Hebrews 8
February Memory Verse: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
Read: Hebrews 8
Jesus is Our High Priest
The high priest was the highest religious official in the Jewish culture. This began when God instructed Moses to appoint his older brother Aaron as the priest of the people. This was the man who would offer atonement for the sins of the people once a year on the Day of Atonement as well as govern from a religious perspective. We remember during the crucifixion of Jesus, that these men were not always honorable.
After Jesus died, arose, and ascended to heaven, we now have a new permanent High Priest (v.1). He’s in the heavenly Tabernacle (v.2) ministering for us. His ministry is far superior to other priests (v.6).
Jesus, as our High Priest:
Prays for Us
John 17 records Jesus’ high priestly prayer for us while here on earth. Jesus continues His work for us in heaven today.
“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.” John 17:20
Advocates for Us
My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. 1 John 2:1
Intercedes to the Father for Us
Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Romans 8:34
Cares for Us
So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:14-16
He’s negotiated a better covenant for us (v.6).
But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.” (v.10,12)
Take a moment right now and thank Jesus for His High Priestly work for you.
Thank Him for the new covenant of grace that allows you to boldly go to God’s throne and find help in a time of need.
Thank Him for His forgiveness for sins.
By: Tim Parsons
Read: Hebrews 8
Jesus is Our High Priest
The high priest was the highest religious official in the Jewish culture. This began when God instructed Moses to appoint his older brother Aaron as the priest of the people. This was the man who would offer atonement for the sins of the people once a year on the Day of Atonement as well as govern from a religious perspective. We remember during the crucifixion of Jesus, that these men were not always honorable.
After Jesus died, arose, and ascended to heaven, we now have a new permanent High Priest (v.1). He’s in the heavenly Tabernacle (v.2) ministering for us. His ministry is far superior to other priests (v.6).
Jesus, as our High Priest:
Prays for Us
John 17 records Jesus’ high priestly prayer for us while here on earth. Jesus continues His work for us in heaven today.
“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.” John 17:20
Advocates for Us
My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. 1 John 2:1
Intercedes to the Father for Us
Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Romans 8:34
Cares for Us
So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:14-16
He’s negotiated a better covenant for us (v.6).
But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.” (v.10,12)
Take a moment right now and thank Jesus for His High Priestly work for you.
Thank Him for the new covenant of grace that allows you to boldly go to God’s throne and find help in a time of need.
Thank Him for His forgiveness for sins.
By: Tim Parsons
13 Comments
Thank you Tim! What a great way to end a challenging week with weather difficulties, power outages, back-breaking ice & snow shoveling, etc. This is such a powerful chapter as we think about Jesus advocating on behalf of His children, saved by His precious blood.
7 If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second covenant to replace it.
Verse 7 really jumped out at me today. As you study the Old Testament you see time & time again how Israel failed to keep the law. Jewish leaders created extra laws over and above those God gave them vainly trying to show others their piety. The law became so burdensome that no one was able to follow it. When Jesus began His ministry He began preaching & demonstrating to those who would listen that He was the fulfillment of the law and the promised Messiah. We are blessed to live on this side of the cross and have access to God’s complete love letter. (The Bible)
Thank you CPC staff for faithfully writing JS commentaries each day. I can’t imagine starting the day without God’s Word and insight from each of you and comments from faithful readers. Happy weekend!
Thanks Mike! Great insights. Thanks for being a faithful reader.
Someone once told me that we should read the Old Testament through the lens of the New Testament. I'm reminded of this instruction today by reading how the OT law was a "copy and shadow" of heavenly things. The old promises, old tabernacle, and old system are the incomplete. The temporary. The imperfect. We really are blessed to live in this time where the perfect has come, the better promise is guaranteed. Reading OT, like Jeremiah 31 in today's passage, becomes even more meaningful to the heart when you see the Author explain to us.
Thanks Korbet
Something I think of is how thankful we ought to be to be born in the period of this new covenant. I did nothing to choose to be born post-cross and I take this great opportunity of direct fellowship with God for granted so much in that light. That speaks in itself of the great levels of grace and mercy God shows to us always, as we will never be as thankful as we ought.
Right on Jordan! I’m so proud of you! You’re growing so much!!
Love these reminders today!!! Thanks, Tim!
Thanks Sara! Thankful for you and your crew!
Will do Tim! Very encouraging message. Several things jumped out today:
Our high priest is Jesus who is perfect and how other denominations have not accepted this truth and allowed for sinful broken people to be in that position of authority amazes me today! Just shows that those we give such high honors are as broken as the rest of us! Love direct access to Jesus and don’t take this for granted!
Let us learn from the old covenant and while it is obsolete read and study it! Recent evangelicals have all but tried to dismiss the old covenant but I don’t think you can understand the new without understanding the old...
For I will forgive their wrongdoing and I will never again remember their sins. Talk about true unconditional love!!!
Great insights Joey! Thank you so much!
I just finished reading the Old Testament this week, a plan I started a year ago, and reading about Jesus being our permanent High Priest is so fitting right now. As Mike said, you see all of Israel's failures in the OT, and you also see imperfect High Priests, so when we read of the role Jesus now plays as the High Priest, it makes me so thankful that we don't have to depend on a sinful man to go the the throne for us, but that we have Jesus who does so because of his perfect life, his sacrifice on the cross, and his resurrection. Without that, we would still need to depend on our own sacrifices and have some imperfect man speak to God for us. Grateful for Hebrews tying together what I've been reading lately. Love how the Old Testament and the law points to Jesus, and that New Testament shows that he fulfilled the law. Thanks for breaking this down for us, Tim!
Reading the chapter today reminds me of conversations I've had with others who talk about how the failures and behaviors of "so-called Christians" make it hard for them to believe in Christianity. God uses people all the time who fail and make bad choices. That's not because there's a problem with God...it's because people are flawed. We should always keep our eyes on Jesus, who is perfect, not on others, who are flawed. He is our role model, our truth and our salvation.
That’s often true Lindsay. Thanks for reading Jumpstart every day!