College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Hebrews 8:6-13
He is a Mediator of a new covenant. Hebrews 8:6-13.
Text
Hebrews 8:6 But now hath He obtained a ministry the more excellent, by so much as He is also the Mediator of a better covenant, which hath been enacted upon better promises. Hebrews 8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then would no place have been sought for a second. Hebrews 8:8 For finding with them, He saith.
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord.
That I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah;
Hebrews 8:9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers
In the day that I took them by the hand to lead them forth out of the land of Egypt;
For they continued not in My covenant.
And I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
Hebrews 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel.
After those days, saith the Lord;
I will put My laws into their mind.
And on their heart also will I write them:
And I will be to them a God.
And they shall be to Me a people:
Hebrews 8:11 And they shall not teach every man his fellow-citizen,
And every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord:
For all shall know Me,
From the least to the greatest of them.
Hebrews 8:12 For I will be merciful to their iniquities,
And their sins will I remember no more.
Hebrews 8:13 In that He saith, A new covenant, He hath made the first old. But that which is becoming old and waxeth aged is nigh unto vanishing away.
Paraphrase
Hebrews 8:6 Besides, Jesus our High Priest hath now obtained a more excellent ministry, than the Levitical high priests, in as much as He is the mediator of a better covenant than the Sinaitic, of which they were the mediators; because it is established on better promisespromises better suited to our exigencies as sinners. See Hebrews 8:7, note 1.
Hebrews 8:7 For if the Sinaitic covenant had been faultless; if sinners could have been sanctified and pardoned thereby; there would have been no need of introducing a second covenant:
Hebrews 8:8 But finding fault with the first covenant, and to show its inefficacy for sanctifying and pardoning sinners, God saith to the Israelites, Jeremiah 31:31. Behold the days come, saith the Lord, when I will complete a new covenant with the whole of the spiritual Israel among the Gentiles, and with believers among the Jews-;
Hebrews 8:9 Even a covenant entirely different from the covenant which I made with their fathers (Chap. Hebrews 7:27 note) at the time of My taking them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt into Canaan, when they did not abide in My covenant, but brake it repeatedly by their idolatries, Therefore I neglected them; I suffered them to be carried into captivity; saith the Lord.
Hebrews 8:10 For, agreeably to My promise that in Abraham's seed all nations shall be blessed, this is the covenant which I will make with believers of all nations in future times, saith the Lord: Under the gospel dispensation I will put My laws into their mind, and write them upon their hearts, instead of writing them on stones as under the former covenant; and I will be the object of their worship, and their Protector, and they who believe shall become My obedient people, whom I will bless through all eternity:
Hebrews 8:11 And, comparatively speaking there shall be no occasion for what was commanded under the former covenant, in which no constant public instruction was provided: They shall not need to teach each other to know the Lord, (Deuteronomy 6:8), for all shall know Me, from the lowest of them to the highest of them.
Hebrews 8:12 These things I will bring to pass, because I will pardon the unrighteousness of My people, and their sins and their iniquities I will remember no more, as I did under the former covenant, by appointing annual atonements for them.
Hebrews 8:13 By saying, I will make a new covenant, God hath declared the former covenant old, Now that which decayeth and waxeth old, is ready to be laid aside as useless, Wherefore, by promising a new covenant, God hath intimated the abrogation of the whole Mosaic dispensation.
Comment
But now hath He obtained a ministry
While on earth He ministered.
a.
Acts 10:38: Jesus of Nazareth went about doing good.
b.
This is not a contrast with His earthly ministry, but with the Levitical ministry. The context proves it.
the more excellent
It was a ministry more excellent than that of the Levitical priests. His ministry is that ministry in heaven. The way that it is more excellent is seen in this verse: it has better promises.
by so much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant
A mediator is one who intervenes or goes between two parties.
Moses was a mediator. Exodus 20:19-21; Exodus 24; Galatians 3:19-20.
We have one and only one mediator. 1 Timothy 2:5: For there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, himself man, Christ Jesus.
The high priest served on the day of Atonement. Leviticus 16.
which hath been enacted upon better promises
The promises were largely physical in the old covenant.
a.
b.
c.
Observe the promises of the tithe in Malachi.
The better promises of the new:
a.
New home. John 14:1-6.
b.
New body. 1 Corinthians 15.
c.
Eternal life. John 3:16.
d.
Absolute forgiveness of sins.
for if that first covenant had been faultless, then would no place have been sought for a second.
See Galatians 3:21: If there had been a law given which could make alive, verily righteousness would have been of the law. Romans 3:20: For through the law cometh the knowledge of sin. Many verses speak of the purity and righteousness of the law, but it was perfect insofar as its purpose was to bring men to Christ. Its purpose being limited, a second was needed.
for finding fault with them
Finding fault with the people? Milligan says yes.
a.
Why? Because they had not kept the law.
b.
Milligan interprets it to read, finding fault, He saith to them, Finding fault with the covenant? Yes.
Romans 8:3; For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, Galatians 3:21.
Behold the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant
When was this?
a.
The prophecy was given after the conquest of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans. Jeremiah 31:31.
b.
Notice the order of covenants:
1.
Genesis 12:1-3 to Abraham, repeated in Genesis 13:14-17; Genesis 15:1-6; Genesis 15:18-21; Genesis 17:1-8; Genesis 22:15-18.
a)
This looked to the covenant with Israel, then to all men.
b)
It looked to the covenant with all men, gentiles too.
2.
The Mosaic covenant is referred to. This covenant was first physical, but Christ's is spiritual.
After the old had been tried, God prophesied of a new one.
with the house of Israel
Israel means praise with God. Notice to whom the term is applied:
a.
Jacob, Genesis 32:28.
b.
To all his descendants collectively, Exodus 4:22.
c.
To the ten tribes that revolted from Rehoboam, 1 Kings 12:19-20.
d.
To all believers in Christ, Romans 9:6. Newell says, It isn-'t made yet.
and with the house of Judah
Judah means praise. Why is Judah singled out?
a.
Because the tribe of Judah followed Rehoboam; thus all the Hebrews are to be included.
b.
The tribe of Benjamin and some from the tribes of Simeon and Dan followed Rehoboam.
The gathering of the Jews will be into one body, under the new covenant.
a.
Abraham's children had been divided; only Christ could unite.
b.
Too many are seeking a restoration of the Jews in Palestine. The restoration will be under Christ.
1.
God is not interested in the place where the Jew's body is, but the condition of his heart.
2.
If he is Christian, he can live anywhere.
Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers, in the day that I took them out by the hand to lead them forth out of the land of Egypt.
That was the Abrahamic promise being fulfilled to make them a mighty nation.
The covenant with Moses had a very important carnal side.
a.
God moved them out of law and order from Egypt; now they must have a new law.
b.
The Mosaic covenant is largely carnal, in that it is a system of law that was given to make a nation.
The day of this covenant is done and another covenant is established that is unlike the old one.
for they continued not in My covenant
God promised them an abundance of everything, provided they would serve Him. They failed to keep their side.
a.
The wilderness experience is one time they failed.
b.
The sinfulness that led to the Babylonian captivity is another example.
and I regarded them not, saith the Lord
He treated them as unfaithful people. He was Lord to them, so He could treat them as such. As Lord He could reject them. Since they did not abide faithful, God was free to let sin take its course with them.
for this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days
The time element should be noted here.
a.
After the days of Israel's rebellion is noted in Hebrews 8:9.
b.
God was free to make a new covenant, since Israel was so unfaithful.
1.
They departed from God while Moses was in the mount.
2.
They departed from God instead of conquering the land.
3.
They departed from God and were carried away into captivity. In the light of Jewish history, God was under no obligation to continue the old covenant
I will put my laws into their mind
The old was engraved on stones, skins. These people were born into a Jewish environment and were to be obedient as a member of the nation.
Th old was written on stone, two tables, Exodus 34:1; Exodus 34:28; Deuteronomy 4:1-5; 2 Corinthians 3:7.
With the new covenant you cannot be a part of it unless you know in your mind what it is.
a.
With the old it was accomplished by birth, and then teaching.
b.
With the new law, it is accomplished by teaching and birth, born again. John 3:5.
and on their heart also I will write them
The Christian has a born-again experience by which the Word lives in his heart. He belongs to God, not because of a fleshly birth which he could do nothing about, but because of a decision of life. The verse does not expressly deny that Old Testament characters did not have the law in their hearts, but a procedure is contrasted.
and I will be to them a God and they shall be to Me a people
Sonship is a wonderful privilege. See Galatians 4:6: And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts crying, Abba Father. Also Galatians 4:7. The privilege to pray, Our Father is an experience that only the Christian has.
And they shall not teach every man his fellow citizen and every man his brother
Under the old, you were a member and had to be taught, but under the new you are taught, and thus you become a member.
a.
The Jews had these multitudes of laws, and it was necessary for them to be taught constantly in order for the Jew to live up to them.
b.
The new is spiritual. You were already obedient.
c.
In the old you were a part of it by virtue of physical birth, but in the new you choose, and therefore know.
No one ignorant of Jehovah can possibly become a member of the new covenant. See Hebrews 11:6: He that cometh unto God. John 1:13: Born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
We are fellow citizens in Christ. See Ephesians 2:19. The brotherly relationship is obtained by the same method, teaching; hence, both know the Lord.
saying, know the Lord
We know the Lord already; that is why we are brothers. Brothers in Christ do not need to say, Know the Lord, for knowing the Lord made them brothers.
for all shall know Me, from the least to the greatest of them
God's grace would be poured out upon all. This refers to people who are capable of knowing God.
a.
Infants are not referred to here.
b.
New babies in Christ would be the least, and mature Christians the greatest. God's grace would be poured out upon all ranks of men.
for 1 will be merciful to their iniquities
There was no mercy under the old like God's mercy now.
a.
The elders could stone a wayward individual at once; there was no room for repentance.
b.
This is one of the better promises referred to in Hebrews 8:6. Calvin passes over this verse, but his editor makes a note.
a.
He says the verse differs in words, though not in substance, both from the Hebrew, and from the Septuagint version.
b.
In Hebrew, remission or forgiveness is its meaning, but here, the idea expressed is mercy.
and their sins will I remember no more
The people of earth say, I will forgive, but I will not forget. The Lord will not hold forgiven sins against us. See these verses:
a.
Romans 8:33: Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
b.
Psalms 103:12: expresses the fact of sins hidden from God as far as the east is from the west.
In the Old Testament there was a covering temporarily from God's sight by the blood of offerings.
a.
In those sacrifices there was a remembrance of sin year by year on the great day of Atonement. Hebrews 10:3.
b.
Now the blood of the eternal covenant offered by the Lamb of God takes away sin completely.
in that He saith a new covenant He hath made the first old
How could He call something new without implying something old? As the new is substituted, it must be that the former has come to an end. When the dispensation of Moses was gone, so were the ceremonies to cease.
but that which is becoming old and waxeth aged is nigh unto vanishing away.
It ended actually with Christ's death.
a.
Colossians 2:14nailing it to the cross.
It ended practically with the destruction of Jerusalem, A.D. 10.
a.
As long as the Jews-' city stood, they would insist on the sacrifices and ceremonies, not realizing that the hope of Israel had been crucified and raised.
b.
Hebrews was likely written before the destruction of the city, so this is then prophetic.
Study Questions
1362.
Hebrews 8:5 speaks of Moses. Does Hebrews 8:6 say that he now has a better ministry?
1363.
Who obtained a better ministry?
1364.
In what way is it more excellent?
1365.
In what way did Jesus minister on earth? Acts 10:38.
1366.
What would happen if all members of the church did good?
1367.
Is this a contrast to Christ's earthly ministry, or a contrast to the Levitical priesthood ministry?
1368.
Is it Christ's earthly ministry or His heavenly one alluded to here?
1369.
What is the ministry the more excellent?
1370.
Why is it superior?
1371.
Was Moses a mediator? Cf. Galatians 3:19-20; Exodus 20:19-21; Exodus 20:24.
1372.
Did the Jews have others? Cf. Leviticus 16:1.
1373.
Does the Christian have more than one? Cf. 1 Timothy 2:5.
1374.
What is a mediator?
1375.
In what ways is our new covenant better?
1376.
What does verse six say that makes it better?
1377.
Name some of the promises.
1378.
Why are the new promises better?
1379.
Can we say that most of the promises of God in the Old Testament were physical?
1380.
Is there an allusion to spiritual promises in God's promise to Abraham?
1381.
Can we say that we were blessed more than Abraham?
1382.
What was the nature of the blessings in Malachi 4?
1383.
Does it seem that people are more interested in physical than spiritual blessings?
1384.
What does the author find wrong with the first covenant? Does he name any faults?
1385.
Compare Galatians 3:17-21 for the fault of the law.
1386.
If it had no fault, why did God give it? Cf. Romans 3:20.
1387.
God found fault with what or whom? Hebrews 8:8.
1388.
How does Milligan translate verse eight?
1389.
How do you feel toward the alternate reading in the American Standard Version of verse eight?
1390.
Could it be that He found fault with the law and the people too?
1391.
Where is the quotation of what God said found in the Old Testament?
1392.
What did He say?
1393.
When did He say it?
1394.
With whom was it to be made?
1395.
What does the word Israel mean?
1396.
To whom is the term applied? Cf. Genesis 32:28; Exodus 4:22; 1 Kings 12:19-20; Romans 9:6.
1397.
Why does he say Israel and Judah?
1398.
What do some interpreters say concerning this prophecy?
1399.
Is God likely to be more interested in locating the Jews in Palestine than in saving the Gentiles?
1400.
Are the Jews to be gathered in a place or under a covenant?
1401.
What one thing will unite all of Abraham's seed?
1402.
What fathers are referred to, Moses or Abraham? Could Moses be called their father?
1403.
What part of Abraham's promise was being fulfilled?
1404.
What was God planning when he led them out?
1405.
Was the repeated covenant with Moses mostly carnal?
1406.
What fault did God find with them?
1407.
Was God obligated to keep His side, when they failed to keep theirs?
1408.
What happened to them to prove they disobeyed?
1409.
What is meant by I regarded them not? Could it mean that He would not protect them?
1410.
After what days are referred to here?
1411.
Where were the laws to be put under the new covenant?
1412.
What is the difference here from the Old Testament laws?
1413.
Can you be a part of the new covenant without having the law in your mind?
1414.
Discuss the processes of birth and teaching in relationship to the two covenants.
1415.
What is the method of God's writing on their heart?
1416.
Did not the old covenant people have it on their heart?
1417.
Were they under the covenant before it was on their mind?
1418.
Are the procedures or methods of becoming a part of the two covenants contrasted here?
1419.
Is the Christian in the covenant before it is written in his heart?
1420.
What relationship does God have to those under the new covenant?
1421.
Who are they? How inclusive is it? Hebrews 8:11.
1422.
What kind of condition is referred to where no teaching is necessary?
1423.
Did brother and citizen have a system of institution under the old covenant?
1424.
What eliminates the teaching of the old covenant? Is it the spiritual birth?
Oldborn, then taught.
Newtaught, then born.
1425.
Brotherhood is obtained by all by the same method. Is that why some do not have to teach others?
1426.
Who would be considered the least and greatest?
1427.
Are these ranks in the new covenant?
1428.
What can be said of mercy in the two covenants? Hebrews 8:12.
1429.
Did the Jews of Jesus-' day seem merciful?
1430.
Give an example of Christ's superior mercy.
1431.
Show some instances of severity in the Old Testament.
1432.
How superior to man's forgiveness is God's forgiveness?
1433.
How can God remember sins no more? Can He forget them?
1434.
What will cover them?
1435.
How often was their remembrance under the old covenant? Cf. Hebrews 10:3.
1436.
Is this true of the New Testament?
1437.
Can you have something called new without implying something old?
1438.
Is there any significance to the continuous action, indicated by the word becoming? Hebrews 8:13 b.
1439.
Did man consider it old as soon as God did?
1440.
If the law is a tutor, should we feel that it is a good thing for the Jew to be faithful in its observance?
1441.
Does the continuous action indicated by the phrase, becoming old, imply that Jerusalem had not been destroyed?