Hebrews 8

Hebrews 8

Shawn Bumpers / General

Hebrews

Introduction

“Type,” “Copy,” “Pattern,” “Shadow.”

Typology is a special kind of symbolism, or that which represents something else.

ἀπαράβατος hypodeigma: pattern, model, example and translated as “copy”

σκιά skia: “shadow, shade”

Exodus 25:40 NKJV

And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.

Hebrews 7:12 NKJV

For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law.

Jesus ministers on the basis of a better covenant, in a better sanctuary, and because of a better sacrifice.

v1-2

κεφάλαιον kephalaion: a sum of value

Hebrews 7:26 NKJV

For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens;

The Levitical priest was himself a sinner.

But Jesus was perfect and spotless.

Jesus is seated.

Psalm 110:1 NKJV

The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”

His work is completed.

where He is seated. 

Hebrews 1:3 NKJV

who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

This is the fulfillment of that Psalm 110 oath which we read before.

οὐρανός ouranos: “heaven; sky.”

Ephesians 1:22 NKJV

And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,

We have a high priest who is perfect and sinless.

Hebrews 7:19 NKJV

for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

v3-5

Jesus Christ today ministers in the heavenly sanctuary. 

Each High Priest had duties.

Hebrews 5:1 NKJV

For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.

Deuteronomy 12:13–14 NKJV

Take heed to yourself that you do not offer your burnt offerings in every place that you see; but in the place which the Lord chooses, in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I command you.

Hebrews 9:24–28 NKJV

For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another—He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

Hebrews 7:25 NKJV

Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

This fulfilled God’s promise that the Messiah would come from the kingly tribe of Judah (Gen. 49:8–10).

Jesus was NOT of that line.

Hebrews 7:11–14 NKJV

Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.

Psalm 110:4 NKJV

The Lord has sworn And will not relent, “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”

A “type” is an Old Testament picture of a New Testament truth. 

The priests then serving in the temple were actually serving in a sanctuary that was a copy (“very literally a sketch”) of the heavenly sanctuary.

The earthly priesthood and sanctuary seemed quite real and stable.

Colossians 2:16–17 NKJV

So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.

Hebrews 10:1 NKJV

For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.

Revelation 11:19 NKJV

Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

Revelation 21:22 NKJV

But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

v6

1 Timothy 2:5 NKJV

For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

Luke 22:20 NKJV

Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.

Hebrews 9:15 NKJV

And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

Hebrews 12:24 NKJV

to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

v7-9

Romans 1:16 NKJV

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

Matthew 15:24 NKJV

But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

Acts 1:8 NKJV

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

v7-9

Exodus 24:3 NKJV

So Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the judgments. And all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words which the Lord has said we will do.”

Romans 7:12 NKJV

Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.

Hebrews 7:19 NKJV

for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

Romans 11:6 NKJV

And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

v10

The Law of Moses could declare God’s holy standard, but it could never provide the power needed for obedience.

Romans 7:7 NKJV

What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.”

Romans 10:4 NKJV

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

The new covenant provides a new heart and new inclination.

v11-12

The law was not given for the purpose of forgiveness.

There is no forgiveness under the law.

Romans 3:20 NKJV

Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

v13

The Old Covenant was still governing the nation of Israel at the time this epistle was written.

The Temple system was still functioning … the sacrifices still being made … the Levitical priesthood still functioning.