Hebrews 8:1-6

1: 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 in the heavens,
2: a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.
3: For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer.
4: Now 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;
5: who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “SEE,” He says, “THAT YOU MAKE all things ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN WHICH WAS SHOWN YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN.”
6: But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.

*** 

Paul gave the main point to what he has been saying regarding Jesus’ priesthood--that Jesus, as our high priest, is now seated at the right hand of God in heaven. His priestly ministry is not on earth—it’s not of the earthly/Levitical priesthood—for according to the Law He wouldn’t even be a priest, not being a Levite (Hebrews 7:13-14). But He is a minister in the true tabernacle—one made by God, not man.

Under the old/earthly priesthood, the presence of God dwelt in the ark of the covenant in the holy of holies within the tabernacle that God instructed Moses to build. Yet that tabernacle was just a copy of the heavenly things. Paul quoted Exodus 25:40 where the Lord told Moses to make sure he made everything according to the pattern he was shown while meeting with Him in the mountain. So, this tabernacle was patterned after the heavenly, but Jesus is not a priest serving in that earthly tabernacle. He is a priest of the real, eternal, heavenly tabernacle.

The true tabernacle is Jesus’ body and His blood—the perfect unblemished sacrifice which became the tabernacle of His priesthood (Hebrews 9:11-12). This true tabernacle of Jesus is where God dwells and where those who are in Christ, members of His body, meet with Him. It’s a holy place. The holy of holies.

Every priest in the Levitical priesthood offered gifts and sacrifices for the sins of the people and in worship to God. Jesus was required to do the same. He offered Himself, the best possible—and most perfect—gift and sacrifice. His sacrifice, which was once and for all, replaced the old covenant because it was powerful enough to redeem all of mankind back to God. One simply needs to believe in Him and accept His sacrifice for themselves personally. We may now offer the sacrifices of praise to God—the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name (Hebrews 13:15).

Jesus has a more excellent priestly ministry than the Levitical priesthood. Its eternal. It’s the true, heavenly one which the other was patterned after. This is a better covenant, enacted on better promises, which He is the mediator of.


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