Hebrews

Joyce Webb 2018

Chapter 8

Vs. 1 Now about the things we have written:

We have a high priest. (Jesus)

He is sitting at the right hand of God in heaven.

He is there serving as a minister. He is in the tabernacle (temple/church) made in heaven, not made by man.

Every high priests makes offerings to God and sacrifices to God. So our high priest must make an offering also.

If Jesus were on earth he would not be a priest because there were priests already here to offer sacrifices according to the law of Moses.

Priests on earth serve in a place of worship this place of worship is a “copy” of the one in heaven.

When Moses was told how to build the tabernacle for the people of Israel, God told him to be sure to make it exactly as God said to make it. The reason was because it was to be a copy of the one in heaven.

Our high priest is a better high priest than those on earth.

The priests on earth served under the old laws. Our high priest has a better “law” or promise. A new promise and covenant. It is better than the old promise.

Vs. 7 If the old promise had been perfect then a new one would not be needed. God, himself, said the old covenant was not perfect.

In Jeremiah 31:21-34 God told Jeremiah—

The day will come, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant/promise with the people of Israel.

This covenant will not be like the one I made with their fathers before them when I took them by the hand and led them out of the land of Egypt.

The people were not faithful to obey my covenant, so I turned by back on them says the Lord.

But this is new covenant, I will make with the people of Israel, on that day,

I will put my laws in their minds so they will understand them.

I will write them on their hearts so they will obey them.

I will be their God and they will be my people.

They will not need to teach their neighbors, they will not need to teach their family, they will not need to say, “You should know the Lord”

For everyone, from the smallest to the greatest

Will already know me.

And I will forgive their wrongdoings, I will never again remember their sins against them.

Vs. 13 When God talks about the new covenant/promise, it means that the old one is not in use any more—-it is done —it is not to be used any more. The new covenant/promise is the one that will be used.

(Now since Jesus died on the cross and has gone back into heaven——-God sent the Holy Spirit to live in the people who have believed in Jesus and he is their savior.

The Holy Spirit teaches us what is right. He makes us understand when we do wrong things—-we feel bad and guilty.

This is what God meant when he said that he would write his law on our hearts and minds.

And some day when Jesus come to earth to rule as king the people of Israel and others will believe in Jesus and will want to obey him. There will not be the need for someone to preach to them because they will already believe in Jesus and be obeying.)