July 10, 2016
Morning Service

Heb. 8

 

So far in this letter to the Hebrews (This word first occurs as given to Abram by the Canaanites, Gen_4:13 because he had crossed the Euphrates.  Some believe it is derived from Heber, an ancestor of Abraham.)  We have seen some very interesting Scriptures.  Words of warning, words of encouragement, the principles in the doctrine of Christ, and so far quite a lengthy comparison of the old testament High Priest, and Jesus Christ, our great High Priest.  This is, and will be our topic for awhile.  It is to build our faith that Jesus will never leave us nor forsake us, but is always there for us.  We finished last week with this thought:

Heb 7:25-28  Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.  (26)  For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;  (27)  Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.  (28)  For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

 

Let’s begin with chapter eight:

 

Heb 8:1-13  Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; 

·         And to understand this right hand of authority, we just need to study I Cor. 15.  This will help us understand how everything has been turned over to His authority, until the last enemy is defeated, then Jesus will turn everything back over to His Father, Who is described by Jesus as the eternal Spirit of Love.

(2)  A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.  (3)  For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices:

·         And under the law it was the Levitical tribe, in which Moses, and Aaron were from, Aaron was the first High Priest, under the law.  Then it was hand me down, but still kept in the tribe of Levi.

wherefore it is of necessity that this man (Jesus)  have somewhat also to offer.  (4)  For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:  (5)  Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. 

·         Now this piece of Scripture is so important, and instrumental for the conversion of the Jewish people.

·         What God showed Moses on the mount, as he looked into the heavenlies, was the real deal, and God told Moses to be sure and make the patterns after the real things he saw in heaven.

Exo 25:8-9  And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.  (9)  According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

·         Paul said in Colossians;  Col 2:16  Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:Col 2:17  Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

·         Jesus said; “I have not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it.”

·         This is why Paul can say, “we are complete in Him.”   You, I, or they could not keep the entirety of the law, but Jesus did, and His blood sacrifice wipes away all our sins, present, past, and future.  I am complete in Jesus, and I got into Jesus by being baptized into Him.  Gal. 3:27, “for as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ.”

(6)  But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. 

·         Remember, God is the one Who said, “Psa 110:4  The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

·         Jesus was ordained of God for this more excellent ministry, a better covenant, with better promises to His followers.

(7)  For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.  (8)  For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:  (9)  Not 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 continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.  (10)  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:  (11)  And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.  (12)  For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. 

·         The first covenant, the law of Moses, the second covenant, that of Jesus Christ, of mercy, grace, and truth.

·         This new covenant was to be made with the house of Israel, and the house of Judah, as nations, they rejected this new covenant, but many as individuals have accepted it, and are joint heirs in all the promises of God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

·         They did not keep my laws, so there had to be another covenant established.

·         Then he quotes this confirmation of the new covenant, or testament:

Jer 31:31-34  Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:  (32)  Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:  (33)  But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.  (34)  And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

·         As the writer presents this argument, I am sure many of them are saying, “I always wondered what this meant.”  Those that are were in tune with God, accepted this argument, and were saved.  However, Paul tells us that as a nation they were blinded by God, so the gentiles could be saved.  Rom. 11.

We close chapter eight with this thought;

(13)  In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

·         And Peter, in his first sermon on the day of Pentecost, was so convincing to so many Jews, that they ask him what they should do, and Peter said, “repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”  Which is eternal life, the abiding presence of the Holy Ghost.  This formula is still good today, repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.

The wages of sin, and following the ways of the world is death, but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, OPEN THE HEART, EYES, AND EARS, FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT ACCEPTED THIS GREAT PLAN OF SALVATION, AND DRAW THEM TO A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR SON JESUS CHRIST.  AND HELP US WHO HAVE STARTED THIS WALK WITH YOU, TO STRIVE TO BE TRUE, AND FAITHFUL.  AMEN.