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Hebrews 8 – Text and Notes
1 [Jesus is a Ruler – A King] Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty [a euphemism of God] in the heavens,
2 [Jesus is a Servant – High Priest] a minister in [or, of] the sanctuary and in [or, of] the true tabernacle [or, sacred tent], which the Lord pitched, not man. [Hebrews not only shows us access to God; but also access to reality. The world of “ideas” was a very Grecian concept taught by Plato.]
3 For every high priest is appointed to offer [present] both gifts and sacrifices; so [hothen (3606) – Heb.2:17; Heb.3:1; Heb.7:25; Heb.8:3; Heb.9:18; Heb.11:19] it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer [aorist]. [Apparently this is the basic responsibility of a priest, regardless of the “order.”]
4 Now [oun (3767) – then, therefore, accordingly, consequently, these things being so (Thayer); Heb.2:14; Heb.4:1; Heb.4:6; Heb.4:11; Heb.4:14; Heb.4:16; Heb.7:11; Heb.8:4; Heb.9:1; Heb.9:23; Heb.10:19; Heb.10:35; Heb.13:15] if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law; [plus the fact he is not from Levi] [Doesn’t this prove the book was written prior to the destruction of Jerusalem?]
5 who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things [the study of type anti-type is fascinating], just as Moses was [lit., is] warned [perfect] by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle [or, sacred tent]; for, “See,” [present imperative] He says, “that you make all things according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.” [still important principle for us to follow] [Two reasons why Moses had to make the tabernacle according to the pattern: 1) God said so; 2) The Pattern was reality – the tabernacle was not just based upon a blueprint, but rather heaven itself.]
6 But now He has obtained [perfect] a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better [kreittōn (2909) – Heb.1:4; Heb.6:9; Heb.7:7; Heb.7:19; Heb.7:22; Heb.8:6; Heb.9:23; Heb.10:34; Heb.11:16; Heb.11:35; Heb.11:40; Heb.12:24] covenant [diatheke (1242) – an agreement, especially a will, of unequal people; Heb.7:22; Heb.8:6; Heb.8:8; Heb.8:9; Heb.8:10; Heb.9:4; Heb.9:15; Heb.9:16; Heb.9:17; Heb.9:20; Heb.10:16; Heb.10:29; Heb.12:24; Heb.13:20], which has been enacted [perfect] on better [kreittōn (2909) – Heb.1:4; Heb.6:9; Heb.7:7; Heb.7:19; Heb.7:22; Heb.8:6; Heb.9:23; Heb.10:34; Heb.11:16; Heb.11:35; Heb.11:40; Heb.12:24] promises [epaggelia (1860) Heb.4:1; Heb.6:12; Heb.6:15; Heb.6:17; Heb.7:6; Heb.8:6; Heb.9:15; Heb.10:36; Heb.11:9; Heb.11:13; Heb.11:17; Heb.11:33; Heb.11:39]. [Jesus is the better high priest with a better ministry with a better covenant with better promises.]
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless [7:18], there would have been no occasion sought for a second. [What was the fault? Vv.10-13] [“The value of the Old Testament may be dependant on what seems its imperfection. It may repel one use in order that we may be forced to use it in another way—to find the Word in it…to re-live, while we read, the whole Jewish experience of God’s gradual and graded self-revelation, to feel the very contentions between the Word and the human material through which it works.” (C.S. Lewis)]
8 [Extended Notes] For finding fault with them [Plural – Israel, not the covenant. The covenant could not address this fault satisfactorily.], He says,
[Jer.31:31-34; vv,33-34 are quoted again in Heb.10:16-17] “Behold, days are coming [This phrase is found 15 times in Jeremiah], says the Lord,
When [lit., And] I will effect a new [kainos – “new in quality; new and different; kainos usually involves bringing in a superior innovation or advance and corresponds to heteros, another of a different kind” (The Discovery Bible, p.541)] covenant
With the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; [This is who we are today.]
9 Not like the covenant which I made with their fathers
On the day when I took them by the hand
To lead [aorist] them out of the land of Egypt;
For they did not continue in My covenant,
And I did not care for them, says the Lord.
10 “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
After those days, says the Lord:
I will put My laws [Progression: Change of law (7:12); Law made nothing perfect (7:29); New law put into our minds/hearts (8:10) ] into their minds [dianoia (1271) – “That part of the intellect capable of abstract reasoning and moral reflection; that ‘faculty of the mind which understand, feels, and desires’ (Trench)” (The Discovery Bible, p.540)],
And I will write them on their hearts.
And I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.
11 “And they shall not teach [aorist] everyone his fellow citizen,
And everyone his brother, saying, ‘Know [ginosko (1097) – “to know through experience; to perceive through the senses; ‘subjective knowledge’ (Green); the knowing comes from ‘an active relation between the one who knows and the person or thing known’ (Vine) effectively coming to know, or the entering into knowing through first hand or personal interaction; knowledge usually gained through personal acquaintance or some relationship of intimacy or connection” (The Discovery Bible, pp.535-536); aorist imperative] the Lord,’
For all will know Me,
From the least to the greatest of them.
12 “For I will be merciful to their iniquities, And I will remember [aorist] their sins no more.”
13 When He said [or, In His saying; aorist], “A new [cf., v.8] covenant,” He has made [perfect] the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready [or, near] to disappear. [Is this perspective from the viewpoint of the timeframe of the original prophecy (O.T.) or from the time period of the Hebrew writer (N.T.)?]
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