THE NEW COVENANT
Key verse: 12
NIV
The High Priest of a New Covenant
8 Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest,(A) who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,(B) 2 and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle(C) set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.
3 Every high priest(D) is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices,(E) and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer.(F) 4 If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law.(G) 5 They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy(H) and shadow(I) of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned(J) when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”[a](K) 6 But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant(L) of which he is mediator(M) is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.
7 For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.(N) 8 But God found fault with the people and said[b]:
“The days are coming, declares the Lord,
when I will make a new covenant(O)
with the people of Israel
and with the people of Judah.
9 It will not be like the covenant
I made with their ancestors(P)
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they did not remain faithful to my covenant,
and I turned away from them,
declares the Lord.
10 This is the covenant(Q) I will establish with the people of Israel
after that time, declares the Lord.
I will put my laws in their minds
and write them on their hearts.(R)
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.(S)
11 No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,(T)
from the least of them to the greatest.
12 For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.(U)”[c](V)
13 By calling this covenant “new,”(W) he has made the first one obsolete;(X) and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 8:5 Exodus 25:40
- Hebrews 8:8 Some manuscripts may be translated fault and said to the people.
- Hebrews 8:12 Jer. 31:31-34
Cross references
- Hebrews 8:1 : S Heb 2:17
- Hebrews 8:1 : S Mk 16:19; S Heb 4:14
- Hebrews 8:2 : Heb 9:11, 24
- Hebrews 8:3 : S Heb 2:17
- Hebrews 8:3 : Heb 5:1; 9:9
- Hebrews 8:3 : Heb 9:14
- Hebrews 8:4 : Heb 5:1; 9:9
- Hebrews 8:5 : Heb 9:23
- Hebrews 8:5 : Col 2:17; Heb 10:1
- Hebrews 8:5 : Heb 11:7; 12:25
- Hebrews 8:5 : Ex 25:40
- Hebrews 8:6 : ver 8, 13; S Lk 22:20
- Hebrews 8:6 : S Gal 3:20
- Hebrews 8:7 : Heb 7:11, 18; 10:1
- Hebrews 8:8 : ver 6, 13; S Lk 22:20
- Hebrews 8:9 : Ex 19:5, 6; 20:1-17
- Hebrews 8:10 : Ro 11:27
- Hebrews 8:10 : 2Co 3:3; Heb 10:16
- Hebrews 8:10 : Eze 11:20; Zec 8:8
- Hebrews 8:11 : Isa 54:13; S Jn 6:45
- Hebrews 8:12 : Heb 10:17
- Hebrews 8:12 : Ro 11:27
- Hebrews 8:13 : ver 6, 8; S Lk 22:20
- Hebrews 8:13 : 2Co 5:17
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Jesus, High Priest of a Better Covenant
8 Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, (A)one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 a minister in the holy places, in (B)the true tent[a] that the Lord (C)set up, not man. 3 For (D)every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus (E)it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. 4 Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law. 5 They serve (F)a copy and (G)shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, (H)“See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” 6 But as it is, Christ[b] has obtained a ministry that is (I)as much more excellent than the old as (J)the covenant (K)he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. 7 (L)For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.
8 For he finds fault with them when he says:[c]
(M)“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord,
when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah,
9 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers
on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt.
For they did not continue in my covenant,
and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord.
10 (N)For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
after those days, declares the Lord:
I will put my laws into their minds,
and (O)write them on their hearts,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
11 And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor
and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’
for they shall (P)all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest.
12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities,
(Q)and I will remember their sins no more.”
13 In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And (R)what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Hebrews 8:2 Or tabernacle; also verse 5
- Hebrews 8:6 Greek he
- Hebrews 8:8 Some manuscripts For finding fault with it he says to them
Cross references
- Hebrews 8:1 : See Mark 16:19
- Hebrews 8:2 : ch. 9:24; [ch. 9:11]
- Hebrews 8:2 : Ex. 33:7
- Hebrews 8:3 : See ch. 5:1
- Hebrews 8:3 : ch. 9:12-14; 10:9-12; Eph. 5:2
- Hebrews 8:5 : ch. 9:23
- Hebrews 8:5 : ch. 10:1; Col. 2:17
- Hebrews 8:5 : Cited from Ex. 25:40
- Hebrews 8:6 : ch. 1:4; 2 Cor. 3:6-11
- Hebrews 8:6 : ch. 7:22
- Hebrews 8:6 : ch. 9:15; 12:24; [Gal. 3:19]
- Hebrews 8:7 : See ch. 7:11
- Hebrews 8:8 : Cited from Jer. 31:31-34
- Hebrews 8:10 : ch. 10:16; Rom. 11:27
- Hebrews 8:10 : [2 Cor. 3:3]
- Hebrews 8:11 : Isa. 54:13; John 6:45; 1 John 2:27
- Hebrews 8:12 : ch. 10:17; Rom. 11:27
- Hebrews 8:13 : [2 Cor. 5:17]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
For the people of Israel, God instituted the priestly service to provide for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus serves in the true tabernacle. Through him, we may go directly and personally to God in prayer. He serves before the very throne of God in heaven. Jesus offered himself for the sins of the world. his priestly service is not of earth, but of heaven, and his ministry is superior. By his death, Jesus established a new covenant between God and his people. This covenant is far superior to the old covenant. This covenant rules over sin and binds men inseparably to God himself.
The first covenant was incomplete. The laws given in the Old Testament were God-given, to reveal his glory to a nation of slaves. But the people disobeyed God’s call and compromised with the culture and religion of Canaan. The covenant of law could not help them; it only condemned them. Jeremiah spoke about the new covenant, and Jesus established it with his own blood, shed for the sins of the world. The Holy Spirit, given to all who repent and believe, writes God's law on our hearts. The new covenant enables each person to have a personal relationship with God (11). God promises to forgive our sins (12). We may know the Lord, and this is eternal life (Jn 17:3). The new covenant is superior and perfect.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for providing the new covenant in Jesus’ blood. Bind me to you.
One Word: Bound to God by the new covenant
