Hebrews 8:1-13

Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, ²and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.

³Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer. ⁴If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. ⁵They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” ⁶But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises. ⁷For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. ⁸But God found fault with the people and said:

“The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. ⁹It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors

when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord. ¹⁰ This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds

    and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

¹¹No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.¹²For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” ¹³By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.

The High Priest of a New Covenant

Jesus is our High Priest, who sits at the right hand of God Almighty, the Majesty in heaven. I often wonder what heaven looks like. In v 5 we learn that the detailed instructions God gave Moses to build the tabernacle (Exodus 25:10 – 26:37 and Exodus 40:1-16) give us a glimpse of what is in heaven. But in contrast to the tabernacle built by Moses, the true tabernacle is set up by the Lord, not by men, and Jesus dwells there in the sanctuary as our intercessor (Romans 8:34). In the old covenant every high priest had to offer a blameless sacrifice to the Most High. So did Jesus (v 3), he gave himself. Jesus is sacrifice (Lamb of God) and High Priest in one. Realizing that God went to such great lengths for us to understand this image of him interceding for us and covering our sin, touches me deeply and gives me great comfort.

God himself gave a sign of the new covenant (NC), when the curtain in the temple of the Most High was torn apart when Jesus died (Matthew 27:51). Previously, only the high priest was allowed to enter the innermost sanctuary of the tabernacle, once a year. First he had to offer an atonement, a lamb without any fault. But now, all who are under the NC can approach the Most High. In verse 13 it is written that the old covenant is outdated and his people need the NC of which Jesus is the mediator.

The NC is superior and founded on assured promises. No longer does God just say “though shall” or “though shall not”, but now he says “I will” (v 10 and Jeremiah 31:33).

Verses 8-12 are quoting Jeremiah 31:31-34 where God had already spoken to Jeremiah about the new covenant. How amazing!

Today let us focus on Jesus our High Priest, our Intercessor who comes with us into this new day. Remember he puts his laws in our minds and writes them on our hearts and puts us under a new covenant. May his love and mercy that we receive daily overflow in us, so others can see him through us. May we be gracious to others as the Lord is gracious to us.

And whenever the accuser (Satan) wants to tell me “You aren’t worthy to come before the throne of the Most High”, I read Zechariah 3:3-7. God, through Jesus took me out of the fire, redeemed me and gave me white clothes and I am no longer under Satan’s accusations. And neither are you, dear reader. Because our High Priest, our Mediator himself has paid the price. God sees us redeemed through the blood of Jesus, when we approach his throne. We have access to his throne as those called to a royal priesthood. (1 Peter 2:9). What a wonderful new covenant!

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for being our High Priest and Intercessor. You have given yourself as the perfect sacrifice, how can we ever thank you enough for this! May your laws be put in our minds and be written on our hearts. May the love you give us daily overflow. May we see people around us with your eyes and enable us to share your love. Thank you that we can approach your throne and pray for those who are on our hearts. I pray for…  (take a moment to name the people on your heart, and pray for their personal needs). In your name I pray. Amen.