A Better Covenant
Hebrews 8:1-13
In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. [Heb 8:13]
Hebrews 8 begins with the “main point” [Heb 8:1: Now this is the main point of the things we are saying…] and ends with yet another better in Christ [i.e., a better covenant, ref. Heb 8:13]. But before we go on to the better [new] covenant we must pause and digest this main point: “We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens…” [Heb 8:1].
Jesus our Great High Priest is now seated at the right hand of God, in the heavenly sanctuary, in the Holy of Holies, ever living to make intercession for God’s people [ref. Heb 7:25]. This is that “greater work” of our High Priest. He ever lives to intercede and offer gifts of the Spirit to those of the faith. He ministers in the here and now, from the heavenly sanctuary, in the “power of an endless life.” [Heb 7:16] This goes far beyond the Aaronic priesthood, who only ministered in the “covering of sin.” Jesus, our Great High Priest, after the order of Melchizedek, takes away our sins, and even goes one step further; He ever lives to give us the Spirit that gives us the power to live this life of faith. This is the solid food for the mature [ref. Heb 5:12-14]. This is the way of perfection, i.e., growing into a mature Christian. ‘’’Therefore leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection.” [Heb 6:1]
Regarding the better New Covenant, Jesus said “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” And in the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” [1 Cor 11:24-25]
The Cross instituted the New Covenant and made the Old obsolete. “Obsolete” means outdated, past, superseded. The Old is no longer of use and no longer to be used. A better has come. It is built on better promises; it ministers from a better sanctuary [Heb 9]; and it rests on a better sacrifice [Heb 10]. The greatest of these better things is Jesus, our Great High Priest, who ever lives to administer to us the Spirit without measure in the power of an endless life.
This all comes under the New and Better Covenant.
