Hebrews 8:1-6 – The Priest, par excellence

Having established that Christ is a better High Priest, the author then settled down to talk about His works in that role. Beginning from chapter 8 right through to Hebrews 10:18, this will be his main subject. In his discussion, he also introduced another critical theme: the New Covenant. The ministry of the Lord Jesus would be linked with the New Covenant. His service as High Priest had three built-in elements: a covenant, a sanctuary and a sacrifice. In this discussion, the author’s aim was to use the service that Christ performed to prove His adequacy as High Priest. In so doing, he had demonstrated the superiority of Christianity to Judaism. So in verses 1-6, he set out to show that Christ came to introduce a better covenant.

The statement, “what has been said” found in the first verse, actually refers to what he had already discussed in chapter 7. In the previous lesson, the author had highlighted certain deficiencies of the Levitical priesthood: (1) the fact that they were subjected to death (7:23); and (2) the necessity to repeat the sacrifices for sins of both themselves and the people (7:27). And having laid the foundation, the author was ready to move on. In saying “what has been said,” he was making a transitional statement. He was signaling that he was about to move on to his next discussion on the better ministry of Jesus Christ as High Priest.

In these six verses, he pointed to the fact that we have a better High Priest. How? Three facts proved Christ is a better High Priest. (1) Jesus is a seated Priest. Having completed His work of offering the final sacrifice for sins, Christ is now seated. (2) Jesus is an enthroned Priest. Having completed His work, Christ had taken His throne at the right hand of God the Father. (3) Jesus is a heavenly Priest. Being seated in Heaven, He had entered the true Sanctuary where He is presently ministering.

In verse 3, the author said that every high priest was appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices, so as High Priest, Jesus also had to have something to offer. What was the “something” that He would offer to God? The author would pick this up and discuss it from Hebrews 9:11 onwards. 

The point of verses 3-6 is this: Jesus' priesthood was not an earthly priesthood but one that functioned in the realm of Heaven. The author explained that while on earth, based on the Mosaic Law, there were priests authorized to offer the sacrifices stipulated by the Law. But the sacrifices could not bring them into the real, heavenly presence of God. However, Christ entered into God’s eternal presence because of His life and redemptive accomplishment. Hence, His real priestly ministry began when He entered Heaven. Since Christ’s ministry was in God’s eternal presence, His priestly service was more superior to that of the Levitical high priest.

The earthly tabernacle was just a copy of the heavenly tabernacle. The earthly priest served in the earthly tabernacle but Christ is serving in the true Holy of holies. Let us be greatly encouraged that He is presently ministering on our behalf, in God’s abiding presence in heaven!