Hebrews8
New American Standard
1Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,
2a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord set up, not man.
3For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer.
4Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law;
5who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “See,” He says, “that you make all things by the pattern which was shown to you on the mountain.”
6But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, to the extent that He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.
7For if that first covenant had been free of fault, no circumstances would have been sought for a second.
8For in finding fault with the people, He says, “Behold, days are coming, says the Lord, When I will bring about a new covenant With the house of Israel and the house of Judah,
9Not like the covenant which I made with their fathers On the day I took them by the hand To bring them out of the land of Egypt; For they did not continue in My covenant, And I did not care about them, says the Lord.
10For this is the covenant which 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.
11And they will not teach, each one his fellow citizen, And each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ For they will all know Me, From the least to the greatest of them.
12For I will be merciful toward their wrongdoings, And their sins I will no longer remember.”
13When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is about to disappear.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Hebrews 8.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The excellence of Christ's priesthood above that of Aaron is shown. (1–6). The great excellence of the new covenant above the former. (7–13).
vv1-6
The substance, or summary, of what had been declared was, that Christians had such a High Priest as they needed. He took upon himself human nature, appeared on earth, and there gave himself as a sacrifice to God for the sins of his people. We must not dare to approach God, or to present any thing to him, but in and through Christ, depending upon his merits and mediation; for we are accepted only in the Beloved. In all obedience and worship, we should keep close to God's word, which is the only and perfect standard. Christ is the substance and end of the law of righteousness. But the covenant here referred to, was that made with Israel as a nation, securing temporal benefits to them. The promises of all spiritual blessings, and of eternal life, revealed in the gospel, and made sure through Christ, are of infinitely greater value. Let us bless God that we have a High Priest that suits our helpless condition.
vv7-13
The superior excellence of the priesthood of Christ, above that of Aaron, is shown from that covenant of grace, of which Christ was Mediator. The law not only made all subject to it, liable to be condemned for the guilt of sin, but also was unable to remove that guilt, and clear the conscience from the sense and terror of it. Whereas, by the blood of Christ, a full remission of sins was provided, so that God would remember them no more. God once wrote his laws to his people, now he will write his laws in them; he will give them understanding to know and to believe his laws; he will give them memories to retain them; he will give them hearts to love them, courage to profess them, and power to put them in practice. This is the foundation of the covenant; and when this is laid, duty will be done wisely, sincerely, readily, easily, resolutely, constantly, and with comfort. A plentiful outpouring of the Spirit of God will make the ministration of the gospel so effectual, that there shall be a mighty increase and spreading of Christian knowledge in persons of all sorts. Oh that this promise might be fulfilled in our days, that the hand of God may be with his ministers so that great numbers may believe, and be turned to the Lord! The pardon of sin will always be found to accompany the true knowledge of God. Notice the freeness of this pardon; its fulness; its fixedness. This pardoning mercy is connected with all other spiritual mercies: unpardoned sin hinders mercy, and pulls down judgments; but the pardon of sin prevents judgment, and opens a wide door to all spiritual blessings. Let us search whether we are taught by the Holy Spirit to know Christ, so as uprightly to love, fear, trust, and obey him. All worldly vanities, outward privileges, or mere notions of religion, will soon vanish away, and leave those who trust in them miserable for ever.
Key Words
δέ (dé): but, and, etc.
κεφάλαιον (kephálaion): a principal thing, i.e. main point; specially, an amount (of money)
ἐπί (epí): properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.
λέγω (légō): properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas G2036 (ἔπω) and G5346 (φημί) generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while G4483 (ῥέω) is properly to break silence merely, and G2980 (λαλέω) means an extended or random harangue)); by implication, to mean
ἔχω (échō): to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition)
τοιοῦτος (toioûtos): truly this, i.e. of this sort (to denote character or individuality)
ἀρχιερεύς (archiereús): the high-priest (literally, of the Jews, typically, Christ); by extension a chief priest
ὅς (hós): the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
καθίζω (kathízō): to seat down, i.e. set (figuratively, appoint); intransitively, to sit (down); figuratively, to settle (hover, dwell)
ἐν (en): "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.
Cross References
Hebrews 8Directly quoted as the prophetic foundation for the New Covenant established in Christ.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Directly quoted to contrast the New Covenant with the failed Sinai covenant made with Israel's fathers.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Directly quoted to outline the internal, spiritual nature of the New Covenant's laws written on hearts.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Directly quoted regarding universal knowledge of the Lord and complete forgiveness under the New Covenant.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Directly quoted regarding the heavenly pattern shown to Moses on the mount for the tabernacle.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Contrasts holy places made with hands (types) with heaven itself, where Christ appears.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Elaborates on the earthly sanctuary elements being copies of things in the heavens.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels the contrast between the shadow of things to come and the reality which is Christ.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identifies Jesus as the surety and mediator of a better covenant.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Explicitly names Jesus as the mediator of the new covenant and its sprinkling of blood.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Repeats this exact promise of the Spirit writing the laws on minds and hearts.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Repeats the definitive New Covenant promise that God will remember sins no more.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels the Son sitting down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Contrasts the standing Levitical priests with Christ who sat down forever after offering His sacrifice.
Supported by JFB
Contrasts the ministry of the letter (old covenant) with the life-giving Spirit (new covenant).
Supported by Matthew Poole