Hebrews 8

Christ Is Our High Priest

1Here 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. 2There he ministers in the heavenly Tabernacle,#8:2 Or tent; also in 8:5. the true place of worship that was built by the Lord and not by human hands.

3And since every high priest is required to offer gifts and sacrifices, our High Priest must make an offering, too. 4If 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. 5They 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.”#8:5 Exod 25:40; 26:30.

6But 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.

7If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second covenant to replace it. 8But when God found fault with the people, he said:

“The day is coming, says the Lord,

when I will make a new covenant

with the people of Israel and Judah.

9This covenant will not be like the one

I made with their ancestors

when I took them by the hand

and led them out of the land of Egypt.

They did not remain faithful to my covenant,

so I turned my back on them, says the Lord.

10But this is the new covenant I will make

with the people of Israel on that day,#8:10 Greek after those days. says the Lord:

I will put my laws in their minds,

and I will write them on their hearts.

I will be their God,

and they will be my people.

11And they will not need to teach their neighbors,

nor will they need to teach their relatives,#8:11 Greek their brother.

saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’

For everyone, from the least to the greatest,

will know me already.

12And I will forgive their wickedness,

and I will never again remember their sins.”#8:8-12 Jer 31:31-34.

13When 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 It is now out of date and will soon disappear.

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Hebrews 8

The New Priestly Service

1Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, #Ps. 68:18; 110:1; Eph. 1:20; Col. 3:1; Heb. 2:17; 3:1; 10:12who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2a Minister of #Heb. 9:8, 12the sanctuary and of #Heb. 9:11, 24the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.

3For #(Rom. 4:25; 5:6, 8; Gal. 2:20; Eph. 5:2); Heb. 5:1; 8:4every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore #(Eph. 5:2; Heb. 9:14)it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. 4For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; 5who serve #Heb. 9:23, 24the copy and #Col. 2:17; Heb. 10:1shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, #Ex. 25:40“See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” 6But now #(2 Cor. 3:6–8)He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a #(Luke 22:20); Heb. 7:22better covenant, which was established on better promises.

A New Covenant

7For if that #Ex. 3:8; 19:5first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. 8Because finding fault with them, He says: #Jer. 31:31–34“Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— 9not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. 10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the #Jer. 31:33; Rom. 11:27; Heb. 10:16Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and #Zech. 8:8I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 11#Is. 54:13; John 6:45; (1 John 2:27)None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the #Jer. 31:34Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. 12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, #Rom. 11:27and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

13#(2 Cor. 5:17); Heb. 1:11In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

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