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
In his letter to the Hebrews, Paul spends a lot of time discussing the marvelous novelties of the better covenant which God had promised through the prophets. He talks about the church, the better tabernacle which was pitched without human hand (Hebrews 8:2). He discusses the superior sacrifice which was offered by Jesus which makes complete atonement for sin. While these points alone would merit the wonder and admiration of the world, there are yet more improvements which deserve attention.
Under the better covenant, there is a greater high priest at our service. As honorable as this high office was under the law given to Israel, there were many problems with its occupants. First of all, as Paul notes (Hebrews 7:5), this priesthood was not based upon virtue, but on physical descent. This is to say that one was not a priest because he was holy and chaste, but rather because he was the eldest descendant of Aaron. Furthermore even the greatest of the men in this line were laden with infirmities and eventually died and left the office for another to fill (Hebrews 7:23–28). The men who served in this capacity were often less than worthy and even made it more difficult for the people to come to God (1 Samuel 2:12–17). Under the new covenant, our high priest is greater than all the Levitical priests in the same way that Melchizedek was (Hebrews 7:1–10; cf. Genesis 14). David taught the people to anticipate such a priest (Psalms 110:4), confirming that the priesthood known in his time would be replaced with a greater one (Hebrews 7:11–22). This high priest will never disappoint us, nor will death ever rob us of His aid (Hebrews 7:20–28).
Under the better covenant, there are also greater promises, upon which the covenant is established (Hebrews 8:6). Whereas the promises upon which the old covenant stood were primarily physical in nature (Deuteronomy 7:12–1), these promises are primarily spiritual. We have the promise, for example, of a better hope (Hebrews 7:19), which serves as “an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast” (Hebrews 6:19). Ours is also “a better and an enduring possession” (Hebrews 10:34), for our treasures are not stored on earth, but in heaven, where it can in no way be molested (Matthew 6:20–21). Paul explains that we also have the promise of that “better country” which was sought by the faithful of ages past (Hebrews 11:16). This “continuing city” (Hebrews 13:14) is not in this world, but it exists “eternal in the heavens” (2 Corinthians 5:1), and it is there that our true citizenship lies (Philippians 3:20).
If you wish to enter this covenant with God, you must be sanctified by the blood of Christ with which this new covenant was ratified (Matthew 26:28), just as Israel was sanctified with “the blood of the covenant” with which Moses sprinkled them along with the various implements of that covenant (Hebrews 9:18–22; Ex. 24:8). We contact the covenantal blood when we have our sins washed in His blood (Acts 22:16) and when we are buried into His death (Romans 6:1–6) at the moment we are baptized. Hereafter it is our responsibility to keep the terms of this covenant (cf. Exodus 19:3–8). This includes faithfulness in worship (Hebrews 10:25), faithfulness to those in authority (Hebrews 13:17)––a faithfulness that extends even to death (Revelation 2:10). The blessings of this covenant are greater than anything we can ever hope to gain in this world, and unlike the latter, the former endure for all eternity.