Heb 8:1-2 | KingComments | STEP | . The writer can now determine “the main point” of all that is previously said. As a kind of climax he summarizes the previous arguments for his readers. Centered in all teachings of the previous chapters is the Person of the High Priest. Again he speaks about Him as “such a high priest” ( ), first emphasizing His Person and then emphasizing His service. Such a One, Who is Son ( ), and no one else, is that High Priest. But it is not only a contemplation of His Person at a distance. Surely, He is exalted far beyond us, though He is also still close to us; yes, He belongs to us. After all, it is said that we “have” Him, right? You are allowed to make use of His service, He is available to you. It must have been a tremendous encouragement for the Hebrew readers. You should again imagine that these believers were mocked for their faith by their unbelieving countrymen. They believed in an invisible Messiah and were adhering to promises that showed no signs that they were going to be fulfilled. The unbelieving Jews on the contrary were able to show their temple, their offerings, their priests, their high priests, and their ceremonial service. It looked like they had the right on their side. You could see everything that they were pointing at, while the believing Hebrews could not deliver a single proof of what they saw in faith and to what they were adhering. Just as the writer continually was making efforts to turn the eyes of the readers upward, to heaven, to the Lord Jesus, he does the same here. He gives the believers the answer they need to silence their unbelieving countrymen and maybe even more to make an end to their own rising doubts. They are now able to say to their mocking countrymen (and to themselves): We have the substance, you have the shadows; we have Christ, you have ceremonies; we have the Person, you have the picture. They could even add to that: ‘Our High Priest is seated because the only sacrifice He offered has fully met the holy requirements of God. This aspect of His service, the offering of a sacrifice, has been accomplished and never has to be repeated. Your high priest, however, is continually busy; he never rests, because his service never leads to perfection and because he himself continually fails. And where does your high priest serve? In a temple on earth, which is also temporary as all things on earth are temporary.’ Besides, he was allowed to come only once a year into the sanctuary. He had to be surrounded by the frankincense and had to carry blood. When he finished that service he came outside again. He had to repeat this ritual each year, because his service was imperfect. And where did our High Priest take his seat? At “the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens”. He is a High Priest Who is connected to the throne of the Majesty.’ As you know, a throne has got to do with reigning. He is King-Priest. He reigns and blesses. The throne is here called ‘the throne of the Majesty’, which refers to impressive greatness, power, excellence. The dignity of His Person and of His service fully meets the Majesty, that is God, Who exceeds endlessly far above all things in glory and greatness. The place where He abides is also appropriate. He is in the heavens, which refers to His exalted position. The Lord Jesus is seated indeed. That is in regard with His work that has been accomplished once for all on the cross. The sacrifice He offered up there, that is He Himself, is perfect and has never to be repeated. In the following chapters the writer will get fully into detail on this wonderful sacrifice. . However, the Lord Jesus is also “a minister in the sanctuary”, which means that in another way He is not seated, but is doing His service on behalf of others. The sanctuary is “the true tabernacle”, the true realm of the service. The sanctuary in the wilderness, the earthly tabernacle, was a real sanctuary. There was nothing lacking, but it was not the ‘true’ sanctuary. In the same way Israel was a real vine, but Christ is the true vine. Israel has never been able to give God that joy He was seeking, due to weakness and sin. Christ on the contrary was able to do that. The true tabernacle was not made by human hands. The earthly tabernacle was, although commanded by God, built by human hands. That means that it was not everlasting, for it belonged to a perishable creation. Concerning the heavenly and true tabernacle it is different. That one is established by the Lord and therefore not evanescent. And the service there is also performed by a perfect High Priest. . That brings the writer to the remark about the offering of gifts and sacrifices, for a high priest includes an offering. Only on that condition he was allowed to enter the sanctuary. Therefore also Christ had to have something to offer, for otherwise He would not have been able to serve as High Priest. Well then, Christ has entered the sanctuary on the basis of His own sacrifice. The earthly high priests came with “gifts and sacrifices” as it was commanded in the Old Testament. Christ gave and sacrificed Himself. He is the fulfillment of all Old Testament gifts and sacrifices. . He achieves His service in heaven on behalf of a heavenly people. On earth He couldn’t be priest, as the writer demonstrated in chapter 7 ( ). How could these believing Jews desire again a system where Christ couldn’t even be priest? On earth the priests exercised their service according to the Levitical order. But if in that order there is no room for the priesthood of Christ and no room for Him to exercise it, then there also cannot possibly be room for those who belong to Him. If He cannot be priest on earth and cannot exercise His service there, there must be another place for Him to do that. He surely does and that happens in the true sanctuary, which is in heaven. Each earthly priesthood, as you see that especially in roman-catholicism, is not only a return to the shadow of the Old Testament, but is particularly a practical denial of the priesthood of Christ. Only Christ’s priesthood is valuable to God. Each earthly priesthood is also a presumption of the office and the service that belong to Christ alone. An earthly priest wrongly claims a position between men and God, as if he is better and higher than the people he presumes to represent. He also presumes to represent God toward the people, as if he alone knows the thoughts of God. God does not recognize such priesthood. Recently I read the book ‘Von Rom zu Christus’ (from Rome to Christ). In that book testimonies are written from ex-priests who tell about how they have become free from the error of roman-catholicism. One of them tells about how the light of God began to shine more and more in his soul, which made him discover that he was a stranger to God, someone of whom God said: ‘I never knew you; depart from Me’ ( ). He summarized all that he had ever done for Him: ‘Am I not your priest? Am I not a clergy man? Look at all offerings I have brought: many years of study, separated from my family and home, the oaths of poverty, obedience and being unmarried. All that I possessed, my will and even my body I have consecrated to you, that I might serve You better! And now You’re telling me that You never knew me? Just remember all the children I baptized, the confessions I took the time to listen to, how many miserable and discouraged souls I have comforted; the coldness, loneliness and ingratitude I endured.’ Despite of the whole litany of good deeds the same judgment was still sounding in his ears: ‘I never knew you.’ An earthly priestly service provides no peace with God, neither to the priest nor to those he acts for as a priest. Peace with God is only to be found in having faith in Christ Who as the perfect priest offered up the perfect sacrifice. In that way this ex-priest also found peace with God. . This letter was written when the earthly temple service still existed. The writer points at those who serve “a copy and shadow of the heavenly things”. It is tragic though, if you think that there were still so many priests in those days who were achieving a service that makes no sense, neither for God nor for the people. The service on earth was a visible, earthly ‘copy’ of the service that is taking place in heaven. ‘Shadow’ adds that that earthly service is nothing essential in itself, though it refers to a reality. If you see a shadow of a person you don’t see the body, but the shadow certainly refers to the body behind it. The writer clarifies this teaching with the example of Moses who received instructions from God how to build the tabernacle. When he was with God on the mountain, God showed him the blueprint of the tabernacle. He had to build the tabernacle on earth exactly according to the blueprint he saw on the mountain. He had to carefully make sure that it was built only in that way and absolutely not otherwise. The tabernacle on earth was a copy and a shadow of what Moses saw on the mountain. But Christ doesn’t serve a copy and shadow on earth, but He serves in the true tabernacle. He doesn’t serve in a copy, but in a better, higher, more perfect heavenly place. Why should you be connected with priests who serve in a copied sanctuary, while you are allowed to be connected with Christ in the true heavenly sanctuary? Now read Hebrews 8:1-5 again. Reflection: What is the main point of the letter?

‏ Hebrews 8:1-2

The Main Point

Heb 8:1. The writer can now determine “the main point” of all that is previously said. As a kind of climax he summarizes the previous arguments for his readers. Centered in all teachings of the previous chapters is the Person of the High Priest. Again he speaks about Him as “such a high priest” (Heb 7:26), first emphasizing His Person and then emphasizing His service. Such a One, Who is Son (Heb 7:28), and no one else, is that High Priest.

But it is not only a contemplation of His Person at a distance. Surely, He is exalted far beyond us, though He is also still close to us; yes, He belongs to us. After all, it is said that we “have” Him, right? You are allowed to make use of His service, He is available to you.

It must have been a tremendous encouragement for the Hebrew readers. You should again imagine that these believers were mocked for their faith by their unbelieving countrymen. They believed in an invisible Messiah and were adhering to promises that showed no signs that they were going to be fulfilled.

The unbelieving Jews on the contrary were able to show their temple, their offerings, their priests, their high priests, and their ceremonial service. It looked like they had the right on their side. You could see everything that they were pointing at, while the believing Hebrews could not deliver a single proof of what they saw in faith and to what they were adhering.

Just as the writer continually was making efforts to turn the eyes of the readers upward, to heaven, to the Lord Jesus, he does the same here. He gives the believers the answer they need to silence their unbelieving countrymen and maybe even more to make an end to their own rising doubts. They are now able to say to their mocking countrymen (and to themselves): We have the substance, you have the shadows; we have Christ, you have ceremonies; we have the Person, you have the picture.

They could even add to that: ‘Our High Priest is seated because the only sacrifice He offered has fully met the holy requirements of God. This aspect of His service, the offering of a sacrifice, has been accomplished and never has to be repeated. Your high priest, however, is continually busy; he never rests, because his service never leads to perfection and because he himself continually fails. And where does your high priest serve? In a temple on earth, which is also temporary as all things on earth are temporary.’

Besides, he was allowed to come only once a year into the sanctuary. He had to be surrounded by the frankincense and had to carry blood. When he finished that service he came outside again. He had to repeat this ritual each year, because his service was imperfect. And where did our High Priest take his seat? At “the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens”. He is a High Priest Who is connected to the throne of the Majesty.’

As you know, a throne has got to do with reigning. He is King-Priest. He reigns and blesses. The throne is here called ‘the throne of the Majesty’, which refers to impressive greatness, power, excellence. The dignity of His Person and of His service fully meets the Majesty, that is God, Who exceeds endlessly far above all things in glory and greatness. The place where He abides is also appropriate. He is in the heavens, which refers to His exalted position.

The Lord Jesus is seated indeed. That is in regard with His work that has been accomplished once for all on the cross. The sacrifice He offered up there, that is He Himself, is perfect and has never to be repeated. In the following chapters the writer will get fully into detail on this wonderful sacrifice.

Heb 8:2. However, the Lord Jesus is also “a minister in the sanctuary”, which means that in another way He is not seated, but is doing His service on behalf of others. The sanctuary is “the true tabernacle”, the true realm of the service.

The sanctuary in the wilderness, the earthly tabernacle, was a real sanctuary. There was nothing lacking, but it was not the ‘true’ sanctuary. In the same way Israel was a real vine, but Christ is the true vine. Israel has never been able to give God that joy He was seeking, due to weakness and sin. Christ on the contrary was able to do that.

The true tabernacle was not made by human hands. The earthly tabernacle was, although commanded by God, built by human hands. That means that it was not everlasting, for it belonged to a perishable creation. Concerning the heavenly and true tabernacle it is different. That one is established by the Lord and therefore not evanescent. And the service there is also performed by a perfect High Priest.

Heb 8:3. That brings the writer to the remark about the offering of gifts and sacrifices, for a high priest includes an offering. Only on that condition he was allowed to enter the sanctuary. Therefore also Christ had to have something to offer, for otherwise He would not have been able to serve as High Priest. Well then, Christ has entered the sanctuary on the basis of His own sacrifice. The earthly high priests came with “gifts and sacrifices” as it was commanded in the Old Testament. Christ gave and sacrificed Himself. He is the fulfillment of all Old Testament gifts and sacrifices.

Heb 8:4. He achieves His service in heaven on behalf of a heavenly people. On earth He couldn’t be priest, as the writer demonstrated in chapter 7 (Heb 7:12-17). How could these believing Jews desire again a system where Christ couldn’t even be priest? On earth the priests exercised their service according to the Levitical order. But if in that order there is no room for the priesthood of Christ and no room for Him to exercise it, then there also cannot possibly be room for those who belong to Him. If He cannot be priest on earth and cannot exercise His service there, there must be another place for Him to do that. He surely does and that happens in the true sanctuary, which is in heaven.

Each earthly priesthood, as you see that especially in roman-catholicism, is not only a return to the shadow of the Old Testament, but is particularly a practical denial of the priesthood of Christ. Only Christ’s priesthood is valuable to God. Each earthly priesthood is also a presumption of the office and the service that belong to Christ alone. An earthly priest wrongly claims a position between men and God, as if he is better and higher than the people he presumes to represent. He also presumes to represent God toward the people, as if he alone knows the thoughts of God. God does not recognize such priesthood.

Recently I read the book ‘Von Rom zu Christus’ (from Rome to Christ). In that book testimonies are written from ex-priests who tell about how they have become free from the error of roman-catholicism. One of them tells about how the light of God began to shine more and more in his soul, which made him discover that he was a stranger to God, someone of whom God said: ‘I never knew you; depart from Me’ (Mt 7:23).

He summarized all that he had ever done for Him: ‘Am I not your priest? Am I not a clergy man? Look at all offerings I have brought: many years of study, separated from my family and home, the oaths of poverty, obedience and being unmarried. All that I possessed, my will and even my body I have consecrated to you, that I might serve You better! And now You’re telling me that You never knew me? Just remember all the children I baptized, the confessions I took the time to listen to, how many miserable and discouraged souls I have comforted; the coldness, loneliness and ingratitude I endured.’

Despite of the whole litany of good deeds the same judgment was still sounding in his ears: ‘I never knew you.’ An earthly priestly service provides no peace with God, neither to the priest nor to those he acts for as a priest. Peace with God is only to be found in having faith in Christ Who as the perfect priest offered up the perfect sacrifice. In that way this ex-priest also found peace with God.

Heb 8:5. This letter was written when the earthly temple service still existed. The writer points at those who serve “a copy and shadow of the heavenly things”. It is tragic though, if you think that there were still so many priests in those days who were achieving a service that makes no sense, neither for God nor for the people. The service on earth was a visible, earthly ‘copy’ of the service that is taking place in heaven. ‘Shadow’ adds that that earthly service is nothing essential in itself, though it refers to a reality. If you see a shadow of a person you don’t see the body, but the shadow certainly refers to the body behind it.

The writer clarifies this teaching with the example of Moses who received instructions from God how to build the tabernacle. When he was with God on the mountain, God showed him the blueprint of the tabernacle. He had to build the tabernacle on earth exactly according to the blueprint he saw on the mountain. He had to carefully make sure that it was built only in that way and absolutely not otherwise.

The tabernacle on earth was a copy and a shadow of what Moses saw on the mountain. But Christ doesn’t serve a copy and shadow on earth, but He serves in the true tabernacle. He doesn’t serve in a copy, but in a better, higher, more perfect heavenly place.

Why should you be connected with priests who serve in a copied sanctuary, while you are allowed to be connected with Christ in the true heavenly sanctuary?

Now read Hebrews 8:1-5 again.

Reflection: What is the main point of the letter?