HEB 8Hebrews 8

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NLT

English Standard Version (ESV)

New Living Translation (NLT)

Christ Is Our High Priest

8 Here is the main point: We have a High Priest who sat down in the place of honor beside the throne of the majestic God in heaven. 2 There he ministers in the heavenly Tabernacle, the true place of worship that was built by the Lord and not by human hands. 3 And since every high priest is required to offer gifts and sacrifices, our High Priest must make an offering, too. 4 If he were here on earth, he would not even be a priest, since there already are priests who offer the gifts required by the law. 5 They serve in a system of worship that is only a copy, a shadow of the real one in heaven. For when Moses was getting ready to build the Tabernacle, God gave him this warning: “Be sure that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain.” 6 But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises. 7 If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second covenant to replace it. 8 But when God found fault with the people, he said: with the people of Israel and Judah. 9 This covenant will not be like the one so I turned my back on them, says the LORD. 10 But this is the new covenant I will make and they will be my people. 11 And they will not need to teach their neighbors, will know me already. 12 And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.” 13 When God speaks of a “new” covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and will soon disappear.

Introduction to Hebrews

Background of Hebrews

What Is the Book of Hebrews About?

Time: 3 Minutes

Do you have a hero? A sports hero, maybe, or a historical figure you admire? When we think of the book of Hebrews, we often think of heroes. Chapter 11 of this book is one of the most well-known passages in the Bible. It’s sometimes called the “Hall of Faith,” since a number of biblical heroes are celebrated for their faith in God. Though Hebrews isn’t just about heroes, it’s not a bad place to begin understanding the book.

Over the years, people have tried to determine who wrote Hebrews, but the author is never named. We know more about the people receiving the letter. Since this letter is not addressed to one church or city, the hearers were probably scattered across many places. The hearers must also have read the Old Testament and participated in Jewish worship since the author assumes they knew all about it.

The letter tells us directly that the readers had already believed in Jesus (Hebrews 3:12-13). They had bravely served the church even through persecution (Hebrews 10:32-34), but they were in danger of giving up their faith. These were people who had stalled in their spiritual growth (Hebrews 5:11-14) and were “shrinking back” from following Jesus (Hebrews 10:39).

Imagine you’re training to run an ultra-marathon. It’s helpful to have a friend jog with you for a stretch or bring you water along the route. However, you also need a coach with a whistle and a loud voice warning you not to give up, telling you to pick up the pace. The writer of Hebrews is this coach.

Hebrews motivates discouraged Christians by reminding them who Jesus is.

Hebrews motivates discouraged Christians by reminding them who Jesus is. Only Jesus is “the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature” who “upholds the universe by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:3). Jesus is better than the angels (Hebrews 1-2), greater than Moses (Hebrews 3), higher than the high priest (Hebrews 5), and the only lasting sacrifice (Hebrews 10). Jesus has established a kingdom that cannot be shaken (Hebrews 12:28), and living with Jesus forever in his kingdom is our ultimate goal (Hebrews 13:14).

The writer of Hebrews also spurs on the flagging Christians by reminding them of their heroes of the faith who lived and died, trusting they would see a better, heavenly country (Hebrews 11:16). These heroes are a “great cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1), whose examples of trust ought to encourage us to remain faithful to Jesus in this life.

Every Christian must run with endurance by fixing his or her eyes on Jesus, “the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2). We are cheered on by an audience, but our hearts and minds are set on only one—our greatest hero, Jesus.

Have you found yourself lagging in your spiritual marathon or shrinking back from faith? Turn to the book of Hebrews.

Remember the stories in the Bible that inspired you, or maybe visit some of them to encourage you, but most of all, look to Jesus who stands at the finish line. In these pages, God—our faithful coach—equips us to press on in the race that is set before us.

What Is the Background of Hebrews?

Time: 15 Minutes

Background of Hebrews

1

Author, Date, and Recipients

The author of Hebrews is unknown. He knew Timothy (Hebrews 13:23). He was not an eyewitness of Jesus (see Hebrews 2:1, 3). The letter was probably written before AD 70. Early manuscripts bear the title “To the Hebrews,” which reflects the ancient assumption that it was written to Jewish Christians as well as Gentile Christians who previously had been drawn to the Jewish religion. The author knew his readers and wanted to see them again (Hebrews 13:19).

2

Theme

Jesus Christ is greater than any angel, priest, or old covenant practice. Christians must not forsake the great salvation that Jesus has brought about. They must hold on by faith to the true rest found in Christ, and they must encourage others in the church to do the same.

3

Purpose, Occasion, and Background

Hebrews has two primary purposes: to encourage Christians to endure, and to warn them not to abandon their faith in Christ. These warning passages appear throughout the book (Hebrews 2:1–4; 3:7–4:13; 5:11–6:12; 10:19–39; 12:1–29). The author encourages faithfulness, love, and sound doctrine. He does so by carefully teaching the Old Testament in light of God’s revelation in Jesus Christ.

The author shows the superiority of Christ and his new covenant over angels, Moses, the Old Testament priesthood, and the Old Testament sacrificial system. These are so inferior to Christ that it is futile to return to them—or to go anywhere else. Rather, believers should hold fast to their faith, because that faith is grounded in the most superior revelation.

The background of such exhortations must have been the readers’ need to continue enduring amid persecution and the trials of life (e.g., ch. 12). They appear to have grown less attentive to Christian instruction (Hebrews 5:11–14), and some apparently have ceased regular attendance at their meetings (Hebrews 10:25). The author reminds them of their past faithfulness and love despite persecution (Hebrews 10:32–34).

Ultimately, the author’s words of encouragement and exhortation are rooted in his teaching about Jesus Christ. The Son of God became the heavenly high priest, who offered himself as a sacrifice once for all. Christ obtained salvation for all who approach him in faith (Hebrews 6:1; 11:6; compare 4:2), and such faith perseveres until it receives the promised eternal reward (Hebrews 6:12; 10:22, 38–39).

4

Key Themes

1. Jesus is fully God and fully man (Hebrews 1:1–14; 2:5–18).

2. Jesus, the Son of God, reveals God the Father. He is the creator and he sustains all creation (Hebrews 1:1–14).

3. Jesus is the eternal high priest. As a man, he sympathizes with human weaknesses, and he offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 1:3; 2:10–18; 4:15–16; 9:11–10:19).

4. Jesus is superior to angels, to Moses, to the Mosaic covenant, to the earthly tabernacle, and to the priesthood (Hebrews 1:4–2:18; 3:1–6; 5:1–10; 7:1–10:18).

5. All humanity faces eternal judgment for sin (Hebrews 4:12–13; 9:27–28; 10:26–31).

6. Faith is necessary to please God and to participate in his eternal salvation. Faith requires confidence about the unseen realities of God and his promises. Such faith produces perseverance (Hebrews 6:1; 10:22, 38–39; 11:1–40).

7. Perseverance is necessary in the Christian life; believers are warned against a lack of endurance (Hebrews 2:1–4; 3:7–4:13; 10:19–39; 12:1–29).

8. God’s promises are trustworthy, including his promise of eternal salvation (Hebrews 6:13–20).

9. With the coming of Jesus Christ, the last days have begun. They will be completed when he returns (Hebrews 1:2; 9:9–28; 12:22–29).

5

Outline

I. Jesus Is Superior to Angelic Beings (1:1–2:18)
II. Jesus Is Superior to the Mosaic Law (3:1–10:18)
III. Call to Faith and Endurance (10:19–12:29)
IV. Concluding Encouragements and Remarks (13:1–25)

The Global Message of Hebrews

The message of Hebrews for the global church is that Jesus is better than every other thing believers are tempted to fall back into, such as their formers ways of sin, culturally comfortable patterns of thinking or living, or non-Christian ethical codes. In the midst of adversity, believers are to fix their eyes on Jesus, live by faith, and run the race that is marked out for them.

1

Hebrews and Redemptive History

The book of Hebrews displays a clear and profound awareness of redemptive history. Through its quotations from the Old Testament, interpretation of past events, and reflection upon saints of old such as Moses or Melchizedek, Hebrews presents rich teaching on the story of salvation that has culminated in Jesus Christ.

While Hebrews makes many individual points relating to redemptive history, all this serves to make one basic point: Jesus is superior. Jesus is better than the prophets (Hebrews 1:1–2), better than the angels (Hebrews 1:5–14), better than Moses (Hebrews 3:1–19), better than the priests (Hebrews 4:14–5:10; 7:23–28), better than Melchizedek (Hebrews 6:19–7:19), and better than all previous sacrifices (Hebrews 9:11–14; 10:19). Through Jesus, God has brought about the longed-for new covenant (Hebrews 8:1–13; 9:15).

Hebrews therefore views all of history as falling into two broad eras. The first is the old age, which has been abolished with the coming of Christ. The second is the new age, which has dawned with the coming of Christ. Jesus Christ is the hinge, the turning point of all of human history. Those who have been ushered into the new age would therefore be foolish to turn back the clock and try to enter once more into the old age.

2

Universal Themes in Hebrews

Jesus and Suffering

Throughout Hebrews the author encourages his readers to stand fast in the midst of their troubles (e.g., Hebrews 10:32–33). He does so by connecting the suffering of his readers to the suffering of Christ. “Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted” (Hebrews 12:3). Jesus himself has experienced whatever suffering believers experience. “We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). The result of Jesus’ enduring all our weakness is that he is uniquely qualified to represent his people before God. Jesus “had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest” (Hebrews 2:17).

There is deep comfort for the church in what Hebrews says about Jesus and his suffering. We learn that our suffering, especially when it is due to our loyalty to Jesus, is not experienced alone. He himself has gone through it. Jesus draws near to his people who are in the darkness of adversity. He is the friend of sufferers. He knows what it is to be rejected (Hebrews 13:11–13). Suffering is not inherently good; it is a result of the fall and will one day be completely eradicated. But in the meantime, believers around the world take heart, knowing that whatever pain is upon them is a pain for which Jesus, our great high priest, cares deeply and which he himself has experienced. And it is a pain that can only work to produce greater glory for those who are united to Christ (Romans 8:17–18; 2 Corinthians 4:17–18).

The Danger of Apostasy

“Apostasy” means to fall away from faith in Christ. More than any other New Testament book, Hebrews addresses the danger of Christians failing to persevere by faith to the end (Hebrews 2:1–4; 3:7–4:13; 5:11–6:12; 10:19–39; 12:1–29). The writer describes faithful discipleship as a race that requires endurance (Hebrews 12:1). On the one hand, perseverance is not a self-generated effort that is wholly up to us, as a way of earning our final acceptance. Indeed, as much as Hebrews calls on believers to persevere, it comforts believers with the glorious truth that Jesus has offered the sacrifice that fully pays for our sins and guarantees our eternal acceptance (Hebrews 9:1–10:18). On the other hand, this book calls on Christians to live in a way that honors our Lord and Savior. We must endure (Hebrews 10:36). We must look to Jesus (Hebrews 12:1–2). This will require strenuous earnestness as we labor on toward the end of this race, imitating “those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Hebrews 6:11–12).

There is deep strengthening for the church today in this call to perseverance. The temptation to quit the Christian life is universal and must be resisted. Our call in the gospel is to fix our eyes on Christ, weathering the storms that threaten to sink us as we journey on through this fallen world. The specific forms of what will threaten our faith will vary culturally around the world. But the call to faith and the Christ whom we trust remain the same.

3

The Global Message of Hebrews for Today

Endless distractions bombard believers around the world today. The news media and volatile economies provide an endless stream of temptations to worry. The Internet and the array of devices through which to connect to it are more widely available than ever before. Potential wars and actual wars rage within nations and between nations. Natural disasters continue to remind us how fragile life is, despite the massive technological and medical advances of recent decades. And in the midst of this, we are dealing with the more immediate challenges of simply keeping our marriages and families together.

As twenty-first-century Christians, it can be difficult to “look to Jesus” (see Hebrews 12:2). And yet beneath every reason for discouragement or distraction, our great High Priest lives and stands, interceding for his brothers and sisters from every tribe and people and nation. He has experienced all our suffering and more. He knows our weakness. Let us run the race of faith. “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).

8:1-8:2 The first two verses of ch 8 transition from the discussion just completed and anticipate the discussion to come. • Here is the main point: The author is referring back to the appointment of Jesus as a superior High Priest (5:1-10; 7:1-28). • he ministers in the heavenly Tabernacle (or tent; also in 8:5): This anticipates the theme of Jesus’ superior offering that is covered in the rest of this section (8:3–10:18). Unlike the Levitical priests who served in an earthly tent or building, Jesus’ sacrifice is superior because he serves in the true place of worship, the very presence of God in heaven (8:5; 9:11, 24; 10:12).

8:1-10:18 This passage on Jesus’ superior offering argues that his ministry as the heavenly High Priest is superior to that of earthly priests.

8:3 every high priest is required to offer gifts and sacrifices: Making offerings is a general requirement of priests, so Jesus also had to offer a sacrifice. • This verse reiterates what is stated in the first verse of the previous discussion (5:1), indicating another major movement in the book.

8:4 If he were here on earth: Under the old order Jesus would not even be a priest, as previously discussed (see 7:13-14). But Jesus is in heaven, which makes his priestly service distinct from and superior to that of the priests of the old covenant (8:5; 9:11, 24; 10:12).

8:5 a copy, a shadow: The earthly place of worship was an imitation that pointed to the real one in heaven. That is why God warned Moses to make it according to the pattern (see Exod 25:40; 26:30; cp. Acts 7:44). Judaism and early Christianity both spoke of a heavenly Temple within a heavenly Jerusalem, which would come down to earth at the end of the age (see Rev 21:2). Hebrews suggests that this heavenly place of worship was shown to Moses so he would know how to build the earthly Tabernacle. It is the heavenly Temple, however, in which Jesus ministers as High Priest.

8:6 the one who mediates: A mediator works with two parties to bring them to agreement. Christ’s work of sacrifice established the covenant relationship between people and God. • a far better covenant with God: See “The New Covenant” Theme Note. This covenant is better because it is based on better promises (see 8:7-13).

8:7 The first covenant, made at Sinai, was not faultless. It was not the end of God’s plan, because it didn’t solve human weaknesses (see 7:11-28; 8:9).

8:7-8:13 The author quotes Jer 31:31-34, an Old Testament prophecy concerning the new covenant that includes a number of striking promises. Establishing the superiority of the new covenant lays a foundation for the argument in Heb 9:1–10:18 that the Son’s offering under the new covenant was superior to the offerings of the old covenant.

8:8 found fault with the people: Because the people were unable to keep the terms of the old covenant (see study note on 8:7), God made a new covenant.

8:9 God made a covenant with their ancestors at Sinai (Exod 19:1-8; 24:7-8; 34:27-28; Deut 4:13). • I took them by the hand: In rescuing his people from the land of Egypt, God led them as a parent might lead a child that could not fend for itself (see Exod 12–14). • They did not remain faithful: See Heb 3:7-19; Num 14:1-38; Deut 9; Ps 106. • so I turned my back on them: The covenant warned that if the people turned away, God would turn away from them (see Deut 28:15-68; 30:11-20; 1 Kgs 8:22-53; 2 Chr 6:12-42).

8:10 Under the old covenant, the people were commanded to take the words of the law to heart (Deut 32:46), and the kings of Israel and Judah were judged on whether or not they followed the law of God wholeheartedly (2 Kgs 10:31; 2 Chr 31:21). A difference in the new covenant is that God’s laws would be in people’s minds and on their hearts. People would have renewed hearts and minds, with God’s law as an intrinsic, internal motivation.

8:11 All those in the new covenant know the Lord; intimate personal relationship with the Lord is in the very nature of the new covenant.

8:12 A final characteristic of the new covenant is that God would forgive their wickedness and never again remember their sins. The blood of Jesus cleanses his people completely from sin (9:13-15; 10:14-18, 22; 1 Jn 1:7).

8:13 The word new in “new” covenant emphasizes that, once God had enacted this covenant, the Sinai covenant was considered old or obsolete and was thus out of date. Its time of usefulness was over and its termination was imminent.

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