American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
Hebrews 8
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;
Reference
2
A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
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3
For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: why it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.
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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:
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5
Who serve to the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, said he, that you make all things according to the pattern showed to you in the mount.
Reference
Parallel theme
Colossians 2:17
Exodus 25:40
Hebrews 10:1
Exodus 27:8
1 Chronicles 28:19
Hebrews 9:9
References God
1 Chronicles 28:12
Hebrews 11:7
References Moses
Numbers 8:4
Temple
Exodus 26:30
6
But now has he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.
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7
For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
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8
For finding fault with them, he said, Behold, the days come, said the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
Reference
Covenant
Hebrews 12:24
Jeremiah 32:40
Hebrews 9:15
Isaiah 55:3
1 Corinthians 11:25
2 Corinthians 3:6
Luke 22:20
Ezekiel 37:26
References Lord
Jeremiah 31:38
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, said the Lord.
Reference
Covenant
Jeremiah 31:32
Galatians 4:24
Parallel theme
Mark 8:23
Isaiah 40:11
Isaiah 63:9
Acts 9:8
Psalm 77:20
Psalm 78:57
Psalm 105:43
References Lord
Acts 13:11
10
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, said 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:
Reference
Covenant
Jeremiah 31:33
Romans 11:27
Parallel theme
1 Peter 2:9
Titus 2:14
References God
2 Corinthians 3:3
Jeremiah 24:7
Deuteronomy 30:6
Zechariah 8:8
Word
James 1:21
1 Peter 1:23
11
And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
Reference
Parallel theme
John 6:45
1 John 2:27
1 John 5:20
Acts 8:10
References Lord
Jeremiah 31:34
Isaiah 54:13
Jeremiah 24:7
1 Chronicles 28:9
Habakkuk 2:14
Isaiah 2:3
12
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Reference
Summary of Hebrews 8
Hebrews 8 explains that Jesus is the true heavenly High Priest who ministers in God's presence and mediates a better covenant based upon better promises, while the earthly priesthood and tabernacle served as temporary copies of heavenly realities, and the promised new covenant brings an inward knowledge of God, transformed hearts, genuine belonging to Him, and complete forgiveness rather than depending upon the limitations of the former covenant.
The chapter begins by summarizing the central argument of Hebrews: believers have a High Priest seated at God's right hand in heaven, establishing Christ's exalted position and showing that His priestly ministry is fundamentally different from the earthly ministry of Israel's priests.
Jesus ministers in the true sanctuary established by God, while the earthly priests served within a physical sanctuary constructed according to God's instructions.
The writer emphasizes that the earthly tabernacle and priesthood were copies and shadows of heavenly realities, using Moses' experience at Mount Sinai as the biblical foundation for this comparison.
This does not mean that the Old Testament system was meaningless, because it was established by God and served an important purpose, but Hebrews explains that it was preparatory rather than final, pointing beyond itself toward the greater priestly ministry of Christ.
Because Jesus possesses a superior priesthood, He also mediates a better covenant based upon better promises, making the covenant itself an important part of the chapter's argument.
The writer explains that if the first covenant had been completely sufficient, there would have been no need for another covenant, but Scripture itself had already anticipated such a change.
Jeremiah's prophecy becomes the central Old Testament evidence, because centuries before Christ, God promised that He would establish a new covenant with Israel and Judah.
This new covenant would be different from the covenant made with Israel's ancestors after the Exodus because the people had failed to remain faithful to the earlier covenant.
The most important difference is that the new covenant involves internal transformation, with God's laws being placed in the minds and written upon the hearts of His people.
Instead of merely possessing external commandments, God's people would develop an inward relationship with Him, personally knowing the Lord and belonging to Him in a deeper covenant relationship.
The promise also includes God's mercy and complete forgiveness, with God declaring that He will no longer remember the sins of His people.
The chapter concludes by explaining that calling the covenant “new” makes the former covenant old, indicating that the earlier arrangement was moving toward completion and eventual disappearance.
The central message of Hebrews 8 is that Jesus Christ is the superior heavenly High Priest and mediator of a better covenant established upon better promises, because the earthly priesthood and tabernacle were only shadows of heavenly realities and the former covenant could not bring God's people into the complete relationship He intended, whereas the new covenant promised through Jeremiah provides inward transformation, personal knowledge of God, a genuine relationship with Him, and complete forgiveness through Christ.
The chapter begins by summarizing the central argument of Hebrews: believers have a High Priest seated at God's right hand in heaven, establishing Christ's exalted position and showing that His priestly ministry is fundamentally different from the earthly ministry of Israel's priests.
Jesus ministers in the true sanctuary established by God, while the earthly priests served within a physical sanctuary constructed according to God's instructions.
The writer emphasizes that the earthly tabernacle and priesthood were copies and shadows of heavenly realities, using Moses' experience at Mount Sinai as the biblical foundation for this comparison.
This does not mean that the Old Testament system was meaningless, because it was established by God and served an important purpose, but Hebrews explains that it was preparatory rather than final, pointing beyond itself toward the greater priestly ministry of Christ.
Because Jesus possesses a superior priesthood, He also mediates a better covenant based upon better promises, making the covenant itself an important part of the chapter's argument.
The writer explains that if the first covenant had been completely sufficient, there would have been no need for another covenant, but Scripture itself had already anticipated such a change.
Jeremiah's prophecy becomes the central Old Testament evidence, because centuries before Christ, God promised that He would establish a new covenant with Israel and Judah.
This new covenant would be different from the covenant made with Israel's ancestors after the Exodus because the people had failed to remain faithful to the earlier covenant.
The most important difference is that the new covenant involves internal transformation, with God's laws being placed in the minds and written upon the hearts of His people.
Instead of merely possessing external commandments, God's people would develop an inward relationship with Him, personally knowing the Lord and belonging to Him in a deeper covenant relationship.
The promise also includes God's mercy and complete forgiveness, with God declaring that He will no longer remember the sins of His people.
The chapter concludes by explaining that calling the covenant “new” makes the former covenant old, indicating that the earlier arrangement was moving toward completion and eventual disappearance.
The central message of Hebrews 8 is that Jesus Christ is the superior heavenly High Priest and mediator of a better covenant established upon better promises, because the earthly priesthood and tabernacle were only shadows of heavenly realities and the former covenant could not bring God's people into the complete relationship He intended, whereas the new covenant promised through Jeremiah provides inward transformation, personal knowledge of God, a genuine relationship with Him, and complete forgiveness through Christ.