Read Hebrews 8:1-6

Read Hebrews 8:1-6

Shortly after the house of Israel quarrelled and tested the Lord at Massah and Meribah, in the third month after the Israelites left Egypt, God made a covenant with the people, saying “If you obey me fully and keep my covenant, you will be my treasured possession… a kingdom of priests” (Exodus 19:5-6). The covenant started with the 10 commandments in Exodus 20, then laws on social justice and how to worship God. The covenant included instructions about the construction of a portable tabernacle or Tent of Meeting (Exodus 25 to 40) and the offering of gifts to God and sacrifices for sin (Leviticus 1 to 7). In Exodus 25:8-9 God says to Moses “…have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you”. A sanctuary is a holy place.

Q6. According to Hebrews 8:1-2 what is the point of what the writer of the Hebrews is saying? Why is this so important for us, do you think?

Q7. Review what we have been taught about Jesus the high priest in:

· Hebrews 2:17

· Hebrews 4:14-16

· Hebrews 5:7-10

· Hebrews 6:19-20

· Hebrews 7:23-28

From Hebrews 4:15, 5:9-10 and 7:23-28, find the ways in which Jesus’ ministry (his service, what he has done for us and is doing for us now) is superior to the ministry of the high priests descended from Aaron.

To think about: Give thanks that Jesus was made like us so he is a merciful and faithful high priest, able to help us when we are tempted. Give thanks that he is able to sympathise with our weaknesses yet he was without sin. Think about how he was submissive and obedient to his Father, and think how we should obey him. Give thanks that he has become the source of eternal salvation for us, that he has gone into the inner sanctuary of God’s presence in heaven on our behalf and that he will save us completely because he always lives to intercede for us. Jesus now is talking to God the Father about us sympathetically. Let this encourage us to hold firmly to our faith.

Q8. What is the relationship between the sanctuary in which earthly priests serve (8:5) and the sanctuary in which Jesus serves (8:2)? Why was it important that Moses built the tabernacle (Tent of Meeting) exactly as God told him (Exodus 25:9, 40, 26:30, 27:8, 31:11 and Hebrews 8:5)?

To think about: It was hard for the Jewish Christians to think that the beautiful temple in Jerusalem was just a copy and a shadow – the true temple is in heaven. What is our perspective on life? Do we think that the things we can see are only temporary, while the things we can’t yet see in heaven are reality? What difference would it make to our lives if we thought that way? See 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 16-18 for Paul’s viewpoint.

Note: Hebrews is sometimes called the “better letter”. Hebrews 7:19 talks of a better hope, 7:22 of a better covenant and Hebrews 8:6 of better promises. Look out for more “better” things in chapter 9, 10 and 11!

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