthood: Jesus is the High Priest of a better covenant, ministering in the true, heavenly sanctuary. His priesthood surpasses the earthly, Levitical priesthood because it is based on a perfect sacrifice and a lasting covenant.
2. The New Covenant: The old covenant was insufficient, and God promised a new covenant that would be internal, transforming hearts and minds. This new covenant, mediated by Christ, offers forgiveness of sins and a restored relationship with God.
3. Internal Transformation: Under the new covenant, God’s laws are written on the hearts and minds of His people. This signifies a deep, personal relationship with God, in contrast to the external requirements of the old covenant.
4. Forgiveness and Relationship with God: The new covenant guarantees the complete forgiveness of sins, allowing believers to experience a direct and personal relationship with God without the need for intermediaries.
5. Universal Knowledge of God: The promise of the new covenant includes the reality that all people, from the least to the greatest, will know God, fulfilling the hope of a restored relationship for all humanity.

Conclusion

Hebrews Chapter 8 establishes the superiority of Christ’s ministry and the new covenant. Unlike the old covenant, which was external and ultimately insufficient, the new covenant is internal, offering a personal and transformative relationship with God. It guarantees complete forgiveness of sins and a direct knowledge of God for all who are part of it.