A Heavenly Priesthood
1 Now the main point of what is being said is this: We have this kind of high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 8:1 Col 3:1; Heb 2:172 a minister of the sanctuary and the true tabernacle that was set up by the Lord and not man. 8:2 Ex 33:7; Heb 9:11,243 For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts 8:3 Eph 5:2; Heb 5:1; 9:14 and sacrifices; therefore, it was necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. 4 Now if he were on earth, he wouldn’t be a priest, since there are those 8:4 Other mss read priests offering the gifts prescribed by the law. 5 These serve as a copy and shadow 8:5 Col 2:17; Heb 9:23; 10:1 of the heavenly things, as Moses was warned when he was about to complete the tabernacle. For God said, Be careful that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain. 8:5 Ex 25:40, 8:5 Ex 25:40; Heb 11:7; 12:256 But Jesus has now obtained a superior ministry, and to that degree he is the mediator 8:6 Jb 33:23; Is 29:1; Gl 3:19–20; 1Tm 2:5; Heb 9:15; 12:24 of a better covenant, 8:6 Heb 7:22; 9:15; 12:24; 13:20 which has been established on better promises. 8:6 Lk 22:20; 2Co 3:6,8
A Superior Covenant
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second one. 8 But finding fault with his people, 8:8 Lit with them he says: 8:8 Other mss read finding fault, he says to them
See, the days are coming, says the Lord,
when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah —
9 not like the covenant
that I made with their ancestors
on the day I took them by the hand
to lead them out of the land of Egypt.
I showed no concern for them, says the Lord,
because they did not continue in my covenant.
10 For this is the covenant
that I will make with the house of Israel
after those days, says the Lord:
I will put my laws into their minds
and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people. 8:10 Zch 8:8; 2Co 3:3; Heb 10:16
11 And each person will not teach his fellow citizen, 8:11 Other mss read neighbor
and each his brother or sister, saying, "Know the Lord,"
because they will all know me,
from the least to the greatest of them. 8:11 Is 54:13; Jn 6:45; 1Jn 2:27
12 For I will forgive their wrongdoing,
and I will never again remember their sins. 8:12 Other mss add and their lawless deeds, 8:8–12 Jr 31:31–34, 8:12 Jr 31:31–34; Rm 11:27; Heb 10:17
13 By saying a new covenant, he has declared that the first is obsolete. And what is obsolete and growing old is about to pass away. 8:13 2Co 5:17