Hebrews (written)

Sunday, 16 December 2018

…not according to the covenant that 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 did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. Hebrews 8:9

This verse is a continuation of the quote from Jeremiah 31; it is a general quote of verse 32. God made a covenant with the people He brought out of slavery in Egypt. In Genesis 12, God made an oath to Abraham that He would bless him and make him into a great nation. In Genesis 15, He swore an oath by Himself that He would complete the promise just as He had said. God told Abraham at this time –

“Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. ¹⁴ And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions. ¹⁵ Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age. ¹⁶ But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.” Genesis 15:13-16

As the Bible shows, everything concerning the promise and Israel’s subsequent delivery from bondage was accomplished by God. After delivering Israel, the Mosaic covenant was given to the people, but the people were unfaithful to it, even from its inception. After enough disobedience, God turned away from the people and exiled them to Babylon. However, even in their disobedience, God promised them a New Covenant.

And so, the words, “not according to the covenant,” are speaking of the contrasting nature of the New Covenant that would be given (prophesied at Jeremiah’s time, but which is given in Christ). The nature of this New Covenant will be more fully explained in the words to come. However, the very fact that it says this New Covenant will not be according to the Old Covenant, by default, means that the Old Covenant is obsolete (a point he will explicitly state in verse 8:13) because, once a covenant is given, it cannot be changed. If the New is not according to the Old, it – by its very nature – replaces the Old.

The Old Covenant was one, as the verse next says, “that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt.” Before the covenant was made, the people lived under the time of Promise. That was from Abraham until the exodus. After the exodus, the people were given the Law at Mount Sinai. This became the time of Instruction (the meaning of the Hebrew word torah is “instruction”), also known as the Dispensation of Law. As Paul says in Galatians 3, this time of Law was a tutor (a pedagogue) intended to lead to Christ.

God led Israel by the hand out of Egypt, and the time of Law (Instruction) was to continue leading Israel by the hand, just as a pedagogue would do for a child through administering discipline. Despite this, the citation of Jeremiah 31 continues on by saying, “because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord.” Israel failed to receive the instruction which the law provided, and the law was unable to perfect the people. Eventually, the punishments of the law were inflicted upon the people because of this. That is seen in the words, “and I disregarded them.” Here the quote is from the Greek translation of Jeremiah 31. The Hebrew text reads differently. Instead of these words, it says, “though I was a husband to them.” The idea is that, despite being a husband, he cast them off for their disobedience and faithlessness. But even that did not correct the people.

Everything recorded about Israel in the Old Testament concerning this Old Covenant demonstrated that the Law was incapable of bringing about what it was intended to bring about, which was a restored relationship with God. Because of this demonstrable failure, a new Covenant was sought out which would correct the deficiency of the Old. However, when a covenant is made, it must stand. The only way that a New Covenant could come about would be in the fulfillment of the Old. As the imperfection of the people was the deficiency which kept the Old from being successful, a perfect Person would need to come in order for success to be realized. This is what God did in Christ. Through Him, a new and better arrangement could be made for the restoration of man to his Creator.

Life application: When we are faithless, God is ever faithful. Remember this as you struggle with sin. He sent His Son to take your punishment if you will only trust Him. How splendid is God from whom all blessings flow!

O God, even when we disobey and rebel, You remain ever-faithful. When Israel disobeyed and deserved destruction, you preserved them and even promised a New Covenant to them; a covenant guaranteed by the precious blood of Jesus. How can we neglect so great a salvation and remain guiltless? All glory surely belongs to You! Amen.

Saturday, 15 December 2018

Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— Hebrews 8:8

The author now continues on with the thought just presented in verse 8:7. There he said, “For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.” The first (Mosaic) covenant was not faultless, as is confirmed in the words, “Because finding fault with them.” It is important to understand the wording. The author does not say, “Because finding fault with it.” There was fault under the Mosaic Covenant, but it was not in the law itself. Rather, it was in the people bound under it. Sin in man made it impossible for anyone under the law to be perfected. This includes both original sin and committed sin. The defect is in man, not in the law itself. This is why Paul says –

“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.’ ⁸ But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead. ⁹ I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. ¹⁰ And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death. ¹¹ For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me. ¹² Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.” Romans 7:7-12

The Old Covenant was perfect in its intent and purpose – to demonstrate that no one can be justified by attempting to adhere to it. The fault isn’t with the Covenant then, but rather with the people who were unable to meet its perfect demands. The law’s standards flow from God’s perfect character and only more poignantly show our imperfections. God knew this, but we didn’t. How could we appreciate Jesus? How could we appreciate God’s infinite mercy? How could we appreciate the perfection of God’s plan without first being given the law? It’s no different than feeling healthy. If we felt healthy all the time, we would never truly appreciate health. But when we get sick, we can appreciate our health more. In fact, the sicker we are, the more we can then appreciate true health. Jesus used this terminology even as He was fulfilling the law on our behalf –

“When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Mark 9:12, 13

Because of this fault, the author then writes, “He says.” This is speaking of the Lord. The law could not accomplish the task of restoring fallen man to Him. This was already known by Him to be the case, but the law was given as a tutor to help us understand our need for something greater (Galatians 3:24, 25). When the lesson was learned, and in the fullness of time, God sent Christ to fulfill the law and to establish a New Covenant. To support this, he goes to Scripture and cites Jeremiah 31:31 with the words, “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.”

If the people were simply given God’s healing without realizing their sickness, it would have no effect in their lives. But once a law was given, the people learned, as if tutored, about the need to come to Christ’s perfection for our healing and restoration.

But something is stated in Jeremiah 31:31 which is surprisingly missed by replacement theologians. Who did this New Covenant go to? It went to the house of Israel and the house of Judah; to those who had lived under its yoke and who could appreciate the freedom it provided. This New Covenant was given to Israel and Judah. As they went into punishment for rejecting Christ, the church illogically decided that they must be “Israel.” The promises had been made, the Gentiles had received them, and so the church must now be “Israel.” With this logic, much of the body of the Old Testament had to be spiritualized because it is literally impossible for those prophecies to be fulfilled in the church in an actual way. This great error continues on in the minds of replacement theologians to this day.

However, it was only after the New Covenant in Christ was first presented to Israel, and through the instructive hands of the apostles, that the gospel came to the Gentiles. Paul’s letters show how the Gentiles are grafted into this body, but they did not replace it. His letters also clearly show how, in the future, Israel will again be brought into the New Covenant as a collective people. Peter says as much in his statements in Acts. It is, actually, inexcusable that the church has developed the doctrine of replacement theology. The covenant is made, it was made with Israel and Judah, and the church is not Israel nor Judah. In the future, the covenant will be realized in them. Coming soon to a millennial reign of Christ near you.

Now, during the Dispensation of Grace, all can look back on Israel’s years under the law and see the wisdom of God in Christ Jesus. The law was given, it was intended to lead us to Christ, and it is not an end in and of itself.

Life application: The church did not replace Israel.

O God! All the difficult work of meeting Your perfect standards was accomplished by Your own right arm – in the Person and work of Jesus. We can now rest in His perfection and, by faith alone, receive complete healing and restoration with You. And so, we give thanks to You! Amen!

Friday, 14 December 2018

For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. Hebrews 8:7

In the previous verse, the author had contrasted the ministry of the Old Covenant to that of the new by saying of Jesus, “But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.”

Now, concerning that “better covenant,” he says, “For.” He is building a logical case against observing the Law of Moses. He desires his audience, once and forever, to come to the grace of God which is found in Jesus Christ’s New Covenant. In order to do this, he continues by saying, “For if that first covenant had been faultless.” The statement demands the reader to acknowledge that it is, in fact, found to be with fault.

After all the discussion about the New Covenant setting aside the Old (meaning in its entirety), the author states what is evident from everything he has thus far said – that, because of its inherent weakness, a New Covenant was needed. The weaknesses are obvious: 1) The priests were sin-filled men just like all of Adam’s seed. 2) The law could make no one perfect, but rather it showed concerning sin (as Paul says), “that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful” (Romans 7:13). 3) The tabernacle and later the temple were corruptible and transitory. In fact, after the tabernacle was replaced with Solomon’s Temple, that was destroyed by the Babylonians. Then another temple was built which was destroyed by the Romans. 4) The sacrifices of the temple were imperfect and could never truly atone for human sin.

For these and other reasons, another covenant was needed. As he says, if the first covenant didn’t have fault (which it is proven that it does), “then no place would have been sought for a second.” However, a second covenant was sought. It is explicitly stated in Jeremiah 31, which will be cited in the coming verses. This covenant would be perfect in nature along with everything associated with it.

As an example, let us consider another aspect of the Old Covenant which was lacking in its nature – the office of prophet. Even the prophets who lived and prophesied under the law were sinful men. They spoke the words of God, but their utterances usually accompanied some type of claim, such as, “Thus says the Lord…” It wasn’t until the New Covenant that One came and spoke on His own authority –

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ²⁸ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:2, 28

This same One, who spoke under His own authority, also proclaimed that He was the One to establish the promised New Covenant –

“Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸ For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.’” Matthew 26:17, 28

Life application: In Hebrews 1:1, the claim was made that God once spoke in certain ways, but now has spoken through His Son. In other words, what is recorded in the Bible is sealed and nothing can be added to it. Jesus has spoken. His apostles were granted authority to record their testimony of Him and to clarify the meaning of this New Covenant. Therefore, No other word is authoritative beyond the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. The author wants his audience to never go back under the Old Covenant which was faulty. However, we can implicitly see that the New Covenant, though on-going in nature, is fully explained in Scripture. No further revelation is needed, nor is it to be expected. When someone in a church says, “The Lord says,” except as a quote from Scripture, it’s time to find another church. Hold fast to the Bible, and to that alone.

O God of the Universe! You have honored us by granting us Your word, the Holy Bible. It points to Jesus, tells us of Jesus, and explains Jesus’ ministry to us. What more could we ever need? But even then, You’ve given us of Your Spirit to allow us to understand and accept the wonderful message it contains. Glory and honor belong to You! Amen.

Thursday, 13 December 2018

But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. Hebrews 8:6

The author has consistently treated subjects while demonstrating the superiority of Christ’s Person, work, and ministry over that of other comparable subjects. This has been seen, for example, in verses 1:4, 3:3, and 7:22. Once again, he has built a case for the superiority of the ministry of Christ, and of the covenant in which He operates. Having done so, he states the matter as such by beginning with, “But now.”

The words are in response to verse 8:3, which said, “For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer.” However, those words were only given in support of other thoughts presented earlier. For example, he spoke specifically of the introduction of this new priesthood in 7:11-18. He then noted the concept of the “better covenant” in verse 7:22. With these thoughts introduced, he then explained them, pointing out how what Christ did was, in fact, superior. And so this verse now is making a summary statement of those facts. He has shown the fault in the Old, and now he relays the surety of the New. With this in mind, he says, “But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry.”

What the line of Aaron did was at the direction of the Lord, and for the purpose of ministering for the people of Israel in a priestly fashion. In the accomplishment of this, a state of harmony between the people and the Lord should have been realized. But this never occurred. Even from the earliest days of the law, there was (and continued to be) strife between the people and the Lord.

In the case of the people failing to be obedient, it then became necessary for the high priest to mediate on the people’s behalf, petitioning for mercy. This was done through the sacrificial system, and especially on the Day of Atonement. However, as has been seen, and as will continue to be seen, this mediation was temporary and only as effective as it pointed to the coming Christ. Outside of that, it accomplished nothing permanent. However, concerning Jesus, His ministry is more excellent “inasmuch as He is also the Mediator of a better covenant.”

The better nature of the covenant was explained in verses 7:20-21 (and elsewhere). It was established based on an oath, it is an eternal priesthood, and it is able to save those under it to the uttermost (among other things). Finally, the author finishes the verse with the thought that this covenant was “established on better promises.” The word translated as “established,” was introduced in verse 7:11, and now this is its second and last use in Scripture. It signifies “to ordain by law.” When Moses received the law, the Mosaic Covenant was so established. With the coming of Christ, the New Covenant is likewise so established. These are legally established covenants which convey the will of God, and the means of propitiation between God and man.

The “better promises” of the New Covenant will be specified in the coming verses, especially verses 8:8 through 8:12. With those stated, he will sum up the thought with another explicit statement concerning the replacement of the Old by the New in verse 8:13.

Life application: In the words of Hebrews, the author is clearly and precisely detailing how the New Covenant is superior to, and how it has replaced, the Old. Its High Priest and Mediator is superior in all ways. In fact, Paul says in 1 Timothy that “there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” The promises on which Jesus’ ministry are based are also superior – they are on oath from God and are eternal in their scope and nature. In understanding these things, we can then understand why the author of Hebrews is writing this epistle. It is to implore the believer in Christ to not return to the Old Covenant. It is as if he is begging his people to think clearly. And so we must. Rest, O Christian, in the work of Jesus!

Lord God, the repetition of the precepts found in the New Covenant is gratefully accepted. Because of conflicting data from so many sources on what is and what is not applicable to Christian life, it is good to hear the same thought stated again and again in Your word in different ways. Thank You for solidifying our faith in Christ alone, apart from works of the law. Amen.

Wednesday, 12 December 2018

… who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” Hebrews 8:5

The previous verse acknowledged that the Levitical priesthood had priests who offered “gifts according to the law.” Because of this, Jesus couldn’t be a priest under that covenant – He is from the tribe of Judah, not Levi. It was the line of Aaron from the tribe of Levi which was set apart to minister and offer the appropriate sacrifices. But David said a priest would come according to the order of Melchizedek – one with an eternal priesthood and with none of the imperfections of the Levitical priests.

The term “foreshadowing” is one used of types and figures in the Old Testament. This is the case with both the tabernacle and its contents as is noted in this verse. The author says that these Levitical priests “serve the copy and a shadow of the heavenly things.” (Side note: there is no article in front of “copy” in the Greek. It thus more rightly says, “a copy and shadow.”)

The word “copy” signifies a model or an example. It is not identical to the original, but it is something patterned after it. The word “shadow” means exactly that. It is an outline without any substance in and of itself. There is nothing about it which conveys the reality of the original. Indeed, if the original did not exist, the shadow would not exist. With this understanding, the author continues with, “as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle.”

Moses was told this by the Lord in Exodus 25:9 and again in Exodus 25:40. The word translated as “divinely instructed” signifies to utter as an oracle. Thus God revealed to Moses what was to be accomplished, and how it was to be done. This divine instruction is then cited by the author from Exodus 25 with the words, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”

As Moses was shown the pattern, then that means what he is making is only a mere representation of that. That then is the true sanctuary and the true tabernacle mentioned in Hebrews 2:2. The earthly tabernacle was nothing more than a copy and shadow of the reality found in heaven. What Moses was shown on the mountain, meaning Mount Sinai, was to be copied and made into a place for the priests of the covenant to minister at.

The word the author uses for “pattern” is tupos. It is where we get our modern word “type” from. It is a model based on a reliable precedent which is then closely followed. That is what the earthly sanctuary is, a type based on an original. With this understanding, it should be noted that Paul describes the dietary restrictions, festivals, other days of observance, and Sabbath days of ancient Israel in the same way as the author describes this patterned sanctuary. They are mere shadows –

“So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, ¹⁷ which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.” Colossians 2:16, 17

These things mentioned by Paul, and which are based on the law itself, were given until the time of Christ; their fulfillment is in Him. The sanctuary, the Tent of Meeting, the tabernacle, the ark with its mercy seat, all of the other contents within the tabernacle, and indeed all rites and observances associated with these things, are simply pictures of Christ. Each pictures Him, and each finds its fulfillment in Him. As this is so, then all are set aside in His work.

Life application: If you are in a denomination which mandates a Sabbath Day, the observance of a particular festival, or any part of the Law of Moses, please know that these were fulfilled by Him on your behalf. You have freedom in Christ – you are not tied to such facets of worship. They could never justify you before God. Put your faith and trust in Christ alone and God will be pleased to call you His precious child.

Lord God, you have taken away such heavy chains from our lives – chains of condemnation for sin, chains of the law and its strict mandates, and chains of insecurity about the future, including what happens after our death. With such weight removed from our souls, it’s a wonder we don’t just fly away! And indeed, some glorious day we will. Glory to You, O God, for our Lord Jesus! Amen.