February 27, 2024
DAILY BIBLE READING – Hebrews Chapter 8
1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.
4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:
5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
King James Version. Public Domain
Commentary
Introduction:
Chapter 8 of the Letter to the Hebrews addresses a central theme of the Christian faith: Jesus Christ as the Mediator of the New Covenant. The author emphasizes the superiority of Jesus’ high priesthood, which is not based on an earthly system but is anchored in the heavenly sanctuary. Unlike the Old Covenant, which was founded on the law and earthly sacrifices, the New Covenant is established on better promises and a deep, heartfelt relationship with God. This chapter illustrates the fulfillment of Old Testament promises and shows how God, through Christ, has created a new, lasting, and grace-filled connection with His people.
Commentary:
1.Christ – The High Priest in Heaven (Verses 1–5)
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Main Message (Verses 1-2):
The author highlights the central point: We have a High Priest, Jesus Christ, who sits at the right hand of God. He serves not in an earthly temple but in the true heavenly sanctuary established by God Himself.
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The Earthly Priesthood as a Shadow (Verses 3-5):
The Old Testament priests were appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices. However, their service was merely a representation and shadow of the heavenly reality. When constructing the tabernacle, Moses was instructed to build everything according to the heavenly pattern, underscoring that the earthly temple pointed to a higher reality.
2.The New Covenant – Better Promises through Christ (Verses 6–7)
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A Better Mediator (Verse 6):
Christ has obtained a superior ministry because He is the Mediator of a better covenant, established on stronger promises. The first covenant proved insufficient due to the people’s disobedience.
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The Need for a New Covenant (Verse 7):
If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second. The flaw lay not in the covenant itself but in humanity’s failure to uphold it.
3.The Promise of the New Covenant (Verses 8–12)
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Divine Rebuke and Promise (Verses 8-9):
God reproached His people for their unfaithfulness under the Old Covenant. Therefore, through the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 31:31-34), He announces a New Covenant that relies not on external laws but on inner transformation.
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The New Covenant Written on Hearts (Verse 10):
The heart of the New Covenant is inner renewal: God’s law is written on people’s hearts, fostering a closer relationship with Him beyond mere legal observance.
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Direct Knowledge of God (Verse 11):
Under the New Covenant, knowing God is not mediated through external teaching but through a personal connection. Everyone—from the least to the greatest—will know Him personally.
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Forgiveness and Grace (Verse 12):
God’s promise includes forgiveness, grace, and the complete erasure of sins—central aspects of the New Covenant.
4.The End of the Old Covenant (Verse 13)
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The Old Passes Away, the New Remains:
By introducing the “New Covenant,” God declares the old one obsolete. Like anything that ages and becomes outdated, the Old Covenant is nearing its end, replaced by the new and enduring work of Christ.
Summary:
Hebrews Chapter 8 underscores the superiority of Jesus’ high priesthood and the establishment of the New Covenant. While the Old Covenant relied on external rituals and obedience to the law, the New Covenant brings profound inner transformation: God’s law is written on hearts, enabling a personal relationship with Him. Jesus Christ is the Mediator of this covenant, founded on better promises—grace, forgiveness, and direct knowledge of God. With Christ’s coming and the inauguration of the New Covenant, the Old Covenant has lost its validity, replaced by Christ’s lasting and effective work. This chapter invites believers to live in this new, grace-filled relationship with God and to experience the promises of the New Covenant in everyday life.
WEEKLY SPIRIT OF PROPHECY READING – Ellen White | Steps to Christ
Chapter 6—Faith and Acceptance
Read online here
Commentary
Introduction
Chapter 6 shows us the path from the awakening of the conscience to the acceptance of divine gifts of grace. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, we recognize the destructive power and misery of sin, which separates us from God. This realization arouses in us a deep desire for forgiveness, cleansing, and freedom—yet we cannot obtain these graces through our own efforts, but only through steadfast faith in Jesus Christ, who bestows them upon us as a free gift from God.
Commentary
1.Awakening of the Conscience and Recognition of Sinfulness
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Stirring by the Holy Spirit:
The conscience is awakened by the Holy Spirit, enabling us to perceive the malice, power, guilt, and misery of sin.
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Realization of Separation:
We come to understand that sin has separated us from God and that we ourselves are trapped in a state of helplessness and selfishness.
2.God’s Gifts of Grace and Promises
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Free Gift of Grace:
God offers us forgiveness, cleansing, peace, and love as gifts of grace—things that cannot be bought with money or human wisdom (see Isaiah 55:1).
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Biblical Promises:
Promises such as “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18) and “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you” (Ezekiel 36:26) show that God is able to free us from our sinfulness.
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Jesus as an Example:
Jesus’ healing of the paralyzed man (Matthew 9:6) demonstrates that faith in His words and miracles brings immediate deliverance and healing.
3.Faith and Acceptance of the Divine Promise
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Necessity of Faith:
The text calls us to confess our sins and yield ourselves to God. Only through steadfast faith, not through feelings, can we receive God’s promises.
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Daily Surrender:
It is emphasized that we should daily acknowledge our belonging to Christ and live in His Spirit, thus remaining continually in His grace and mercy.
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Condition of Prayer:
Our requests must be in harmony with God’s will, who wants to cleanse us of our failings and make us His children.
4.The Universal Power of Grace
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Unlimited Forgiveness:
No one is so sinful that they cannot be touched by God’s infinite mercy. God wants to fill us with His blessings—strength, righteousness, and purity.
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The Father-Heart of God:
God’s love is so great that He has accepted us even in our weakness. His immeasurable love and mercy express His eternal desire to redeem and renew us.
Summary
Chapter 6, “Faith and Acceptance,” calls us to acknowledge our own sinfulness and awaken within ourselves a deep longing for divine forgiveness and renewal. It stresses that we cannot achieve sanctification through our own power, but that God’s grace—given freely through Jesus Christ—covers all our shortcomings. By confessing our sins and holding firmly to faith in Jesus’ words and miracles, we become children of God who live in His Spirit and are healed by His mercy. Ultimately, it is unwavering faith and daily surrender that lead us into the fullness of God’s blessings and empower us to live a renewed, holy life.
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