Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man. For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. Hebrews 8:1–6
We have just finished a year-long series of studies of lessons to be learned from the Old Testament. In his letter to the Hebrews, Paul explains that God replaced the covenant made with Israel at Mount Sinai with that which was consecrated in Jerusalem with the blood of Christ. The “fault” with the OT law was not with the law itself, but rather with the inability of the people to keep it perfectly (Galatians 3:31; Acts 15:10). As we move into the new year and begin discussing topics under the theme “Something Greater,” it seems only appropriate to talk about the superiority of the new covenant in this transition.
Under the new and better covenant there stands a better tabernacle. The first tabernacle was a marvelous structure indeed (Hebrews 9:1–6), for it was not assembled by human ingenuity, but according to a blueprint given by God Himself to Moses on the mountain (Exodus 25:40). Although this tent served as a most magnificent centerpiece to the camp of Israel, it was far from being merely ornamental: this was the place where God communed with His children. Today there stands a greater tabernacle, one which was set up by God Himself (Hebrews 8:2). There can be no mistake in the identity of this structure, for the prophets spoke of it for centuries (Amos 9:11; Daniel 2:44–45; Isaiah 2:1–4), and the apostles heralded its arrival on the day that the church was established in Jerusalem (Acts 2). Paul also identifies it near the conclusion of his letter to the Hebrews (Hebrews 12:22–24). Just as the tabernacle offered the only means of access to the sacred ark on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:17–19), the new tabernacle offers the only access to the throne room of heaven (Hebrews 9:8). The members of this structure do not consist of wood and precious metals, but rather “the spirits of just men made perfect” (Hebrews 12:23).
Under the new and better covenant there is also a better sacrifice. Sacrifices were being offered continually under the Levitical system, so that the fire on the altar was never to be extinguished (Leviticua 6:12–13). In Arlington Cemetery, a flame has burned (almost) continually since 1963, serving as a reminder of a life that was extinguished by a sniper in Dallas a little more than half a century ago. The fire that burned on the altar in the court of the tabernacle—sent originally from heaven itself (Leviticus 9:24)—served as a constant reminder of man’s sin problem and of his impotence to do anything about it. The sacrifices of the OT could not take away the sins of Israel. Had they been able to remove sin, there would have been no need to offer them perpetually (Hebrews 10:1–4). Although these offerings could not remit sin, they pointed forward in unison to one that would hold such power. When Christ ascended back to heaven (the ultimate Holy Place), He did not take the blood of animals which had to be offered perpetually; instead He offered His own blood, which required but one application for all time (Hebrews 9:24–28).
When God promised to make His new covenant with man, He said that He would write it not upon stone, but rather upon man’s heart (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 10:16). Because of our Lord’s sacrifice, we have the assurance that our sins are forever forgiven (Jeremiah 31:34; Hebrews 10:17) and that we may stand before God with boldness (Hebrews 10:19–20) instead of terror (Hebrews 12:18–21). Through application of the blood you can enter this covenant and receive all its blessings.