INTRODUCTION
WHEN WAS THIS EPISTLE WRITTEN?
This Epistle was evidently written as the ancient Hebrew economy was passing away in the growing glory of the Christian Church. Perhaps Jerusalem had already fallen under the arms of Titus.
TO WHOM WAS IT ADDRESSED?
It was addressed to Hebrew Christians, who were settled in a definite locality. See Heb_13:23. The writer is not certainly known. Luther thought that it was written by Apollos, and this view has had several learned advocates. But many ascribe it to the Apostle Paul, which was the opinion of the early Fathers.
WHAT WAS THE WRITER’S PURPOSE?
The object of this noble treatise is to counsel those to whom it was addressed to bear their persecutions with equanimity, and to forego, with contentment, the external attractions of the Temple service, because of the transcendent glories of Christianity surpassing those of the Mosaic ritual. The penalties of apostasy would therefore be the more terrible as the claims of Christianity were the more compelling.
OUTLINE OF THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS
THE NEW AND BETTER COVENANT
THE RELATION OF THE TWO COVENANTS
The Unchanging Priesthood
The Covenants Contrasted
13. How did the New Covenant take the place of the Old?
JESUS, HIGH PRIEST OF A BETTER COVENANT
Now the main point of what we have to say is this: we have such a High Priest, [the Christ] who is seated [in the place of honor] at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty (God) in heaven, [Psa_110:1]
a Minister (Officiating Priest) in the holy places and in the true tabernacle, which is erected not by man, but by the Lord.
For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is essential for this One also to have something to offer.
Now if He were [still living] on earth, He would not be a priest at all, for there are priests who offer the gifts [to God] in accordance with the Law.
They serve as a pattern and foreshadowing of [what has its true existence and reality in] the heavenly things (sanctuary). For when Moses was about to erect the tabernacle, he was warned by God, saying, “SEE THAT YOU MAKE it all [exactly] ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN WHICH WAS SHOWN TO YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN.” [Exo_25:40]
But as it is, Christ has acquired a [priestly] ministry which is more excellent [than the old Levitical priestly ministry], for He is the Mediator (Arbiter) of a better covenant [uniting God and man], which has been enacted and rests on better promises.
For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second one or an attempt to institute another one [the new covenant].
However, God finds fault with them [showing its inadequacy] when He says, “BEHOLD, THE DAYS WILL COME, SAYS THE LORD, WHEN I WILL MAKE and RATIFY A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH;
NOT LIKE THE COVENANT THAT I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERS ON THE DAY WHEN I TOOK THEM BY THE HAND TO LEAD THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT; FOR THEY DID NOT ABIDE IN MY COVENANT, AND SO I WITHDREW MY FAVOR and DISREGARDED THEM, SAYS THE LORD.
“FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL IMPRINT MY LAWS UPON THEIR MINDS [even upon their innermost thoughts and understanding], AND ENGRAVE THEM UPON THEIR HEARTS [effecting their regeneration]. AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
“AND IT WILL NOT BE [necessary] FOR EACH ONE TO TEACH HIS FELLOW CITIZEN, OR EACH ONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, ‘KNOW [by experience, have knowledge of] THE LORD,’ FOR ALL WILL KNOW [Me by experience and have knowledge of] ME, FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM.
“FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL and GRACIOUS TOWARD THEIR WICKEDNESS, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE.” [Jer_31:31-34]
When God speaks of “A new covenant,” He makes the first one obsolete. And whatever is becoming obsolete (out of use, annulled) and growing old is ready to disappear.
Comments by
F.B.Meyer
on
Hebrews 8:1-13
THE MEDIATOR OF THE NEW COVENANT
Such a High Priest, Heb_8:1-6. He sits because His work is finished so far as His sacrifice is concerned. His place is at God’s right hand-the seat of power. By faith we, too, may serve in the inner sanctuary of the spirit. Before you start building, and while engaged in building, your life-work, see that your eyes are fixed on the divine ideal and pattern.
Such a new covenant, Heb_8:7-13. It is as superior to the former as Christ’s priesthood is to Aaron’s. A covenant is a promise, made on conditions to be fulfilled, and attested by an outward sign, like the rainbow, or circumcision, or the Lord’s Supper. The covenant under which we live is between God and Christ on behalf of those who belong to Him. We have a perfect right to put our hand on every one of these eight provisions, and claim that each be made good to us. We need not ask that God should do as he has said, but with lowly reverence expect that He will-especially when we drink of the cup of the New Covenant at the Lord’s table.
Choose a Sermon on
Hebrews
by
Pastor Jeff Arthur.
On MeWe join our group at Friends in Jesus
We also have a Page about Creation Ministries International.
See also Young Earth Creationists
You can also find us on Parler.
On Facebook;
Join our closed group at : Quo Vadis Christian Community Group to read and partake in the Bible study to learn to know Jesus Christ. To know Him is to Love Him.
We also have an open Page at Quo Vadis Christian Community you might want to know more about.
Please ad yourself to our Messenger group to receive notification and chat to other members of the group.
You may however wish to disable notification and look at post when you have the time.
Join our messenger group at Friends in Jesus.
If you want a Bible please contact: Please let me have a Bible.
If you want a Bible in Pakistan.
You may also want to join Creation Ministries International.
Find more Study topics at Quo Vadis World
