HEBREWS 8:1-6

CONTINUING THE INVESTIGATION OF SOME HELPFUL INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPHS TO CHAPTER 8 FROM A NUMBER OF THE OUTSTANDING COMMENTARIES I HAVE IN MY PERSONAL LIBRARY. In no particular order we are first studying verses 1-6…

AS YOU WILL SEE, THE MAIN MESSAGE CONTINUES TO BE IN JESUS, THE HEAVENLY HIGH PRIEST, THERE IS A BETTER COVENANT…

^NAS  Hebrews 8:1-6 Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, ² a minister in the sanctuary, and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man. ³ For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; hence it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer. ⁴ Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law; ⁵ who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “See,” He says, “that you make all things according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.” ⁶ But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.

“IT SEEMS THAT ONE OF THE MAIN PURPOSES OF THE LETTER IS TO ASSURE BELIEVERS THAT THEY ARE FORGIVEN. We have no need to go anywhere else to secure a clean conscience. The author reminds the readers and us that we have a perfect and sinless priest and one who reigns as God’s right hand. His once-for-all sacrifice atoned for our sins forever. Why would the readers think of trusting in priests who were sinful and mortal when they are beneficiaries of the work of God’s Son, who has been perfected and offers complete and final cleansing from sin.” – Schreiner

ALTHOUGH BRIEF AND UNATTENTIVELY NOT BOLDENED (I’M TRYING – THUS FAR UNSUCCESSFULLY – TO GREATLY REDUCE MY TENDENCY TO PLACE EVERYTHING OUTSTANDING I READ FROM BOTH THE INSPIRED TEXT AND THE SUPERB COMMENTARIES) BY THIS OLD PROFESSOR, THAT HAS TO BE ONE THE FINEST, MOST COMPREHENSIVE SUMMARIES OF OUR STUDY OF HEBREWS TO DATE. And the immediately following longer paragraph as well…

“CONTEXT – The readers should not and must not fall away, for the Melchizedekian priesthood of Jesus is far superior to the Levitical priesthood (7:1-28). In 8:1-6 the relationship of Jesus’ priesthood to the tabernacle and the NEW COVENANT is explored. Jesus introduces believers to the true sanctuary, to God’s dwelling in heaven, and He is also the mediator of NEW AND BETTER COVENANT. The author pauses in 8:1 to underscore the main point, and as readers we must pay particular attention when we are told by the Author Himself what the main point is! He affirms that believers in Christ now enjoy the benefits of the Melchizedekian priest (8:1) described in the previous chapter. Indeed, Jesus is now seated at the right hand of the One who reigns in the heavens, demonstrating that He is King-Priest (Psalm 110:1). His rule in the heavens indicates that He is a minister of the sanctuary and tabernacle in the heavens (8:2). The priests, by way of contrast, ministered at the earthly tabernacle with gifts and sacrifices (8:3). Since Jesus was a priest, He also had to offer a sacrifice. He is not merely an earthly priest, for on earth sacrifices had to be offered in accord with the Mosaic law (8:4). The sanctuary at which the priests serve, however, functions as a pattern of the heavenly tabernacle (8:5) in accord with Exodus 25:40. Jesus’ heavenly ministry is better than the priest’s earthly ministry (8:6), for He mediates a better covenant, and it is a better covenant because it is enacted on the basis of better promises. – Schreiner

ANOTHER CLEAR AND PLAIN AND HELPFUL TO THE READER IN HIM OR HER KEEPING PACE WITH THE GLORIOUS BOOK OF HEBREWS – I TRUST YOU AGREE.

ISN’T HE WONDERFUL?

                                                                         – Professor Thomas A. Rohm