Heritage Reformed Baptist Mission
HEBREWS
Chapter 8
Hebrews 8:1-13
A BETTER COVENANT - because it is:
1. Ministered by a Superior High Priest - v.1
2. Ministered in a better place - vv.2-5
3. Founded on better promises - vv.6-13 *NOTE: The first covenant was an everlasting covenant, BUT it was broken by the
people - cf. Isa 24:5
*The new covenant, seeing it depends upon God's faithfulness, not man's, will never be broken.
a. He is morally perfect;
(1) perfectly suitable to our needs; cf. 7:26
(2) earthly priests were not
b. His work is perfect, finished - “set...”
(1) No chairs in the Temple
(2) Sacrifices had to be offered continually and repeatedly
c. He is enthroned in the perfect place, heaven
(1) At the right hand of the Father
(2) No high priest ever sat on a throne
d. Could He, therefore, be the minister of a covenant that could make nothing perfect?
a. The very presence of God (sanctuary) - v. 2a
b. The true tabernacle, of which the earthly one was but a copy - v. 2b
c. With a sacrifice offered once and for all (Gk. tense of “offer”) - v. 3
(1) Which He could not offer if He were on earth - v. 4
(2) Which the Temple sacrifices foreshadowed - v. 5
a. The grace of God - vv.8-10
(1) “I will”, not, “We will” (cf. Ex 19:8)
(2) The “first covenant” depended on man's faithfulness to God (v.8)
(3) The “new covenant” depends on God's faithfulness to man
(4) The “first covenant” was “holy, just, and good” (Rom 7:12); but it could not change
human hearts
b. Internal change - v.10
(1) A new nature - cf. 2 Peter 1:1-4; 2 Cor 5:17
(2) A new mind - cf. Rom 12:2; 1 Cor 2:16; Phil 2:5; 2 Cor 3:1-3
c. Forgiveness of sins - v.12
(1) The “first covenant” only brought a knowledge of sins - cf. Rom 3:20
(2) The “new covenant” brings total forgiveness - cf. 1 John 1:7
(a) Through the blood of Christ - cf. Eph 1:7; Col 1:14
(b) Never to be used against (remember no more) - cf. Eph 4:32
d. Eternal - v.13
(1) “New” = in quality, not in time (Gk.)
(2) Of such quality never to be replaced - cf. 5:9; 9:12; 13:20
(3) “Vanish away” = it did in 70 A.D., not too many years after this letter was written.