10/2/12

Hebrews, Chapter 8, by Mark Copeland

                      "THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS"

                             Chapter Eight

Having demonstrated Jesus’ superiority to prophets, angels, Moses, and
Levi, the author summarizes: we have a High Priest at God’s right hand
who is Minister and Mediator of a better covenant established on better
promises (1-6).   Our attention is then directed toward that New
Covenant which has replaced the Old Covenant (7-13).

POINTS TO PONDER

   *  The main point of all that has been said:  "We have such a High
      Priest..."

   *  The two covenants (the first and old, replaced by the second and
      new)

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - The new ministry of Christ - He 8:1-6
   - The new covenant of Christ - He 8:7-13

2) Where is our High Priest?  In what does He minister? (1-2)
   - Seated at the right hand of God; the sanctuary and true tabernacle
     build by God

3) If Jesus were on earth, what could He not be? (4)
   - A priest

4) What served as a copy and shadow of the true tabernacle? (5)
   - The earthly tabernacle Moses was instructed to build

5) In what way has Jesus obtained a more excellent ministry? (6)
   - He is the Mediator of a better covenant, established on better
     promises

6) Why was it necessary to replace the first covenant with the second?
   (7-8)
   - The first was not faultless; there was fault with those under the
     first

7) Which covenant was the first, old covenant? (9)
   - That made with Israel when God led them out of Egypt (i.e., Mosaic
     Covenant)

8) List characteristics of God’s new covenant foretold by Jeremiah.
   (10-12)
   - God’s laws will be in their minds and written on their hearts
   - He will be their God, and they shall be His people
   - None shall teach his neighbor to know the Lord, for all will know
     Him
   - He will be merciful, and remember their sins no more

9) With the new covenant, what happened to the old covenant? (13)
   - It had been made obsolete, old, and ready to vanish away