hebrews – lesson 8 a better covenant hebrews 8:1-13

Hebrews – Lesson 8

A Better CovenantHebrews 8:1-13

Hebrews - Lesson 8 2

ReviewJesus Better than MelchizedekThe Levitical Priesthood could not remove sin, and was therefore inferior and temporary

Another priesthood was required, which was permanent and perfect

Jesus’ unique qualifications provided a “clean break” from the Law

His sacrifice ONCE FOR ALL sealed the salvation of all who are HisHe FOREVER intercedes in God’s presence for His children


The Main Point …Read Hebrews 8:1-2The author comes to the main point of what we discussed in last week’s lessonWe have such a High Priest

Perfect (by character)Present (at God’s right hand)Permanent Sworn by God’s Oath


The Service of Our High PriestJesus serves in the true tabernacle

Built by the Lord, not by man

The tabernacle built by man was temporary and was presided over by men who served temporarily

Though built according to the pattern

The true tabernacle was built by God and is presided over by His Son


Service in the SanctuaryRead Hebrews 8:3-6What must those who are appointed as priests offer?What sort of gifts and sacrifices did the earthly High Priests offer?

How often?

What did our High Priest offer?How often?Read Hebrews 7:27


The Earthly TabernacleWhere did the pattern for the Tabernacle come from?

Read Exodus 25:8-9, 40

Why was it important to follow God’s pattern?

What was God trying to accomplish?Why didn’t following God’s pattern result in a perfect, permanent sanctuary?Only a shadow of the real thing, but important that it reflect God’s intent


Our Author vs. PlatoSome Platonic thought inferred here by someAlas, from my college days:

Plato imagined a man in a caveA fire was burning outsideThe man could see the reflection of the fire on the wallHe never saw the fire, but could see a reflection or shadow of it

Philo viewed the Exodus passage in this wayProbably not the intention of our author


The Earthly PriesthoodWhy would Jesus not be allowed to serve as a priest on earth?

Wrong tribe – Judah vs. LeviLevites already appointed to serve

Think about this:Jesus would have been seen as a layman

Historical point:Verse 4: “for there are already men who offer the gifts prescribed by the law”Possibly indicates that Temple service was still taking place, supporting a mid-60’s dating of the letter


The Heavenly PriesthoodWhat qualifications does Jesus have to serve as our High Priest?

A Priest in the order of Melchizedek

Jesus’ priestly service can only be offered in the true sanctuary

Not on earth

Service rendered in the true sanctuary MUST be superior to that offered in an earthly sanctuary


A Better CovenantRead Hebrews 8:7-12What are the better promises?

The author wants to hold our attention

Why a new covenant?What was wrong with the old one?Read Jeremiah 7:21-26

Our author quotes from Jeremiah 31:31-34

Though he ignores that the oracle was delivered via Jeremiah and simply adds: “says the Lord”


The Better CovenantJeremiah speaks of the “new” covenant

Some translations render the phrase “new testament”, from whence comes the name

What are the attributes of the better covenant?

Implanting of God’s law in man’s heart (vs. 10)A personal knowledge of God (vs. 11)Forgiveness of sins (vs. 12)

These are the promises from verse 7


God’s Law in Men’s HeartsMore than committing it to memoryRead Deut 6:4-9

This apparently didn’t workThe defect was not in the Law, but in man’s ability to keep it

Read Ezek 11:19-20God will change men’s hearts to make it possible for His law to live there

A fuller and deeper relationship than before


A Personal Knowledge of GodRead Judges 2:10-15

This passage sums up most of Israel’s history in the following thousand yearsIsrael constantly forgot God

God seeks a new relationship with his people, one where we know Him intimately

Though that is what He sought from the very beginning with Adam and Eve


The Forgiveness of SinRead Hebrews 10:1-4

The Law and its sacrifices could not remove sin

Read Micah 7:18-20Micah speaks of God’s nature in wanting to forgive and pardon

Our God is full of mercy, compassion and forgiveness


God’s Promises …Such are the promises of the New Covenant

“I will put My laws in their mind”“They will all know Me”“I will remember their sins no more”

“I will be their God and they will be My people”


The New Supersedes the OldRead Hebrews 8:13Our author makes the point that the very mention of a new covenant renders the old obsolete, and with it:

The earthly priesthoodThe earthly sanctuaryThe earthly sacrifices

The age of the law and the prophets has passed; the age of the Son is here


An Analogy …This will get me in trouble When a MAN says he needs a new pair of shoes, he means:

The pair that he has is worn out and obsoleteThe new pair will replace the old pairThe old pair will be discardedThe new pair will be better thanthe old


Will Soon Disappear …Re-read Hebrews 8:13Two schools of thought

The author is continuing his argument about the superiority of the New Covenant by saying that the Old Covenant is passing awayThe author is writing prophetically about the destruction of the Temple and associated Covenant which - if we’ve dated the writing correctly - will take place in a few short years


Next Week’s LessonLesson 9 – A Better Sanctuary

Hebrews 9:1-14

hebrews – lesson 8 a better covenant hebrews 8:1-13

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