Unpacking the Book of Hebrews: Chapter 8

 

Please bear in mind that the Book of Hebrews is written to Jewish converts to Christianity, many of whom were contemplating going back to Judaism (The Law) because of the persecution they were subjected to by those outside the Christian Faith.                                      

Note: In the body on this article the verses from Hebrews are in italics, the explanation of the verse/s follows in straight text with additional scriptures shown in bold italics.

Background to Chapter 8

In this chapter the writer again emphasizes the point of Jesus being the High Priest of a better covenant than the Law of Moses. He reiterates that Jesus is alive and is seated at the right hand of the Father interceding on our (the Church's) behalf! Jesus has made the Law obsolete as He was the only one who could fulfill it in every way. No earthly priest could do that!

Jesus, High Priest of a Better Covenant

1 Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 

In verse 1 the writer starts of by telling us that the main point of the previous chapter is that Jesus is our (every born again Christian - the Church) High Priest forever! He is now seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven in a place that no earthly priest could ever attain.

In this verse too, God the Father is referred to as "the Majesty", majesty with a capital M!

Now the Greek word used for "Majesty" here is "megalósuné" (pronounced meg-al-o-soo'-nay) and it's meaning is divine greatness - being God the Father. This underscores Christ's supremacy both in heaven and on earth! Through Him and for Him all things were made! Jesus and the Father are one!

Colossians 1:15-20 (ESV)

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by[f] him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

2 a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man. 

Verse 2 highlights the heavenly tent or tabernacle that God set up in heaven and that Jesus does not and did not serve as an earthly priest. He serves in the heavenly temple set up by God. The earthly tent that Moses set up was jut an earthly replica of the heavenly tabernacle

The work of the earthly priests was never finished as man continually sins. But with Jesus as our High Priest the work was finished at the cross as He was sinless and in Him alone we have our salvation and reconciliation with God! I and the Father are one.

John 10:30

I and the Father are one.”

3 For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. 

In verse 3 we are told that every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices and thus it was necessary for Jesus to have something to offer. What Jesus had to offer was far greater than what any earthly priest could do and far more beneficial to man!

Jesus offered Himself up as the perfect sacrifice for the sin of mankind so that we can be reconciled to God. His sacrifice was a gift to us from the Father as Jesus gave himself up willingly and out of His pure love for us. Amen!

4 Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law. 5 They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” 

In verses 4 and 5 the writer tells us that Jesus' priesthood, unlike the Levitical priesthood, was not in accordance with the Law of Moses! The priesthood of the Law was only a shadow and copy of the heavenly Tabernacle and priesthood, which God revealed to Moses on Mt Sinai.

Exodus 25:40 (ESV)

And see that you make them after the pattern for them, which is being shown you on the mountain.

The heavenly priesthood is far superior to the earthly priesthood!

6 But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.

In verses 6 and 7 the writer tells us that the New Covenant that Jesus provides is a much greater and more effective ministry than the Old Covenant (the Law) ever was as it is based on far superior promises. 

The main promise being everlasting life in Christ Jesus who took the sins of the world upon Himself that when we repent of our sins and accept Him as Lord and Saviour, we are born again and will see the kingdom of God.

John 3:3 (ESV)

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

The Old Covenant being flawed could not provide salvation for man, only the New Covenant (being flawless) of life in Christ Jesus saves mankind! Jesus is the only name by which man can be saved.

Acts 4:12 (AMP)

And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among people by which we must be saved [for God has provided the world no alternative for salvation].”

8 For he finds fault with them when he says:

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord,

    when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel

    and with the house of Judah,

9 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers

    on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt.

For they did not continue in my covenant,

    and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord.

10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel

    after those days, declares the Lord:

I will put my laws into their minds,

    and write them on their hearts,

and I will be their God,

    and they shall be my people.

11 And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor

    and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’

for they shall all know me,

    from the least of them to the greatest.

12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities,

    and I will remember their sins no more.”

In verses 8-12 the writer explains, by quoting a prophecy from Jeremiah 31:31-34, wherein the Lord says He will replace the old covenant with a new one and He also makes a number of personal promises in these passages.

These are:

• I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts.
• I will be their God and they shall be my people.
• Everybody will know Him personally.
• He will be merciful.
• He will remember their sins no more.

This is the New Covenant of repentance of sins and acceptance of Christ as Lord and Saviour. Faith in Christ Jesus and in Him alone!

13 In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

In verse 13 the writer tells the Hebrews who are thinking of returning to the Law that Christ Jesus has made the Old Covenant obsolete and useless and no longer valid. Salvation can only be found in Christ Jesus who fulfilled the Law in every way! Without Jesus there is nothing to go back to!

Jesus himself tell us this:

Matthew 5:17 (AMP)

“Do not think that I came to do away with or undo the Law [of Moses] or the [writings of the] Prophets; I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

Prayer

Dear Father in Heaven 

Thank you for Jesus my Lord and Saviour. Thank you that it is by His name alone that I am saved, and it is only through Him that I receive your sonship and can share in your spiritual blessings that are for Your children only. Help me, Father by the power of your Holy Spirit to walk in a manner that is worthy of my salvation in Christ Jesus and keep me from developing a sinful, rebellious heart of unbelief and help me to come before you in humility.  Help me Lord ro immerse myself in your Word and wall on the path to spiritual maturity so that I can be a blessing to others and glorify the name of Jesus. Help me in my unbelief I pray!. Amen.

To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!

Jesus the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself. My word is flawed - the Bible is not!

Unpacking the Book of Hebrews: Chapter 7

Please bear in mind that the Book of Hebrews is written to Jewish converts to Christianity, many of whom were contemplating going back to Judaism (The Law) because of the persecution they were subjected to by those outside the Christian Faith.                                      

Note: In the body on this article the verses from Hebrews are in italics, the explanation of the verse/s follows in straight text with additional scriptures shown in bold italics.

Background to Chapter 7

In this chapter the writer returns to a theme that he first introduced to us in chapter 2 verse 17 in which he sates that Jesus is our High Priest and he also expands upon the theme he introduced in chapter 5 verse 6 about Jesus being "a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek."

The Priestly Order of Melchizedek

1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 3 He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever. 4 See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! 

In verses 1-4 the writer gives us a little more information about the mysterious priest Melchizedek from what is written in the Old Testament. He met Abraham when he was returning home from defeating the alliance of the four kings (see Genesis 14:17-20) who had taken Lot, Abraham's nephew, captive. In these verses from Genesis we learn that Melchizedek was:

• A priest of the Most High God
• His name means king of righteousness
• King of Salem (an ancient name for Jerusalem), salem (a derivation of the Hebrew word "shalem"), it means peace so he was also the king of peace
• He is without genealogy - without mother or father and has neither beginning nor end 
• He resembles the Son of God in that he continues as a priest forever
• Melchizedek is considered to be a great man of God

When we look at the above attributes of Melchizedek that the Bible gives us, we can see that he is a shadow of or a type of Christ. And like Jesus did with his 12 disciples he broke bread with Abraham and pronounced a blessing over him, and Abraham, in recognition of the spiritual greatness of Melchizedek, gave him a tithe of a tenth of his spoils of war!

Melchizedek in his blessing of Abraham gave praise and glory to God for giving Abraham the victory over the four kings! Melchizedek was fully in line with the will of God.

Genesis 14:17-20 (ESV)

17 After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19 And he blessed him and said,

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,

    Possessor of heaven and earth;

20 and blessed be God Most High,

    who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”

And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. 

The inferior is blessed by the superior

5 And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. 

In verse 5 the writer explains that the Levitical priesthood was established through the Mosaic Law and the Law commanded them to take tithes from their fellow Israelites even though they were all Abraham's descendants.

6 But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. 

In verses 6 and 7 we learn that as Melchizedek is not descended from Abraham, he received tithes from Abraham, who carried God's promise of being a father to many nations, and blessed him. This shows that Melchizedek was greater than Abraham and that Abraham was inferior to Melchizedek as he gave tithes to him and was blessed in return - the inferior is blessed by the superior!

8 In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. 9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, 10 for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.

In verses 8, 9 and 10 the theme of Melchizedek being greater than Abraham is continued. The Levitical priesthood, down through the ages, received the tithes of Israel as mortal men as they are all descended from Abraham. 

The Levitical priests, because of their mortal lineage through Abraham, thus paid tithes through Abraham because the Levitical priests throughout the ages were still in Abraham's loins, so to speak, when Abraham met Melchizedek.

Jesus Compared to Melchizedek

11 Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? 

Verse 11 tells us that if we could receive salvation (being perfect) through the Law (the Levitical priesthood) there would be no need for us to have a Saviour and thus no need for another High Priest to arise in the order of Melchizedek! The Levitical priesthood never made anything perfect!

12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. 

It was always God's plan for man to be made perfect through the saving grace of His Son, our Lord Jesus. It is only through the name of Jesus that man can be saved - made perfect!. 

So with the advent of Jesus as our High Priest forever and our only Saviour, the law was not only changed but fulfilled in Christ! This was a necessity in order for man to be saved (made perfect) in Christ Jesus! Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law and it is only by repentance and receiving Him as Lord and Saviour that man can be saved.

Acts 4:12 (ESV)

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Matthew 5:17 (ESV)

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

Jesus is from the tribe of Judah

13 For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.

Jesus could not be a priest in accordance with the Mosaic Law as he was from a different tribe. He, in his humanity, was of the lineage of the tribe of Judah, not Levi! Jesus as our High Priest is therefore much higher than the Levitical priesthood as He is pronounced by God to be in the order of Melchizedek.

15 This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is witnessed of him,

“You are a priest forever,

    after the order of Melchizedek.”

In verses 15-17 the writer explains that Jesus is not a priest descended from a legal requirement (the Mosaic Law - Levitical Priesthood) but He became our High Priest forever by the power of an indestructible life! 

The grave could not hold Him. He was resurrected in the power of the Holy Spirit! This was prophesied hundred of years before by the Psalmist in Psalm 110:4:

The Lord has sworn

    and will not change his mind,

“You are a priest forever

    after the order of Melchizedek.”

God will not change His mind, Jesus is our High Priest forever!

18 For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

In verses 18 and 19 we learn that the former commandment from the Law has been changed and set aside because it was never able to make anyone perfect because it was weak and useless, but in the new covenant of faith in Christ Jesus our hope for eternity is secure as in Him we are able to draw near to God and are called His sons and daughters!

Jesus' sacrifice on the cross paid our debt of sin in full once and for all whereas the Law commanded animal or bird sacrifices for all types of sin on a continual basis. 

1 John 3:1-3(ESV)

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

Jesus appointed by the Father's oath - verses 20-22

20 And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, 21 but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him:

“The Lord has sworn

    and will not change his mind,

‘You are a priest forever.’”

22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.

All the Levitical priests before Jesus were appointed according to the Aaronic bloodline and not with an oath. But Jesus was appointed and anointed a High Priest for ever by an oath from God which makes him a permanent High Priest - not even death could hold him! But every priest before him perished! 

This makes Jesus our guarantor of an eternal life - a far better covenant than the Law! His is the covenant of our salvation and reconciliation with God the Father!

Acts 2:24 (AMP)

But God raised Him up, releasing Him and bringing an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in death’s power.

23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Verses 23-25

Every priest before Jesus had a finite ministry because they were subject to physical death just like every other human. But Jesus holds His priestly position forever as He is not subject to death - He was resurrected after the cross and lives forever! Consequently it is only through Jesus that mankind can receive eternal salvation! We can only be reconciled to God through Jesus since He constantly lives to intercede with God on our behalf.

Romans 8:34 (AMP)

Who is the one who condemns us? Christ Jesus is the One who died [to pay our penalty], and more than that, who was raised [from the dead], and who is at the right hand of God interceding [with the Father] for us. 

26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. 28 For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.

Verses 26-28

Jesus is better qualified to be a High Priest than any priest from the order of the Law of Moses - the Levitical Priesthood.

In verses 26-28 the writer reiterates that it is only right that Jesus should be our high priest forever because He the only one who is without sin and undefiled - He was not and is not a sinner as the Levitical priests are and we are. 

Jesus is holy and blameless and does not have to atone for His own sin as the Levitical priests did and as we do. Jesus is exalted above all things and the only name by which man can be saved! See Acts 4:12 above.

Two facts prove the perfect character of Jesus. Firstly, His is exalted in heaven and secondly, because He was sinless He did not need to offer up sacrifices for His own sins – which the other priests needed to do daily.

A Levitical priest could bring a sacrifice and offer it on the altar. But Jesus was both the priest and the sacrifice. Jesus' death and resurrection is the best and only sacrifice brought to God the Father by the best priest for mans salvation.

When Jesus offered up Himself it was a willing sacrifice done in love!

For the Levitical high priests were men who had weaknesses and were corrupted by sin: But Jesus is God's Son who has been perfected forever and was and is without sin and corruption. 

Because He is a perfect High Priest, He is able to offer up Himself as a perfect sacrifice for our sin. Jesus is perfectly qualified to be our perfect High Priest – perfected forever.

Prayer

Dear Father in Heaven

Thank you for Jesus my Lord and Saviour. Thank you that it is by His name alone that I am saved, and it is only through Him that I receive your sonship and can share in your spiritual blessings that are for Your children only. Help me, Father by the power of your Holy Spirit to walk in a manner that is worthy of my salvation in Christ Jesus and keep me from developing a sinful, rebellious heart of unbelief and help me to come before you in humility.  Help me Lord to immerse myself in your Word and wall on the path to spiritual maturity so that I can be a blessing to others and glorify the name of Jesus. Help me in my unbelief I pray!. Amen.

To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!

Jesus the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself. My word is flawed - the Bible is not!