CHAPTER 8

Vss 1-2
1 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;
2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

Though this is the "of the things which we have spoken," (Chapters 1-7),
we might learn some new things here in chapter 8.
((Kind like when I went kayaking the first time.
I found that when you flip a kayak, you can wear it as a hat.
That's because it has been "CAPsized!"))

Our High Priest is "in the heavens," which establishes what will be discussed
in chapters 8-10.

The key point is "we HAVE" this High Priest.
He is JESUS!

He is the "minister of the sactuary," which is the "TRUE tabernacle."
God has "pitched," or made sure this place.

The tabernacle Moses built, and the temple Solomon built were only emblems of
what was to come later.

When Jesus "gave up the ghost," His Spirit flew past the Holy Place,
split the veil covering the Holy of Holies, and OPENED access for ANYONE
who comes as committed to Jesus for his/her life.

VS 3
3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of
necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.

The High Priest of Israel offered sacrifices for sin to God.
A person had to bring the sacrifice willingly to the Priest.

So if Jesus is the TRUE High Priest, what sacrifice did He bring to God?
HIMSELF!
He was a "perfect Lamb," without the blemish of sin!!
God in flesh offered God's blood to God for the atonement of man's sin!
(See Heb. 9:11-12)

VSS 4-5
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.

After Jesus made His sacrifice here on earth, He ASCENDED to "the right hand
of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens."
This showed His sacrifice was ACCEPTED!

The priest of Israel were only a "shadow of heavenly things."
But Jesus entered the glory of God, and has accomplished ALL that is needed
for ANYONE to be saved.

And, PRAISE GOD!
"..as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become sons of God,
even to them that believe on His Name!"(John 1:12)

VSS 6-7
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.
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the
second.

Mankind, cannot of himself, obtain salvation.
For "Salvation is of the LORD!" (Jonah 2:9)

But Jesus has obtained this "excellent ministry" which extends to ALL mankind!

Jesus is the Mediator of a BETTER covenant!
* It is better because it will be written in the hearts and minds of men.
* It is better because it includes ALL of mankind!
* AND, it is better because God incarnate accomplished it. (See Is. 43:11)

The FIRST covenant God made with mankind, was through the Hebrew nation.
That covenant was faulty because it was performed through man, and
man is a sinner.

But when Jesus, the God-man, came, He performed a SECOND covenant, which
affords all mankind the opportunity to come to God through JESUS!!

VSS 8-9
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.

The first covenant could not make a person CONTINUALLY, ETERNALLY, CLEAN!
People had to KEEP coming to the priest and offering sacrifices!

God KNEW all that BEFORE He created the world!
SO, God had a SECONDARY plan!
He would come HIMSELF and provide a cleansing that is ETERNAL!
(See Heb. 10:9-10)

IN a person can be "washed...sanctified...justified...in the NAME of the
LORD Jesus," and "BY the Spirit of our God!"(1Cor. 6:11)

VS 10
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:

That term "after those days," is a reference to Jeremiah 31:33-34.
((Do you know why scuba divers sit on the rim of the boat and fall backward in order
to enter the water? Well, if they fell forward, they would STILL be IN the boat!))

There are seven dispensations of time from the creation to the end.
1. INNOCENCE - From creation to the fall of man by sin.
2. CONSCIENCE - From expulsion from the garden to the flood.
3. HUMAN GOVERNMENT - After the flood, and the dispersion at Babel, man had to
from governments for each of the people groups.
(We still do a form of that today)
4. PROMISE - From the call of the patriarchs to enslavement in Egypt.
5. LAW - From the time of freedom from Egypt to the crucifiction and ascension of Jesus.

THEN, there is: 6. GRACE, whereby we live today (from Jesus' ascension to NOW).
7. MILLENIAL KINGDOM of CHRIST - AFTER the 7 years of terrible tribulation,
when Jesus Himself comes to RULE on this earth for 1,000 years.

ONE GLAD DAY, the Lord will implant (after those days) the Word of His Holy will
into those who believe in Him!

THEN.....

VS 11
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.

"When we all get to heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that shall be!!"

BECAUSE, then, we will know HIM as He knows US!
(See 1Cor. 13:12)

Believers in Christ will have such a knowledge of Him, they will no longer
need teachers.

12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I
remember no more.

THIS is the BLESSING of FULL ATONEMENT!!
Those who have surrendered to Jesus as Lord will receive MERCY for their
unrighteousness and their "iniquities God will NOT REMEMBER!!!!
((Annie was recently blessed with her first great-grandchild.
A few weeks later, her son and daughter-in-law wanted a weekend for themselves.
So, Annie would keep the child.
On Saurday, her friend Ruth came to see her and the new great-granchild.
She asked, "Where IS the litle darlin'? I want to SEE."
Annie said, "Not yet."
After a little while of coffee and talking, Ruth asked again.
Annie said, "Not yet."
Ruth said, "WHY?"
Annie said, "I'm waiting for him to cry."
Again, Ruth asked, "WHY?"
Annie said, "Because I forgot where I laid him down for a nap!"))

God will not CHARGE man (who has surrendered to Christ) with the death sentence!
MERCY!! GRACE!! PARDON!! ACCEPTANCE!!! and USE!

VS 13
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.

When Jesus came, He BEGAN the NEW covenant, and made the old covenant of
none effect!
Salvation is not given by the law, even though it teaches us the mind of God today.

Salvation come ONLY by Him Who allowed OUR sins to be on HIS body!!
(See Is. 53:6)

We NOW live under mercy and grace!
But, "after THOSE days" MERCY and GRACE will be MULTIPLIED!!

AIN'T GOD GOOD?!?!