The Weekend Word

Hebrews 8:1-7

The people wanted to leave what was invisible for what was visible. They were ready to go back to the types and shadows not realizing that they (the types and shadows) were the non real – and Jesus, his person, his priesthood and his covenants were the reality of what was foretold.

All of chapter 7 leads to v 1 & 2 here in chapter 8 – who is Jesus? This is the only question. When you answer “who” is Jesus, all other questions about him or his purpose or the nature of God and salvation are answered.

8 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,

• The main point! Who was it who said “let’s keep the main point as the main point?
• Our High Priest – you don’t have to look elsewhere
• Sat Down = the work is done
• The right hand = the place of authority and power.

² and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.

• In the sanctuary = the heavenly tabernacle
• The true Tabernacle = it means that it is real
• The OT temple was physically present but it was not the true tabernacle.
• Set up by the Lord – NOT by man
• Jesus could not serve in the earthly temple / tabernacle because he was from the wrong tribe.
• So where do we see this heavenly tabernacle? How were the people to know and understand heaven?
• We see it in the temple description in Ezekiel 40-48.
• People only understand God living in a temple – but alas God lives in heaven, not a temple, so he must give a description we can understand. People may be brilliant, but when it comes to God, well God must talk to us the way we talk to our pets.
• We look and wag our tail but have very little understanding.
• Somewhere along the line, some groups have misread this to be the description of a temple again on earth – which totally denies every point the writer makes in this book.

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 OT sacrificial system is like Macy’s bill – each month you must pay for your debt.
• Where today is our bloody altar?
• What is it that Jesus has to offer as a sacrifice? His Body – His Suffering – His Good Works – His Obedience.
• Jesus offers not a lamb, a goat or pigeons as a representation of Himself – but He offers Himself.

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.

• On earth Jesus is not qualified to be a priest let alone the High Priest.
• Earthly priest follow 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.”

• Did Moses see this in a vision?
• Why didn’t Moses get free reign? “Build me a temple you think would be worthy of me.”
• What Moses saw was only a depiction of what was real.

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 new covenant is established! – out with the old.

⁷ For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.

• Is there something wrong with the old covenant?
• Did God make a BAD covenant that took him generations to realize?
• The covenant depends on the actions of the people.
• Garrison Keilor said – “God is a great writer, but he has very bad actors.”
• What are the different covenants? I think it is good to read through them to see who God made covenants with, for what purpose and how they would be carried out.
• Noahic – Gen 9:8-17
• Abrahamic – A = Gen 15:9-21
• Abrahamic – B = Gen 17
• Mosaic – Exodus chapters 19-24
• Phinehas – Numbers 25:10-18 = son of Eliazer – son of Aaron Covenant of Peace.
• Davidic – 2 Sam 7:5-16
• New Covenant – Jeremiah 31:31-34