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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; 8:2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the
true
tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
8:3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices:
wherefore it is of
necessity that this man have somewhat also to
offer.
8:4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that
there are
priests that offer gifts according to the law: 8:5 Who serve
unto the example and
shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was
admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See,
saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to
thee in the mount.
8:6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much
also he is the
mediator of a better
covenant, which was established
upon better promises.
8:7 For if that first covenant had been
faultless, then should no
place have been sought for the second.
8:8 For finding fault with them, he saith,
Behold, the days come,
saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of
Israel and with the house of
Judah: 8:9 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, saith the Lord.
8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of
Israel after those days, saith 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: 8:11 And they shall not teach every man
his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for
all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
8:12 For I will be merciful to their
unrighteousness, and their sins
and their
iniquities will I remember no more.
8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now
that which decayeth and
waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
Hebrews
Book: Hebrews
Chapter: 8
Overview:
The excellence of
Christ's priesthood above that of
Aaron is
shown.
(1-6) The great excellence of the new
Covenant above the
former.
(7-13)
1-6 The substance, or summary, of what had been declared was,
that Christians had such a High
Priest as they needed. He took
upon himself human nature, appeared
On Earth, and there gave
himself as a
Sacrifice to
God for the sins of his people. We
must not dare to approach
God, or to present any thing to him,
but in and through
Christ, depending upon his merits and
mediation; for we are accepted only in the Beloved. In all
obedience and
Worship, we should keep close to
God's
Word, which
is the only and perfect standard.
Christ is the substance and
End of the
Law of
Righteousness. But the
Covenant here referred
to, was that made with
Israel as a nation, securing temporal
benefits to them. The promises of all spiritual blessings, and
of eternal
Life, revealed in the
Gospel, and made sure through
Christ, are of infinitely greater value. Let us
Bless God that
we have a High
Priest that suits our helpless condition.
7-13 The superior excellence of the priesthood of
Christ, above
that of
Aaron, is shown from that
Covenant of
Grace, of which
Christ was
Mediator. The
Law not only made all subject to it,
liable to be condemned for the guilt of
Sin, but also was unable
to remove that guilt, and clear the
Conscience from the sense
and terror of it. Whereas,
By the
Blood of
Christ, a full
remission of sins was provided,
So that
God would remember them
No more.
God once wrote his laws to his people, now he will
write his laws in them; he will give them understanding to know
and to believe his laws; he will give them memories to retain
them; he will give them hearts to
Love them, courage to profess
them, and power to
Put them in practice. This is the foundation
of the
Covenant; and when this is laid, duty will be done
wisely, sincerely, readily, easily, resolutely, constantly, and
with comfort. A plentiful outpouring of the
Spirit of
God will
make the ministration of the
Gospel So effectual, that there
shall be a mighty increase and spreading of
Christian knowledge
in persons of all sorts. Oh that this promise might be fulfilled
in our days, that the
Hand of
God may be with his ministers
So
that great
Numbers may believe, and be turned to the
Lord! The
Pardon of
Sin will always be found to accompany the true
knowledge of
God. Notice the freeness of this
Pardon; its
Fulness; its fixedness. This pardoning
Mercy is connected with
all other spiritual mercies: unpardoned
Sin hinders
Mercy, and
pulls down judgments; but the
Pardon of
Sin prevents
Judgment,
and opens a wide door to all spiritual blessings. Let us search
whether we are taught
By the Holy
Spirit to know
Christ,
So as
uprightly to
Love, fear, trust, and obey him. All worldly
vanities, outward privileges, or mere notions of religion, will
soon vanish away, and leave those who trust in them miserable
for ever.