College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Hebrews 8 - Introduction
Multiple Choice Over Chapter Eight
1.
We do not offer sacrifices today as did the Jew:
1.
Because it is not customary.
2.
We do not need to think of sin.
3.
Christ was our sacrifice once for all.
2.
The covenant which we follow today is:
1.
The Mosaic covenant.
2.
The Abrahamic covenant.
3.
The new covenant.
3.
Jesus became the mediator:
1.
Of a better covenant.
2.
To solve the problems of Jews and Gentiles.
3.
To bring back together the devil and God.
4.
If Christ were on the earth He could not serve as a Priest because:
1.
He died on the cross.
2.
There was already an established priesthood.
3.
Because He offered only one sacrifice.
5.
The second covenant is established on better:
1.
Laws.
2.
Promises.
3.
People.
6.
Moses made all things according:
1.
To his wisdom counseled by Aaron.
2.
To the best in society.
3.
To the pattern.
7.
The new covenant is written:
1.
In the hearts of the people.
2.
In the temple at Jerusalem.
3.
On tablets of stone because they are more permanent.
8.
The high priest was appointed:
1.
To rule the people.
2.
To offer up gifts and sacrifices.
3.
To translate the scriptures.
9.
Our High Priest:
1.
Is pleading for the souls in purgatory.
2.
Preaching to the spirits in prison.
3.
Seated at the right hand of the Father.
10.
In the new covenant plan:
1.
Children are to be taught before they can come under it.
2.
Children are to be taught it after they have come under it.
3.
Faith of parents is to be imputed unto them.
True and False
_____ 1.
The old covenant is spoken of as becoming old and nigh unto vanishing away.
_____ 2.
A time when evangelism will not be needed is prophesied.
_____ 3.
God found fault with the first covenant and the people under it.
_____ 4.
Christ was different from the first priests in that He didn-'t need any sacrifice.
_____ 5.
A fault of Israel was that they did not continue in the covenant of God.
_____ 6.
The promise of God is that He will forgive our sins even though He will not forget.
_____ 7.
The true tabernacle is the one the Lord pitched.
_____ 8.
The new covenant was to be made with the house of Israel, and the house of Judah is specifically named.
SUMMARY OF CHAPTER EIGHT
The main issue of Hebrews is the fact that we do have a High Priest who serves in connection with the real worship of God. But He is also sitting at the right hand of the throne of God, a fact that emphasizes the peculiar nature of His priesthoodHe is both Priest and King.
His is a more excellent ministry although on earth he wouldn-'t even be a priest. The Old Testament priests served a system copied from the model shown to Moses in Mount Sinai. Christ's priesthood is the more excellent because He is also Mediator of a better covenant than the one given at Sinai, for it has better promises.
In proof of the claim for a more excellent ministry, the quotation from Jeremiah 31:31-34 is given. It points out the fact that the new covenant was to be given because Israel broke the one given at Sinai. That covenant had been written on tables of stone, but God was going to make a new one by putting it into their minds and writing it on their hearts.
The essential elements of the new covenant are: I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people. As a striking difference between the two covenants, all connected with the new shall know the Lord. The blessing of the new covenant is the fact that the merciful God promises to remember the sins of the people no more.
A closing word explains the use of the terms new and old. The one given at Sinai was the old covenant. It had grown old and was near to vanishing away.
Special Study On The Priest And The Temple
Priest:
A priest is one who is duly authorized to minister in sacred things, especially to offer the sacrifices at the altar and to act as mediator between man and God.
I.
In the New Testament the term is applied to four groups.
A.
Priests of Gentiles. Acts 14:13.
B.
Priests of Jews. Matthew 8:4.
C.
Christ. Hebrews 5:5-6.
D.
Christians. 1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6.
II.
The priestly office was of high rank.
A.
He stood next to the monarch in influence and dignity.
B.
Aaron, the head of the priestly system, was closely associated with Moses and shared with him the guidance of the nation.
C.
Through him, the people were instructed in the doctrine of sin, and its expiation in forgiveness and worship.
D.
He was indispensable as a source of religious knowledge for the people.
III.
The nature of the priestly office.
A.
It was one of divine choice.
1.
It was one of appointment. Hebrews 5:4.
a.
The priest was not elected by the people.
b.
Divine selection severed him from the people.
2.
Jesus was likewise divinely sent, Luke 4:18.
B.
It was one of representation.
1.
He appeared before God on behalf of the people. Hebrews 2:17.
2.
He was the mediator for the guilty.
3.
There were two physical indications that he represented all the people.
a.
He wore the names of the tribes on his shoulders in the onyx stones.
b.
The names of the tribes were engraved in the twelve gems of the breastplate. See Exodus 28:12-21.
4.
What he did as a priest in an official capacity as prescribed by the Lord was reckoned as being done by the whole congregation. Hebrews 5:1.
C.
It was one of offering a sacrifice for the people.
1.
His chief duty was to reconcile man to God by making atonement for their sins.
a.
This was done by sacrifice. See Hebrews 5:1; Hebrews 8:3.
b.
He carried the blood of the sin offering into the most holy place.
c.
Here he sprinkled it seven times on and before the mercy seat.
d.
This symbolized the covering of the sins from the eyes of God who dwelt between the cherubim. Psalms 80.
e.
He also marked the blood on the horns of, the altar of burnt offerings in the court of the tabernacle.
f.
It was also done on the golden altar, that the red sign of propitiation might there be lifted up in the sight of God.
D.
It was a service of intercession.
1.
As the sacrifice was made, it was an appeal to the Righteous Judge to forgive.
2.
After this sacrifice was completed the high priest came forth and blessed the people. See Leviticus 9:22-24; Numbers 6:22-27.
E.
Special privileges of the high priest.
1.
He alone could wear the high priestly garment.
2.
He alone could enter the holy of holies to sprinkle the blood.
F.
Qualifications.
1.
He was to be physically fitperfect. Defects could disqualify. Leviticus 21:17-21.
2.
His marriage must be with a pure virgin of pure Hebrew extraction.
a.
Couldn-'t marry a widow.
b.
Couldn-'t marry a divorced woman.
c.
Couldn-'t marry a polluted one or a harlot. Cf. Leviticus 20:10-11.
IV.
The consecrations.
A.
Both the high priest and his sons were washed with water. Exodus 29:4.
B.
The high priest was arrayed in a special garb.
1.
They were beautiful, with a breastplate over the heart.
2.
A holy crown was on his head.
3.
He had a turban with a golden plate bearing the inscription, Holy to Jehovah.
C.
Then he was anointed with precious oil.
Moses poured it on his headHe sprinkled the furniture with oil.
D.
Then the sacrifices were made. Exodus 29:10. Up to this point the sons have no work to do, but now they take a prominent part.
E.
The blood of the offering was applied to the father and sons. Exodus 29:20-21.
1.
Blood was put on the tip of the right earthis brought his ear into subjection to Godto hear and do God's will.
2.
Blood was put on the thumb of the right hand. This consecrated his hand to the will of God.
3.
Blood was placed on the big toethis consecrated his foot to walk in the statutes and commandments of the Lord.
V.
The similarity of Christ's priesthood with that of the old covenant.
A.
Christ was appointed of God, Hebrews 5:5.
B.
Christ was consecrated with an oath, Hebrews 7:20-22.
C.
Christ was sinless, Hebrews 7:26.
D.
Christ's priesthood is unchangeable, Hebrews 7:23-24.
E.
Christ's offering is final, Hebrews 9:25-28; Hebrews 10:12.
F.
His intercession is all-prevailing. Hebrews 7:25.
G.
As God and man in one Person, He is a perfect Mediator.
Temple;
The Temple PlansThe tabernacle lasted from the Exodus until the commencement of the monarchy.
David concluded that the ark of God ought not to dwell in ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was curtains, 2 Samuel 6:17.
The organized nation could have a tabernacle that need not be portable. It was to be beautiful. 1 Chronicles 22:5.
David was not permitted to build because he was a man of war. 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 22:8; 1 Kings 5:3.
1.
Solomon was to do it.
2.
David busied himself in making great and costly preparations, gathering wood, stone, gold, silver, etc. for the future sanctuary and its vessels.
3.
David left very minute plans, 1 Chronicles 22:2; 1 Chronicles 28:11.
The Character of the Building:
1.
The general outline of the structure was based upon that of the tabernacle.
2.
The dimensions are twice in size, with some exceptions.