Hebrews 8:
Main point: We have such a high priest who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty of the heavens. (v.1)
The right hand of the throne of the Majesty of the heavens is a LOT more intimate than even the holy of holies in the Temple! (v.2)
Vv 4 & 6 indicate that the New Covenant is different from the Old; it is better, with better promises.
The promises of the New Covenant:
àGod will put His laws into our minds, and write them on our hearts.
àHe will be our God and we will be His people.
àWe shall not need to teach people saying, “know the LORD” for all will know Him: from the least to the greatest.
àHe will be merciful to our iniquities and He will remember our sins no more.
The New Covenant is not simply an improved Old Covenant:
It is new. What does Hebrews 8 say about this?
Quotation of Jeremiah 31:31-34
There is talk in Jeremiah of returning the House of Israel from captivity to their land and rebuilding their nation.
- Rebuilding does not mean improving. What is the difference between NEW and IMPROVE?
- There is an emphasis that within the House of Israel, all will know God, from the least to the Greatest. The emphasis is on the internalizing of relationship with God, rather than external Law – mind and heart Law – relational conscience.
- There is also a move towards individual capacity, rather than herding anonymity. I.e. everyone shall be guilty of their own sin (Deut. 24:16; Jer. 31:30).
There is a "New" Covenant in the Old Testament; but apart from Jesus and the Holy Spirit, it didn’t work:
àOriginal Covenant (promised in OT, pre-salvific work of Christ & and pre-indwelling Holy Spirit)
à Old Covenant (rules, Levitical Law, sacrificial system: shadow and copy (typology-based)
à New Covenant (with salvific work of Christ & indwelling Holy Spirit):
The declaration to Moses is the Original Covenant (Exodus 19,20). “Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the people, for all the earth is Mind; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Ex. 19:5,6).
Deuteronomy 5-6:9 also seems to be another crack at the Original Covenant.
The disobedience of Israel causes “plan B”, which we call the Old Covenant (could Exodus 20:19 be the first indication of the rejection of God’s offer in Exodus 19:6?)
The fact that Israel never truly engaged the internal relationship with God in a heart and mind obedience; the fact that Israel never truly engaged even the commands of Deut. 6:6-9, except in a superficial manner; the fact of the social injustice and ignoring of the Law, indicates that regardless of “chances” that Israel may have had, they failed at the Old Covenant as well as spurned the Original.
The New Covenant in Christ and sealed by the Holy Spirit is the deepest element of God’s participation with us and is different from the New Covenant as presented to Moses (et al) because it is God who leads us; the Holy Spirit who dwell within us; Jesus who intercedes for us. The New Covenant of the New Age of the Holy Spirit is God carrying us along. Even when we are faithless, He remains faithful...
The New Covenant of the New Age of the Holy Spirit, with Jesus as High Priest and Intercessor is according to the Heavenly concept. Hebrews 8:4 says that if Jesus were on earth, He wouldn't be a High Priest - He is not an earthly priest - He is a heavenly Priest - He is not offering the Original Covenant to Moses; He is not offering the Old Covenant of Levitical Law - He is offering the New Covenant of Himself, as our heavenly High Priest and Intercessor; He is offering His Holy Spirit as our helper and guide; He is offering the full intention and plan of the Father in way that cannot get any more intimate as God with us: Immanuel!
One last thought: Jeremiah 31:31-34 takes Deuteronomy 6:6-9 and inverts it. Internalises it. Takes it deeper, from the physical to the internal. From the temporal to the eternal. With God in our hearts and minds, with Jesus as our Intercessor and heavenly High Priest, with the Holy Spirit as our helper and guide to God, we have a dynamic and intentional move with God.
Do we pursue this? Do we draw near? Do we seek a move with God that is deeper than requests and success? Now. Forever. Here. Eternity. Life with Jesus, participation with God via the Holy Spirit is alive, real, palpable. I want this. I want to seek this first, above all things.
Matthew 6:33 says to seek first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness and all these things shall be added. Jesus is a heavenly High Priest. He is a Kingdom High Priest. It is His righteousness that becomes our righteousness. The Kingdom is active and more than a shadow. Jesus, as High Priest of the Kingdom, sitting at the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens, invites us to let God in. Invites us to be God's people. Not in political agenda or conservative ideology; but in Kingdom dwelling and deep, spiritual, internal, eternal life with God in His Kingdom.
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