Hebrews 8:1-6 leaves no room for debate – compared to the Levitical priesthood of the old covenant, the priesthood of Jesus is superior in every facet.
“Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We have such a high priest, one who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 a minister in the sanctuary and the true tabernacle that the Lord, not man, set up. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. So this one too had to have something to offer. 4 Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. 5 The place where they serve is a sketch and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary, just as Moses was warned by God as he was about to complete the tabernacle. For he says, “See that you make everything according to the design shown to you on the mountain.” 6 But now Jesus has obtained a superior ministry, since the covenant that he mediates is also better and is enacted on better promises.”
Verse 1 – The lesson: don’t miss this point – if you do, you’re missing out on an aspect of Jesus that is essential to our relationship with God.
Verse 2 – The location: as we move toward that city whose builder and maker is God, we can have confidence in knowing our minister serves from a tabernacle which shares the same origin.
Verse 3 – The labor: nothing in our hands do we bring, but upon the work of our high priest do we lean.
Verse 4 – The legality: a heavenly service is fitting for meeting the needs of our soul and for the meeting the requirements of the law which previously was incapable of remedying the sin it revealed.
Verse 5 – The limit: limitations regulated the former religion in earthly ways so the heavenly lessons would not be overshadowed.
Verse 6 – The label: think of a positive word that conveys an excellence in opportunity and blessings, and that word will describe what Jesus has done and is doing on behalf of our soul.
“25 So he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. 26 For it is indeed fitting for us to have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separate from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need to do every day what those priests do, to offer sacrifices first for their own sins and then for the sins of the people, since he did this in offering himself once for all. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men subject to weakness, but the word of solemn affirmation that came after the law appoints a son made perfect forever.” (Hebrews 7)
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