Hebrews 8:1-6

Jesus' Work As Our High Priest

Jesus has finished making the only offering necessary and is now seated at the right hand of God in heaven. He is the High Priest in heaven, described here as the sanctuary. He also serves as High Priest in the church, which is the greater part of the true tabernacle. The tabernacle Moses was instructed to build was a shadow of the true tabernacle, or the church (Hebrews 8:1-2).

Since the duty of a priest is to make offerings, Jesus must have something to offer and a place to offer it. He did not make His offering within the sphere of this earth, as the priests of the material tabernacle did, but within a heavenly sphere. He continues to intercede for us, but does not continue to "offer gifts and sacrifices." He could not make His offering on this earth, as the only priesthood authorized on this earth was the Aaronic priesthood. Only the Levites could offer sacrifices on earth (Hebrews 8:3-4; Numbers 18:1-7).

The priests under Moses' law and the tabernacle in which they served were only a shadow of the true substance to come. Exodus 25:40, which is quoted by the writer of Hebrews, proves the tabernacle was built according to a pattern. The word translated "pattern" primarily means the impression left by a blow. The tabernacle had to be built according to the pattern so it could be a good shadow of the archetype. Christ's ministry is better than that of the Levitical priests by virtue of the better covenant under which He serves. Jesus is the mediator, or go-between for God and man, for this covenant (Hebrews 8:5-6; 1 Timothy 2:5).