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The Messiah Has a Better Ministry

Now the main point in what we are saying is this: we do have this kind of high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tent set up by the Lord and not by any human. For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore, this high priest[a] had to offer something, too. Now if he were on earth, he would not even be a priest, because other men offer the gifts prescribed by the Law. They serve in a sanctuary that is a copy, a shadow of the heavenly one. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tent: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.”[b] However, Jesus[c] has now obtained a more superior ministry, since the covenant he mediates is founded on better promises.

The New Covenant is Better than the Old

If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need to look for a second one, but God[d] found something wrong with his people[e] when he said,

“Look! The days are coming, declares the Lord,[f]
    when I will establish a new covenant
        with the house of Israel
        and with the house of Judah.
It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors at the time
    when I took them by the hand
        and brought them out of the land of Egypt.
Because they did not remain loyal to my covenant,
    I ignored them, declares the Lord.[g]
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
    after that time, declares the Lord:[h]
I will put my laws in their minds
    and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.
11 Never again will everyone teach his neighbor
    or his brother by saying, ‘Know the Lord,’[i]
because all of them will know me,
    from the least important to the most important.
12 For I will be merciful regarding their wrong deeds,
    and I will never again remember their sins.”[j]

13 In speaking of a “new” covenant, he has made the first one obsolete, and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 8:3 Lit. this one
  2. Hebrews 8:5 Cf. Exod 25:40
  3. Hebrews 8:6 Lit. he
  4. Hebrews 8:8 Lit. he
  5. Hebrews 8:8 Lit. with them
  6. Hebrews 8:8 MT source citation reads Lord
  7. Hebrews 8:9 MT source citation reads Lord
  8. Hebrews 8:10 MT source citation reads Lord
  9. Hebrews 8:11 MT source citation reads Lord
  10. Hebrews 8:12 Cf. Jer 31:31-34

The High Priest of a New Covenant

Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest,(A) who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,(B) and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle(C) set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.

Every high priest(D) is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices,(E) and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer.(F) If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law.(G) They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy(H) and shadow(I) of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned(J) when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”[a](K) But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant(L) of which he is mediator(M) is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.

For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.(N) But God found fault with the people and said[b]:

“The days are coming, declares the Lord,
    when I will make a new covenant(O)
with the people of Israel
    and with the people of Judah.
It will not be like the covenant
    I made with their ancestors(P)
when I took them by the hand
    to lead them out of Egypt,
because they did not remain faithful to my covenant,
    and I turned away from them,
declares the Lord.
10 This is the covenant(Q) I will establish with the people of Israel
    after that time, declares the Lord.
I will put my laws in their minds
    and write them on their hearts.(R)
I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.(S)
11 No longer will they teach their neighbor,
    or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,(T)
    from the least of them to the greatest.
12 For I will forgive their wickedness
    and will remember their sins no more.(U)[c](V)

13 By calling this covenant “new,”(W) he has made the first one obsolete;(X) and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 8:5 Exodus 25:40
  2. Hebrews 8:8 Some manuscripts may be translated fault and said to the people.
  3. Hebrews 8:12 Jer. 31:31-34