Lesson 12
Hebrews 8:1-13
Good News Worth Repeating
December 6, 2015
With the birth of each of my children and grandchildren I could not wait to tell everyone I knew about those special events. I never got tired, even though my listeners might have, of repeating the news over and over again. I also still like to show pictures of them to anyone who asks about them. I discover a long time ago that there is something more important to share than a growing family. It is the message of Jesus Christ found in the pages of God’s word beginning with the book of Genesis. Although I have not done much lately, one way to be prepared to share the good news is to memorize verses, passages or books of the Bible. Only as a person hides God’s word will he be able to pass it on to others. I have been impacted in this study of Hebrews with how the author felt it necessary to repeat the lessons he wanted to instill in others layer upon layer and concept upon concept and truth upon truth until the recipients understood and responded to his words. No one can say that he understands God’s word with the hard work that goes into determining the meaning found in its pages. Scripture is totally true and accurate in the gospel it presents. This book is certainly no exception is definitely a word for a lost world today.
Back in the 1940’s C.S. Lewis wrote a book called “The Great Divorce.” In it the residents of hell or purgatory were offered an excursion to the out skirts of Heaven. What they discovered in ghostly or spirit state was that the reality of heaven was far greater than their limited minds could conceive. Everything, including a blade of grass was heavier than they could lift. Sadly, rather than accepting an invitation to explore heaven more deeply they chose to return to the city from which they had come.
So many of us today view God’s kingdom with a very limited viewpoint. In our worship and daily walk we are often a poor imitation of what is real. We cannot understand the reality of living a truly spiritual life because our senses have been dulled by all the static the world puts in our way. Many in church today go through the motions of responding to the fullness of what God has to offer. In effect we are no different than the characters in C.S. Lewis’ book. God has some new and exciting to offer each of us when we desire and take part in the process of having our hearts changed. That is the point of all that God has done, the change of our ongoing relationship with Him.
Hebrews 8:1-2
The point that the writer was trying to get across to those slipping away was the fact that they had a true high priest. That was all that needed to be said but he went on to describe Him in greater detail. Their high priest, who was Jesus, was ministering along with His Father in the true sanctuary and perfect tabernacle of His own making in heaven. He wanted it to be clear that the place where man’s high priest lived was not the temporary dwelling found among the people of Israel and built by them. In fact by the time of David the tent of the meeting was no longer used.
- What was the point the writer was trying to get across to those who were backsliding? (They had a high priest who was permanently located in heaven?
- What does it mean that He was seated at the right hand of God? (Position of authority in carrying our the commands of God.)
- What does this mean for mankind? (Christ is in a position to intercede for us all the time.)
- What is the difference between where Christ reigns and the institutions man builds?
- What example do you have from the Bible that proves this fact?
Hebrews 8:3
One of the function of the high priest was to offer up the gifts and sacrifices on behalf of himself and the people. In order for Christ to be viewed as a high priest He also was obligated to have something to offer. Of course the offerings of man were according to the Law.
- What was one of the main functions of the high priest?
- What other tasks did the carry out for the people? (Judged the disputes among the people.)
- What qualification did Jesus need to have in order to be designated a priest?
Hebrews 8:4-5
Once again the writer points out the differences between Jesus and the other high priests. Although, He had something to offer He would not be allowed to be a priest because He was not born of the tribe of Levi and a descendent of Aaron. It is pointed out that what the earthly priests were performed according to the Law in the tabernacle built specifically as God had instructed as a copy of what exists in heaven.
- What was different between the ministry of the high priests and that of Jesus? (They were under the law.)
- What kept Jesus from being an earthly priest?
- What commands were given to Moses concerning the tabernacle construction?
Hebrews 8:6
Everything that was done in the tabernacle and later in the Temple was according to the Law. Jesus, of course, because of what He accomplished offering Himself provides for man a permanent and greater ministry not limited by finiteness of man.
He brought about a new covenant not based on the law but on grace. God through the new covenant has promised salvation and eternal life that cannot be abolished.
- Why did God command Moses to build the tabernacle? (It represented the presence of God in the midst of the people.)
- What was the one thing that could be accomplished in the tabernacle? (Atonement for sin.)
- Who was allowed to enter into the earthly tabernacle and how often?
- How does this differ from what occurred under the new covenant? (Access into the holy of holies is available to believers at all times?
- What is the basis of the new covenant?
Hebrews 8:7-10
For all of the formality associated with the old covenant the writer wanted the readers of his letter to understand that by the time of Jeremiah that God’s word indicated that it had major shortcomings. It is obvious that a new covenant would not have been put in place if the first had worked. Jeremiah shared in 31:31-34what would occur when the new covenant was implemented. It would not be according to the law that affected external behavior. When God instituted the new covenant He would:
- Put His laws into their minds
- Write them on their hearts
- Be the God of Israel
- Make the people to be His.
- Why did the writer indicate that a new covenant was necessary?
- What were the shortcomings of the old covenant? (It did nothing to guarantee a relationship with God.)
- What was to occur under the new covenant?
- What is the difference that you see between the old and the new? (Old external the new changed the heart of man.)
Hebrews 8:11
There would come a day that has not arrived yet when each follower of Christ would be so in tune with the Father that he or she would not have to be taught God’s law any longer,
- What will God provide to end the need for one neighbor to teach another? (Commit to following the commands of God.)
- What does it take to become a mature follower of Christ?
- What effort are you making to become a true disciple of Christ?
- What is comparable to the law of Israel for a Christian?
Hebrews 8:12
Under the new covenant sins would truly be forgiven and forgotten by God because of His great mercy. Under the old the best one could expect was atonement or covering of one’s sins.
- What would the new covenant that was offered under the old?
- Why would God be willing to forgive and forget? (Because of His mercy.)
- Although not mentioned here what is the responsibility of man to have his sins forgiven?
- In what way have you put yourself in a position to receive forgiveness?
Hebrews 8:13
With the words of God spoken to Jeremiah concerning the new covenant the old became obsolete. That which is obsolete will soon completely disappear as it is replaced with the new.
- What are some of the things in your life that you consider obsolete?
- What do you want to find in your life that will replace those things that are becoming obsolete?
- What does this indicate that is taking place in your life?
- Why is important that God made the old covenant obsolete?
- Understand that the covenant of works is dead and salvation cannot be found by trying to keep it alive. Salvation comes only through Jesus Christ who is the ministry of he new and perfect covenant.
- Study and meditate on God’s words so they will be written on your heart as if with indelible ink.
- Fill your mind with God’s word every day leaving no room for the influences of the world.
- Understand that forgiveness of sins only come through God’s mercy.
It is more important today than maybe any time in history that we make the Bible the true source of living. The world is trying in everyway it can to make the gospel obsolete. Hebrews says that which has no value is the very thing that is becoming obsolete. All around us we see the evidences of people who are rejecting the good news of the new covenant established through Jesus Christ. I do not know about you but I want to be part of a people who are so in tune with the Father that His message is very clear to me. We cannot live what we do not know. Every effort needs to be made to fill our minds with the good and righteous and filter out the bad and unrighteous. We talk a lot about unity but the only way that is going to happen is for all us to be united in Jesus Christ. Paul put into proper perspective what having God’s word written on our hearts should look like. He said, “Being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.” Only with that spirit can we impact the world with the good news.