THE PRIESTHOOD SUMMARIZED
Hebrews 8:1-13
INTRODUCTION
In as much as we have a better High Priest and a better Covenant, why should one desire to return to the old way and old covenant?
I. THE BETTER HIGH PRIEST vs. 1-6
A. The High Priest’s Position vs. 1
1. ‘Sum’ or ‘crowning point’
2. “Such a high priest’ Hebrews 7:26
NOTE: The Jewish high priest could not answer this description but Christ could
3. “Set on the right hand of the Majesty in the heaven”
a. The Jewish high priest offered the annual sacrifice went within the veil, anointed the Mercy Seat with blood, and then immediately withdrew
b. Christ offering offering Himself as a sacrifice, entered heaven and was seated at God’s right hand forevermore!
c. Herein is seen the exalted place our great High Priest now occupies
4. ‘Set’ or ‘seated’
B. The High Priest’s Tabernacle vs. 2
1. “The sanctuary” – Heaven itself
NOTE: Hebrews 9:24
NOTE: Hebrews 10:19
NOTE: Psalm 102:19
2. “True” – meaning, in contrast to the tabernacle Israel enjoyed which was only a “shadow” – a temporary one
3. “Tabernacle” – the Old Testament tabernacle spoke of Christ
a. God sanctified Israel’s tabernacle as a place to dwell in – Exodus 29:44-45
b. In Christ dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily Colossians 2:9
c. God’s glory was manifested in the tabernacle Exodus 30:34
d. The apostles said, ‘We beheld… John 1:14
e. In the tabernacle sacrifices were offered and holy services performed
1) Christ offered up His own sacrifice, prayers and service Hebrews 5:7; 10:5
2) The people brought their offerings to the tabernacle Leviticus 1:3
3) So must we bring ours to Christ Hebrews 13:15
4. ‘The Lord pitched and not man’
a. “pitched” – “the correction and establishment Hebrews 10:5
b. “Not man” – Christ had no human father – Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:34-35
C. The High Priest’s Offering vs. 3
1. “to offer” – the specific purpose for which God called men to the priestly office
a. Christ was ordained to this end – Mark 10:45
b. The priest entered the sanctuary after offering a sacrifice
NOTE: As did also our great High Priest Hebrews 7:26-27
2. Our Great High Priest had a better sacrifice to offer Hebrews 10:5-13
D. The High Priest’s Shadow vs. 4-5
1. Had Christ remained on earth after His resurrection vs. 4
a. Only half His priestly work would have been performed
b. He would have left His work imperfect Hebrews 9:24
2. Judaism was set aside by God when He rent the veil vs. 5
NOTE: Matthew 27:51
a. The service of the Law was but a shadow or a picture
b. It was designed to show forth what is found in Christ
E. The High Priest’s Covenant vs. 6
NOTE: ‘A more excellent ministry’ Hebrews 5:4-5
1. Christ’s ministry is of a higher order than Aaron
2. Christ’s ministry is of a more excellent nature than Aaron’s
3. Reasons this is so:
a. Christ’s ministry was real and substantial; the Levitical but an emblem
b. Christ’s ministry pertains to things in heaven; the Levitical but things on earth
c. Christ’s ministry is enduring and eternal; the Levitical but temporary
2. ‘He is the Mediator of a better covenant’
NOTE: Hebrews 7:20-22
a. He is the ‘Mediator; or ‘Middle Person’ I Timothy 2:5-6
b. He is not only Priest, but also Mediator (‘Reconciler’)
c. he provides the better covenant – the Christian economy (dispensation or age)
3. Established upon a better promise” vs. 11-12
a. The promise in the first covenant (testament) pertained basically to earthly blessings such as ‘length of days’ – increase of numbers national privileges, prosperity, etc.)
b. The promise of the new covenant (testament) pertains basically to spiritual blessings (such as the mind is directed heavenward; the heart is lifted with the hopes of life eternal; the favor of God is secured.)
II. THE BETTER COVENANT verses 7-13
A. The Old Covenant’s Limitations vs. 7
1. This is the covenant God made with Israel
NOTE: Exodus 19:5, 34:27-28
NOTE: Deuteronomy 4:13
a. Israel accepted this – Exodus 19:8; 24:3
b. Their vow of acceptance was sealed with blood
NOTE: Exodus 24:4-8
2. The old covenant failed to gain that which was desired
NOTE: Galatians 3:21; 2:16
NOTE: It failed because of the weakness of tho flesh (Romans 8:3)
B. The New Covenant’s Reaching vs. 8
NOTE: Jeremiah 31:31
C. The Old Covenant’s Subjects vs. 9
1. God took Israel by the hand – Deuteronomy 1:31; Hosea 11:3
2. Israel forgot God again and again – Psalm 106:12
3. God dealt with Israel – ‘I regarded them not’
a. His governmental dealing with Israel
b. The severity He exercised (consuming them in the wilderness)
4. Let us remember I Corinthians 10:12
D. The New Covenant’s Writings vs. 10
NOTE: Psalm 19:7-8; 37:30-31
1. ‘Into their minds’ – only the Spirit can engrave the law on the mind
NOTE: The carnal mind Romans 8:7
2. ‘Write them in their hearts”’
a. The mind is informed and the heart reformed
b. At Sinai the commandments were written on stone representing the hardness of the people’s hearts
c. In salvation a new heart is given, one that is living and is responsive
NOTE: Ezekiel 36:26
3. “I will be to them a God”
a. the unsaved are without God Ephesians 2:12
b. The saved have a Great God Genesis 15:1
c. His is our Lawgiver, Counsellor, and Protector and Guide Psalm 144:15
E. The New Covenant’s Understandability vs. 11
1. God’s revelation under the new covenant to be clearer
2. God’s communication under the new covenant to be enlarged by the Spirit
a. The conditions of the old covenant by Jesus’ day Mark 7:13
b. The prophet of God’s words – Malachi 2:12
3. ‘I All shall know Me’
a. God revealed Himself in His Son
NOTE: John 1:18
NOTE: John 5:20
b. God teaches His own
NOTE: John 6:45
NOTE: I John 2:27
F. The New covenant’s Provisions vs. 12
1. This is the great foundational promise and grace of the new covenant
2. The basis of blessings:
a. ‘Merciful’ – meaning “grace shown on the grounds of propitiation”
NOTE: Romans 3:24-25
b. Christ died to make propitiation – Hebrews 2:17
c. In and through Christ ALONE is God merciful to sinners
3. Three evils the sinner is guilty of:
a. ‘Unrighteousness’ – A wrong done unto God our sovereign Ruler
b. ‘Sin’ – A missing of the mark of glorifying God which is every person’s responsibility”
c. ‘Iniquity’ The force of lawlessness – a setting up of my will against God’s
G. The Old Covenant’s Passing vs. 13
1. If the old covenant would have been adequate a new would not have been needed vs. 7
2. The first Covenant was not “faultless.” therefore the new was established vs. 8
3. The old covenant lasted for 1500 years (from Moses to Christ) and served its purpose
NOTE: Galatians 3:19-25
CONCLUSION
The writer thus summarized:
We have a better High Priest!
We have a better covenant!
Who would be satisfied with something inferior?
General Epistles Sermons And Lessons 