2608

The American Wisdom Series

Presents pamphlet #2608
Hebrews chapter 8

We are complete in Him. We do not need buildings and ordinances and circumcisions, nor do we need to keep certain days or abstain from this or that or have priests offer gifts and sacrifices.

This study in Hebrews is quite simply a lesson in "reality verses religion" beginning with Paul's summation, the most important point he wants us to draw from his teaching, which is as follows:

Hebrews 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.

The Greek word translated "sanctuary" in verse two is "hagion" which means the "holiest place" as in the Holy of Holies.

This is important because the main point Paul wants us to understand is that our High Priest, the One promised by the sworn oath of Yahveh to be priest forever after the order of Melchisedec, the One who has risen and now sits on the right hand of the throne of His Majesty in the heavens, has entered into and ministers as High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary, the REAL Holy of Holies of the true tabernacle which the Lord has set up, and not man.

For all that man set up was merely an earthly representation, a "shadow" of that which is the real thing.

Note: Just like our death in the flesh is only a shadow of the real death. the death of our soul! Knowing, then, what the "shadow of death" is, log unto and read Psalms 23 with understanding. Live Link to- The 23rd. Psalm

Not only that, but the earthy sanctuary which is symbolic of the heavenly, was ministered to by sinful, fallible man!

You see, by law the Levitical High Priest entered into the Holy of Holies, which was hidden behind the veil in the taberbacle, only once a year and stood before a "shadow" throne, one which was only symbolic of the true throne which is heaven.

However, our High Priest has entered into the Holiest Place in heaven and sits at the right hand of the real throne, the one that the "shadow" on earth only represented.

Do you remember what happened to that earthly veil which was before the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle at the moment Yeshua Messiah died on the cross?

Mark 15:37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.
[38] And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.

So much for the need of an earthly high priest and sanctuary for evermore... because He has
entered in to the true sanctuary for one and all time!

And you know what else?

We are complete in Him.

We do not need buildings and ordinances and circumcisions, nor do we need to keep certain days or abstain from this or that or have priests offer gifts and sacrifices.

Read and understand all of what Paul wrote in Colossians chapter two and then think about those many false prophets (preachers and ministers) who still like to play "tabernacle" and have you enter in to their place and follow the traditions they have in store for you to be "complete" and show yourself approved!

Here are a few excerpts from Col. 2:

Col. 2:9-10 For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
[10] And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power:

Paul then wrote concerning all those "handwritten" ordinances, those religious ceremonies and practices which were only a shadow of Christ who took them all away and nailed them to the cross.

Col. 2:14
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Col. 2:17
Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

You see, the reason that none of those things now apply is because we have the true tabernacle, the true temple, which is Jesus Christ, and as Paul explained in Col. 2:10, we are complete in Him. The "true", the "real" temple
is not a building.

John 2:19-21
Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
[20] Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?

"Religious" people then and "religious" people still today,
do not understand and comprehend the MAIN POINT Paul has been making concerning the true tabernacle, for they are blinded by the traditions of men which look to those things which pertain to this earthly dimension.

[21] But he spake of the temple of his body.

Again, all those "shadows" and types pointed to the true tabernacle who is Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 8:3
For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.

It was the duty of the High Priest once (only once) a year to enter into the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement to make sacrifice for himself and the sins of the people.

However, that was just a type, a "shadow", for you see Jesus Christ our High Priest has entered in (albeit not the earthly sanctuary) and also offered sacrifice... which was His precious blood He shed for one and for all time for the remission of our sins.

It is that blood which made the new and better covenant a reality.

Matthew 26:28 "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."

[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:

In other words, Christ's priestly office is exercised in heaven, not on earth in the tabernacles of men!

Even so, if Christ were on the earth defacto, He would still not be accepted in many of the churches in this land much for the same reasons He was rejected when He was here, some of which are:

Although He taught boldly with knowledge and authority, He was accused of being "unlearned", as in not possessing man's credentials such as a seminary degree from the Pharisaical Theological Institute of Advanced Mosiac Law.

John 7:14-16 "Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. [15] And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? [16] Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me."
Since His "doctrine" was not mainstream, He was accused of deceiving the people.
John 7:11-12 "Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he? [12] And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but He deceiveth the people."
He was accused of being a "winebibber" because He "dared" associate Himself with sinners. Luke 7:34
"The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!
He broke the "law" such as healing the sick on the Sabbath Day, a law of their "tradition". John 7:23 "If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?"
And the list goes on...

Again, the duty of the earthly high priest was to "show us" and "teach us" as a schoolmaster about reality, about the true ministry of our eternal High Priest, Jesus Christ, who sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven and makes intercession on our behalf.

[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.

The tabernacle Moses made (set up) was made according to the PATTERN God showed him of "heavenly things".

Do you "see" how that in itself documents that it WAS NOT the true tabernacle but merely a "model", an earthly representation, a shadow, of the heavenly tabernacle which was NOT PITCHED (set up) by man.

By this do you also "see" and understand that the true tabernacle is not an earthly building or structure or temple.

How is it then that man places so much emphasis on churches and religious things?

[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.

Christ's ministry and priesthood was not after the manner of the old covenant.

Remember?

He was made our high priest after the order of Melchisedec by the promise of God which He made legally binding with His solemnly sworn oath.

Jesus Christ is therefore the surety, the guarantor of that covenant, giving us the hope of salvation and the promise of eternal life to those who believe in Him and obey His commands.

[7] For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.

The fact is, it wasn't really the first covenant God made with His people that was the problem, as the next verse documents, "The fault was with them!"

Note: It is important to recognize that Paul quotes the following verses (vs. 8-12) directly from the 31st chapter of Jeremiah in the Old Testament letting us know that the promise of the New Covenant is contained therein and was ordained long ago.

Hebrews 8:8
For finding fault with them, He saith,

The problem is that merely following and conforming to "laws contained in ordinances" (such as adhering to a system of ceremonies and rituals today and entering into beautiful tabernacles made with hands every Sunday, etc.,) does not make one's heart right, though it may cause one to "feel" righteous and close to God!

You see, being "religious" and following the traditions of men and keeping those divers ordinances proprietary to this denomination or that, and even performing goodly deeds, etc., etc., does not make one righteous nor cause one to draw near to God in his or her heart!

It only shows to that deluded individual and the rest of the world that he or she is "religious"!

In other words, true faith and true love must emanate from within the heart of a "believer".

That is why Isaiah wrote in Isaiah 29:13
"Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart [mind] far from me, and their fear [reverence, i.e. love] toward me is taught by the precept [traditions] of men."

To that end, there was nothing essentially wrong with the old contract, the Old Covenant, for God faithfully kept His part of the agreement and was a true husband (Jer. 31:32) who provide for and protected His own.

The fault was in the hearts [minds] of His people who kept ordinances but did not absorb and internalize the Word of God whereby that Word did dwell in their hearts and minds.

If you can understand that, you are a step closer to understanding the beauty of the New Covenant which was explained by the Lord through Jeremiah the prophet a long, long time ago.

Paul now quotes from Jeremiah to bring us up to speed concerning the process of the New Covenant.

(Note: Included below are the corresponding verses in Jeremiah 31 with those in Hebrew 8 letting the reader know that he or she is reading both the old and the new testaments simultaneously.)

[Hebrews 8:8... cont.] 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:
Jeremiah 31:31
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

The word "make" in Heb. 8:8 is "sunteleo" which means "to bring to completion" as in "complete entirely" or "finish to the end"!

make = 4931 sunteleo soon-tel-eh'-o from 4862 and 5055; to complete entirely; generally, to execute (literally or figuratively):--end, finish, fulfil, make.
[Hebrews 8:9] 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.
Jeremiah 31:32
Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:

They were not able to keep that covenant because they were sinners, as we all are, but the fact is that the Word of God was not in their hearts, i.e. it was not part of their heart and spirit.

[Hebrews 8:10] 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:
Jeremiah 31:33
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Oh that Christians understood the process of this covenant.

Who is it we are complete in?

We are complete [made perfect - Jn. 17:43] in Jesus Christ, the Word of God.

And although Heb. 8:10 actually looks ahead to the time of the Millennium when Jesus Christ returns,
if Christians will only "draw near" and "believe" in Jesus Christ, the Word of God, and "dwell in Him" thereby becoming "sealed" (Rev. 7:3, 9:5) in their hearts and minds with the Word of God, then they can partake of that New Covenant right now, To Day, and enter into His rest!

Such is the case with God's elect who have partaken of that New Covenant and have "eaten and digested" the whole "roll", the whole Word of God (the Bible) (Ezek. 2:9-3:3).

Again, it doesn't matter how religious you are or what lofty position you might hold within the tabernacles of men!

It matters only that He dwells in you and you in Him for if you are to "live", as in have eternal life, then you must live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Our Father gave us a "visual", an ensample for our understanding, when He caused our forefathers to first "hunger" and then provided them with "manna", food from "heaven", angel's food!

"See" and understand from the Books of Moses, for if you have eyes to see and ears to hear you will see the New Covenant written of long ago!

Deut. 8:3
And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.

Are you one of God's elect?

Do you hunger and thirst for the true bread of life
or are you satisfied just drinking a little milk every Sunday?

The way to "life" is to be complete in Christ, the Word of God.

In fact, it is that very thing, quoted from Deut. 8:3 (above), that Jesus Christ said to the spiritually "dead man", Satan, when he tempted Him after being an hungered following 40 days of prayer and fasting in the wilderness?

(By the way, Satan is very religious and just loves to "set up" religions with magnificent "temples" (the temple/temples Christ will destroy at His return, not one brick left atop another!) and earthy "sanctuaries".

Take heed and beware of the leaven!)

Luke 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every
word of God.

Is the Word of God sealed in your mind and written in your heart whereby you have "life"?

Or, are you too busy with church and church activities, as in playing tabernacle,
to take the time to get to know Jesus Christ whereby His Word, His Spirit, the Holy Spirit,
unites with your spirit (your intellect) and you become one in Him?

All you need understand is that Jesus is the Living Word of
God... then read John 15:3-10!

John 15:3-10
Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. [4] Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. [5] I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. [6] If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. [7] If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. [8] Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. [9] As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. [10] If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

If Hebrews 5:11-14 applies to you, then begin "To Day" to seek Him through His Word.

Remember the words Paul quoted from Psalm 95 so many times:
"While it is said, To day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation (Hebrews 3:15)."

By the way, the Greek word translated "write" in Hebrews 8:10 is "epi-grapho"
which means to "overwrite" or "inscribe", i.e. to "engrave".

So get rid of all those other religious "graven images" in your mind as per the 2nd Commandment (Ex. 20:4)
and begin "To Day" to allow Him to "write His law (His every word) in your heart"!

Or you can wait until it is too late and discover your shame and spiritual nakedness
and come to know you missed out on the first resurrection when you try to cash in all the things you did in the name of Christianity, while you ignored Christ (forsook the Word of God) whereby you could have received "life"!

Matthew 7:21
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
[22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
[23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Go dwell with Him in His Word and you will get to know Him
and He will come dwell with you, i.e. in your mind and in your heart!

Yes, Christ in you and you in Him!

Hebrews 8:11
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.
Jeremiah 31:34
And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD...

During the Millennium, the two rivers of Truth and Justice
from the King of kings and Lord of lords shall flow from Mt. Zion throughout all the world and there shall be no lack of the knowledge of the LORD!

It is written... therefore so shall it be!

[12] For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Jeremiah 31:34 (...cont.) for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

He will forgive your iniquity now and remember your sin no more if you come to Him and repent and ask for forgiveness. You "see": "We have such an high priest, who is set on 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 pitched, and not man. "

[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.

In the same manner that the earthly tabernacle was declared to be only a model of the real thing
by virtue of the fact it was made after a "pattern",
so is the old covenant made obsolete by the fact that He declared there would be a New Covenant,
the "finishing" of which has not yet been completed.

But as Paul said regarding the "vanishing away", all man made tabernacles are temporal
and all that is earthly shall pass away, but the true tabernacle remains eternal.

So cast aside "churchianity" with its promotion of the "traditions of men" and take part of the New Covenant... To Day.

To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.

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