Scripture: “Now the point in what we are saying is this:
We have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up—not man.
For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus it is necessary for this priest to have something to offer.
Now if he (Jesus) were on earth, he would not be a priest at all since there are priests who offer gifts according to the Law. (Note)—they serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent he was instructed by God, saying: “See that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”
But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the Old as the covenant he mediates is better (since it is enacted on better promises). For if that first (the Old) covenant had been faultless there would have been no occasion to look for a second.” Heb 8:1-7
Observation: Hebrews is full of theology and doctrine. Here is why the world needs Jesus past being the Savior—He is the final High Priest. Another facet of the Gospel jewel…
Application: So, the Writer is getting into the nitty gritty of academic theology—what is the difference between the Old Covenant vs. the New? Why is it so important that the Writer emphasizes “Now, the point is…” Maybe this isn’t “academic theology” and it is important enough for Believers to understand and know?
Ancient Biblical Theologians say “Yes, it is important.”
It helped me quite a bit when I realized that because He is Eternal and I am not to develop and use the Jewel figure—I can shift from one facet to another to learn about Jesus and the Gospel and know that they all fit together—even if my poor, temporal mind can’t put my arms around everything at the same time.
I mean, really: Take God’s Omniscience. Can I even imagine being everywhere, all the time, at every moment in time? Oops—fuse blown. God’s Omniscience is part of His Incommunicable Attributes—we creatures have no frame of reference.
So, I see that Jesus is the final High Priest. Ok, and? He is Savior: doesn’t that go with the territory? Yes…and no. It helps with understanding by splitting the two momentarily.
The Writer is spelling out the difference and, to take liberty a bit, it works out like this: The Old Priests needed to make intercession via sacrifices and such continually for the simple reason that the Old Priests were human, eventually died, and someone else had to take their place—there was nothing that would last forever as long as Man was doing the intercession thing.
But, now there is an Eternal Priest—one who make Intercession between God and Man continually and without interruption or pause. And, He is not bound by any supply issue of bulls, oxen, rams, goats, birds, etc. because the Sacrifice is His own Blood. Jesus is the Eternal Priest offering an Eternal, Perfect, offering—Himself, the Son of God.
So, as we walk in faith of Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross, we have confidence to boldly go before the Throne because He is High Priest interceding for us eternally. Continually. Moment by moment. Forever.
How cool is that?
Prayer: Lord, I like the way the Writer calls You the Majesty. Every time I look into Your Word I find something new—it might be something little, it may be something big. It may be reinforcement and clarification of something learned inadequately long ago. Make my heart soft, my ears open, and my eyes to see, eternal Trinity. AMEN.