In the first seven chapters, the writer of the inspired book in the Bible called Hebrews demonstrates that Jesus is superior to angels and Moses. Jesus has a higher position than anyone else. He is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven. Jesus has also been appointed as our High Priest, and His priesthood is superior to the priesthood established under the Law of Moses.
In subsequent chapters, the book of Hebrews will show that in His role as High Priest, Jesus has offered a superior sacrifice for our sins. However, before doing so it talks about how Jesus’ ministry is superior to that of the priests of the Mosaic Law. Chapter 8, verses 3 through 6 say, “For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer. For if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, seeing there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, even as Moses was warned by God when he was about to make the tabernacle, for he said, “See, you shall make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain.” But now he has obtained a more excellent ministry, by so much as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which on better promises has been given as law.”
According to these verses, the Tabernacle and the ministry which occurred within it were only copies or shadows of a much greater reality. The Tabernacle which Moses built (and by extension, the Temple which Solomon built) was a representation or picture of heaven. The ministry which the priests performed within it was an illustration of the true worship and ministry which takes place in heaven. Just as a man is far superior to the shadow he casts, the heavenly sanctuary is far superior to the earthly one. Similarly, Jesus’ ministry is far superior to that of its earthly shadow, because He serves as High Priest before the very throne of God.
Because the Tabernacle is a representation of what is in heaven, Moses was warned to make everything exactly as he was shown. There was no room for deviation from the divine design. This applies not only to the physical structure of the Tabernacle and its furnishings, but also to the rituals and service which were performed in it. For example, God put two of Aaron’s sons to death because they offered incense in their own way instead of following the directions God had given them (Leviticus 10).
There is an important lesson in this. The Bible indicates that the church also is a representation of the heavenly sanctuary. If this is true, then we should be very careful that we do not deviate from the instructions given in the New Testament about the church. Do our churches conform to the example of the churches in the New Testament?
Not only is Jesus’ ministry superior, but the covenant of which He is the mediator is also superior to the covenant established by the Mosaic Law. One way in which it is superior is that it is founded on better promises. What are these better promises? In later chapters the book of Hebrews will explain that the Law of Moses could not remove sin. It could only postpone the penalty for sin. It is only in the New Covenant which God establishes with us through Jesus that sin is removed once for all – for those under the Law of Moses as well as us today. So, one of the better promises of the New Covenant is complete salvation. Another promise is being made complete. Only in Christ do we have the ability to become everything God wants us to be.
In verses 7 through 13, Hebrews points out some more differences between the Old Covenant under the Mosaic Law and the New Covenant which God grants us through Jesus. “For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. For finding fault with them, he said, “Behold, the days come,” says the Lord, “that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers, in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; for they didn’t continue in my covenant, and I disregarded them,” says the Lord. “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel. After those days,” says the Lord; “I will put my laws into their mind, I will also write them on their heart. I will be their God, and they will be my people. They will not teach every man his fellow citizen, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all will know me, from their least to their greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness. I will remember their sins and lawless deeds no more.” In that he says, “A new covenant,” he has made the first old. But that which is becoming old and grows aged is near to vanishing away.”
Many people question why there was a need for a new covenant. After all, God was the One who gave the Law to His people through Moses. However, this passage points out that there was a fatal flaw in the old system. The Law was perfect, but people are not. No one except Jesus has ever been capable of fully keeping the Law. Since the Law had no provision for doing away with the consequences of sin and restoring a broken relationship with God, another system was needed. Because of this weakness, God promised through the prophet Jeremiah that He would establish a new covenant.
Hebrews quotes Jeremiah 31:31-34 to emphasize several important differences between the Old and the New covenants. The Old Covenant was external, in that it was based on commands and regulations. In contrast, the New Covenant is internal. It is written on our hearts and minds. In other words we keep the terms of the covenant not because of a command, but because we have been given a new nature and it is natural for that new being to do what is right.
Another difference is that those in the Old Covenant had to be taught who God is. When a baby was circumcised at eight days, he was considered a member of God’s people. Obviously, a baby has to be taught about God. In contrast, we have to understand who God is and yield ourselves to Him before we can enter the New Covenant. And, when we enter the New Covenant, we will know Him.
One of the most important differences in the New Covenant over the Old is that God does not remember our sins any more. Are you in the New Covenant? Have your sins been forgiven?