Filed under: Searching for our Savior in His book | Tags: #Biblestudy, #Bibletruth, #CompleteSurrender, #GeneralEpistle, #GodSpeaks, #Hebrews, #HighPriest, #Temple, #Worldview
Roopdawg Brief Overview of Hebrews 8
In addition to teaching, I used to coach. One team had learned a quote and wanted it to be the theme for the team. The quote was. “the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing!” The last few chapters of Hebrews have focused on the amazing High Priest that we have. Jesus far exceeds the high priests that were here for Israel. Using Melchizedek as a high priest superior to the Levitical high priests and letting the people know that Jesus exceeded all High Priests. Many specific details about earthly high priests are given. But we have a High Priest who is ours, and we are His.
If you look at where Jesus is seated, you will find Him at the right hand of God’s throne in heaven. The “right hand” is a place of honor, influence, and power. But most of all, this is significant because Jesus was always there. The Jewish high priests were distant from God and could only enter His presence once yearly. Remember, too, that they could only contact the “shadow of God’s glory.” Jesus is in the very presence of the Almighty God of the Universe. How many of us made “Zoom calls?” We were talking to someone, but it was different from talking face to face, looking them in the eyes. Our High Priest always has instant and free access to God the Father.
Our High Priest’s third advantage over the Levitical priests is that Jesus is in the actual place where God the Father dwells. Jesus is in the presence of God, where His glory is the most intense. Maybe we could understand this concept this way.
This passage’s final concept is that Jesus is the mediator of a covenant with better promises. There are no limits because Jesus is greater than all the priests the Jews had.
The second section of the chapter compares the two covenants. The first covenant followed by the Jews had faults. Perhaps the biggest failure of the original covenant was that it couldn’t take away sins permanently. A second covenant was needed. God had promised to bless the Jews for faithfully keeping the covenant. Yet they disobeyed Him, seeking their success their way. Sadly the Old Testament shows the results of disobedience as the people faced judgment and punishment because they wanted their ways.
The original covenant was internal, but the New Covenant was external. One day the Jews will stop being ritualistic. They embrace the rituals because they see them as the way to have the right relationship with God. Sadly, their hearts don’t embrace the Lord Jesus Christ. But one day, they will be called God’s people because they will be His people.
Perhaps the greatest promise to His people is, “I will be merciful and gracious toward their wickedness, and I will remember their sins no more!” Not because of what we have done but what Jesus, our Lord and Savior, did. He did it all. God sees His sacrifice that removes our sin as far as the east is from the west. The New Covenant makes the original first covenant obsolete.
Three Questions on Hebrews 8
1. Jesus is the mediator of a better?
2. What will God put into their minds and write in their hearts?
3. What does the word “waxeth” mean?
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