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Hosea 6:6 For I desired mercy and not sacrifice;
and the knowledge of God more than your burnt offerings.
Bible Chapter Studies
1A0 HEBREWS CHAPTER 8
8:3 - 10:18 THE EFFICACY OF CHRIST'S
PRIESTHOOD
8:3-6 A more excellent ministry. A better
Covenant on better promises.
8:7-13 The Old and New Covenants
compared and contrasted.
In Hebrews 7 we learned how and why Jesus is Melchisedec, we'll continue this learning in the first two verses of this Chapter; so we'll get right into it.
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; -> Notice right off the "semi-colon" at the end of this verse, meaning the verse continues into the next verse.
But Paul is summarizing here and says of the things he taught us in the last Chapter that Jesus, being our High Priest, does sit at the right hand of the throne of Father - God, in heaven, and will stay there until the day of His return here to gather His children and usher them into His 1,000 year Millennial reign.
Hebrews 8:2 A Minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the LORD pitched and not man. -> Jesus is the High Priest of the Holiest of Holies, the inner sanctuary, in the temple that Father built and established, no man, because this temple is in heaven, not here on earth.
The sanctuary is made up of Jesus' body which is that many membered body, which also is eternal, and until He returns, continues to grow. The "true tabernacle" also is that many membered body of Christ. Jesus stated in John 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. -> This is referring to the fact that upon His death on the cross, as we read in Matthew 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; -> The veil in the temple of God leading into the holy of holies was rent in two from "top to bottom," signifying that it was Father that opened the Holiest of Holies for us to enter into, no longer needing a fleshly high priest, because ours - our True High Priest, had just died on the cross and will ascend up into heaven to be at the right hand of Father.
After Jesus' flesh body lay in the tomb for the three days, He was transformed into His transfigured body; He came out of the tomb victorious over death - satan, and from that day forward the sanctuary and the tabernacle of Christ was formed.
The tent of tabernacle that Father had Moses build in the wilderness has long since rotted away, but the tabernacle which Jesus built when He rose from the dead is an eternal sanctuary which has no end. It is made up of every person that believes on Jesus Christ, from the time of His resurrection, right up to the very last day of this earth Age, so long as they don't worship after satan when he comes in his role of pretend to be jesus. Every member that goes to make up that sanctuary has received life everlasting and that is why it is an eternal sanctuary.
8:3-8:6 A more excellent ministry
Hebrews 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. -> "Have somewhat to offer" - Jesus - our Father, offered what none of us could offer to Him ourselves! He offered up Himself for every one of His children so that when we come to believe upon Him, and what He did for us; and when we repent of our sins, apologize and ask for His forgiveness, He'll be faithful to keep His promises and do just that - forgive us of our sins!
Hebrews 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: -> The priests had to offer up their gifts according to the law, Jesus fulfilled the law and as such He offered up Himself. Having offered up Himself, there is nothing else to be offered up.
Hebrews 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." -> The gifts the priests offered up were only examples of THE Gift and that gift really was for us, for God - Immanuel (God with us) - Jesus Christ; offered up Himself in order that we might have eternal life with Him. But to receive the gift, there has to be an action on our part, it's called belief.
As we read in Exodus 25:9, Father ensured Moses followed the exact instructions and pattern that He provided Moses when Moses had the Israelites make all the pieces for, and the assembly of, the tabernacle - the dwelling place or tent of habitation, where Father would come and dwell with the Israelites. Father told Moses what materials to use, the size and shape of the tabernacle, and everything within that tabernacle was a "type" or an example of the better or more perfect Temple of Christ.
Hebrews 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. -> Though we today have the New Testament or Covenant, the Old Covenant was not done away with because God promised Abraham in Genesis 15 that his children and their inheritance would become as numerous as the stars of the heavens and the sands of the sea, and continue forever.
The reason this is possible is because there is forgiveness established on the promises of our Father. These promises are absolute and legally certain, and it is upon the promises of the Old Covenant that the fulfillment of the promises of Christ in the New Covenant are even established. The Old Testament spoke of what would take place in the New Testament and was an "ensample" [example] of what we shall face in the final generation, and on into eternity. The only thing in the Old Testament that was done away with is the blood sacrifices of animals and blood ordinances, for Christ fulfilled those requirements that our Heavenly Father required.
8:7-8:13 The Old and the New Covenants compared and contrasted
8:7-8 The first Covenant Faulty
8:9 The New Covenant. Not the same in the persons taking part. (Neg)
8:10 The New Covenant Spiritual (Pos)
8:11 The New Covenant. Not the same in result. (Neg)
8:12 The New Covenant Spiritual (Pos)
8:13 The First Covenant Evanescent.
Hebrews 8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should have been no place sought for the second. -> In reality, there was no fault with the First Covenant. How can I say this? Because it was all Father's plan from the beginning - John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. -> It was Father's plan all along from even before this Flesh Age of man, before we were even created in our spiritual bodies; Father planned everything down to the last detail for us. The only thing He didn't design into the equation was whether we would love Him or not - that He left up to each individual - otherwise we would just be zombies walking around saying, "I love You God, I love You God."
With that being said though, the First Covenant was established for us to be an example, a "type" or shadow of the better Covenant - the Second; which was to come with His - Father, being born in the flesh, thereby ushering in the dispensation of Grace. All men, except of course He Himself when He walked in the flesh, fall short of the glory of Father and therefore all men need to ask forgiveness for the shortcomings.
Hebrews 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: -> Notice that when Father stated this the Houses were still split in two - House of Israel and House of Judah. So when and where was it that Father stated this? In Jeremiah 31:31-34 so lets go there and read what He said to Jeremiah: Jeremiah 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: -> Even though Father was talking with Jeremiah, and don't forget, Jeremiah prophesied to and was written to the House of Judah, Father always mentioned the House of Israel first when He talks about both Houses. Jeremiah 31:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: -> Father was telling Jeremiah to tell the House of Israel and the House of Judah, and Paul is reminding us, that Father will always be with us and never leave us nor forsake us, and as we see here, He uses the phrase "I was an husband to them." He was promising He would ALWAYS be with us and that He would make a New and better Covenant with us. Father was always with His children of Israel as He led them up out of their bondage to the Egyptians and for those 38 years while wandering in the wilderness. Jeremiah 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. -> "But this shall be the covenant" - here is the Promise of the New Covenant. This also in reality is still future to us, for it will NOT truly be fulfilled until after Jesus' 1,000 year Millennial reign and we enter into the eternity with Father - for those that overcome. Sadly, as it is written, not all will overcome, but for those that do, the Promise is wonderful. Jeremiah 31:34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. -> After Jesus' 1,000 year Millennial reign, nobody will have to teach his neighbor about Father, because only the overcomers will be there and they all will know Father and He will no longer remember their sins from the first earth Age nor from the Flesh Age.
Hebrews 8:9 Not according to the covenant 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. -> The covenant was made many years before Father led them out of the land of Egypt; He made the covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel) over 400 years previous. He was just reiterating it and reestablishing it.
Hebrews 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: -> What did Father just state He would write in their minds and on their hearts? HIS LAW! So for you out there that say that Jesus did away with the law, you better think again. If this is what you preacher has taught you, maybe it's time to find a different teacher.
This, as we look around us today, we see isn't happening, for Father's children, even those who claim to be of Judah and Christian sadly are not Biblically knowledgeable. Yes there are many who claim that they love Father, but as Jesus spoke to the scribes, pharisees and sadducces in Mark 7:6-8: Mark 7:6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. -> Just like in Jesus day, there were those that claimed they loved Father, but in reality it was more with their mouths than with their hearts, in other words, it a true love for Father, rather: Mark 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. -> They had mans traditions so ingrained into them that they could not put them away from them and accept Jesus' teachings, again much like it is today - Christ has become a stumbling block to them - what do they do? Mark 7:8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. -> They cling to false doctrines and celebrations like the rapture and easter but, that will change.
On the day we enter into the eternity, this is how it will be, He will be our God - of course He already IS, and we will be His children.
Hebrews 8:11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, know the LORD: for they shall know me, from the least to the greatest. -> Yes, we will have full knowledge and again know Him, love Him, serve Him and Worship Him as any child should Love their father - there'll be no need for one to have to teach his neighbour - for we will all know Him.
So, if as we learned in the last verse that He will write His laws in our hearts and minds, what then shall be taught in Jesus' 1,000 year Millennial Age? Why do I say there will be teaching? Revelation 20:6 declares so: Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. -> Who has part in the first resurrection? Only those who stood with God and against satan during the Age that was, it is only those whose names are already written in the Book of Life as can be read in Revelation 13:8 and Revelation 17:8. It is they that shall be the priests of God and of Christ during Christ's one thousand year millennial reign. And what is a priest for? To teach the Word of God. Who will they be teaching? Those whose names are not already written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Those who are on the wrong side of gulf prior to Christ's return and those who do not have the seal of God in their foreheads as written in Revelation 9:4 and take the mark of the beast. They will be teaching Discipline and obedience, for it will seem that God's children have always been very inadequate in following the laws that God has given them. We seem to be all wrapped up in man's laws of precedence today that change with the morals of the day.
Do you want to know what Jesus' Millennium will be like? Do you know where to go in Father's Word to find out? The Book of Ezekiel Chapters 40 through the end of the Book all cover the Millennial period. Turn with me to Ezekiel 44:23 And they shall teach My People the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. [44:24] And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to My judgments: and shall keep My laws and My statutes in all Mine assemblies; and they shall hallow My sabbaths. -> The "they" at the beginning of verse 44:23 are Father's Remnant and Elect - those that did not bow a knee to satan in the First Earth Age, nor at the end of the Flesh Age, they are known as the Zadok and they will be the Priests and judges of and for Father during the Millennium. Ezekiel 44:25 And they shall come at no dead person to defile themselves: but for father, or for mother, or for son, or for daughter, for brother, or for sister that hath had no husband, they may defile themselves. -> This verse describes who you as one of Father's Elect - or Zadok, can approach during the Jesus' Millennium Age. Why will you be allowed to do this? In order to tell them to straighten up and get their act together or they won't make it when satan is loosed at the end of the Millennium. You can only go to your family members – father, mother, brother, son, daughter but not your married sister and not the friend that you have in this Age. The reason for this is because you sister is now her husband's responsibility however, our Father is a Loving Father that desires all His children to come to repentance; and I'm sure if one asked to go to their lost married sister, He would not deny the request.
Hebrews 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. -> One the first day of Jesus' Millennium, everybody that is still alive in the flesh will immediately be changed into their spiritual body, and will recognize and know the deity Jesus and Father. Father's and our adversary - satan, will be put into the abyss for the 1,000 years, those fallen angels who refused to be born of women - in the flesh, will be cast into the Lake of Fire - meaning their soul's will be completely consumed and they will be no more and the teaching and disciplining will begin. So lets break this down, let go to two different places in Father's Word and read what He has to say concerning this, we'll be going to the Books of I Corinthians 15:50-53 and Revelation 20:12-14. Turn first to I Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. -> Your flesh body or anyone's flesh body will not exist when Christ returns to set up His Kingdom age of the Millennium. I Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, -> Notice that you will not be flying away to anywhere, but you will be changed at Christ coming. This is the mystery that Paul is making known to all those that have eyes to see with understanding. I Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. -> All events that happen at Christ's return; happens instantly - in the wink of an eye. All flesh bodies will immediately be changed at that time, and that is why you will never be sick and will have full knowledge and understanding during the time of the Millennium Age. You will not be bound to an occupation, making a living, tending to children, or any of the obligations of this flesh life. All souls, young and old alike will exist as mature, well, and thinking individuals. Again the time is at the last and final trump - the seventh trump; and it will take place right here on earth, not on some distant planet. The existence is in another dimension, other than what is common to this flesh Age. I Corinthians 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. -> Though the spiritually dead receive their incorruptible body, that body they receive shall still be subject at judgment to die the second death. Although at this time, all of Father's Elect and those that have repented to the Father in Jesus name and have not bowed to satan, nor taken his name or number, will receive not only their incorruptible bodies, but bodies that will be immortal – no longer liable to die the second death. Now lets go to Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books we opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. -> The full Godhead is here and all the books are opened for Him to examine and judge His children out of. The dead are the spiritually dead angelic beings that did not over come antichrist and those that were on the wrong side of the gulf prior to the millennium starting, while the terms small and the great are referring to those from the flesh age of man, not paying any attention to whether they were poor or extremely successful.
Notice also that this verse says we are judged according to our works, they are the only thing we can take with us from this age of flesh man. Most churches teach that we are all judged by the "grace" of God and\or our faith. This is incorrect as only our salvation comes to us by the grace of God and\or our faith, but our works, they follow us and they make up our linens -- our clothing, as can be read in Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. and also Revelation 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Why are we judged by our works and not "the grace of God" or our faith? Because there are those, God's elect, who were judged at the end of the age that was while they were in their spiritual bodies (Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.), and it would be unfair of God to judge the rest of His children while they are in their flesh bodies and therefore they will only be judged while they also are in their spiritual bodies. And since they are going to be judged in their spiritual bodies, therefore it stands to reason that as such, they "see" Christ in the millennial age and therefore it is by their works and no longer by faith. Revelation 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. -> Again, it is by our works and not our faith that we are judged. Who are these dead? Don't forget where we are "on The Lord's Day - Christ's one thousand year reign - the millennium" so these dead are the spiritually dead, not physically dead. These are those which did not accept Christ while they were in the flesh or were on the wrong side of the gulf.
Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. -> The second death is the turning to ashes the soul of an individual from within. They won't be burning forever and ever; they are immediately consumed from within. Remember these are Father's children and He is a merciful God, He doesn't want to destroy any of His children but, because of what they did, He will.
After all those that will be destroyed at the Great White Throne Judgment, there will never again be any death, thought of death or sadness.
Hebrews 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. -> Remember that we have been talking about the Efficacy and Excellency of Jesus' Ministry; and the contrasting and comparing of the Old and New Covenants. The Old Covenant was a tent that Father had Moses and the children of Israel build - the original tabernacle that they used while wandering in the wilderness for those 38 years. Moses built the original tent out of cloth with all its fancy garnishment which rotted away after years. That tent was symbolic – a "type" of what was to come. So what is the New Covenant? Jesus told us in John 2:19 "…Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up."
Jesus' Temple is made up of both His body and the many membered body which consists of every soul that believes on Him; and has the blood of Christ covering their sins through repentance. This New Covenant will never grow "old," for it is an Eternal Covenant and it pertains only to our Heavenly Father and those that overcame in the First, the Flesh Ages and Jesus' Millennial Age.
Everything that man has ever built, builds or establishes, it gets old and worn out; and will be removed at the end of Jesus' Millennium. It will age even if it is made of rocks and stone because the pollutions that man has brought about; will soon eat the minerals within the stone away. However, God, in the body of Christ, built a temple that shall never age or waxen away, and it shall refurbish itself through repentance, in that when you repent, the aged pollution of the guilt of sin is washed clean, and marked paid in full by the blood of Christ.
Jan 2012