Bible Diary - Hebrews 8:1-6

August 24, 2008

The starting point for me to understand these high priestly passages is simply to acknowledge my sin. As Paul states in Romans 7:15, “For I don’t understand what I am doing. For I do not do what I want – instead, I do what I hate.” I know what he means. Just trying hard to please God isn’t enough. Like my Jewish counterpart in the First Century, I need someone to stand in the gap between me and a Holy God. Jesus Christ, the true High Priest, does this.

The High Priest of a Better Covenant

8:1 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, 8:2 a minister in the sanctuary and the true tabernacle that the Lord, not man, set up. 8:3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. So this one too had to have something to offer. 8:4 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. 8:5 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.” 8:6 But now Jesus has obtained a superior ministry, since the covenant that he mediates is also better and is enacted on better promises.

This passage says that no human intermediary can completely fill the gap between sinful man and holy God, although even “a sketch and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary” is valuable in that it points to the heavenly sanctuary. The author’s main point is that only the Son of God can intercede for me before God.

Dave, pondering and giving thanks for this great mystery.

-sdg

Posted by Dave | Filed Under Bible