Hebrews 8

The Apostle relates from that which is now proved what an excellent high Priest we have. 3. And also what kind of offering we must not be like that of the other Priests, who administered the type here upon earth, but that the same must be in heaven according to the heavenly representation. 6. Cometh afterwards to the describing of the excellence of the new Covenant whereof he is Mediator. 8. And rehearseth out of Jerem. 31 the institution and promises of the same. 13. And from hence concludes that the old is done away.

1. Now the capital sum [Or the head point among, or in the things, i.e. the principal : for the Greek word kephalaion signifies both] of the things whereof we speak, is, (that) we have such an high Priest, who is set at the right (hand) of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens: [that is, at the right hand of God who is set on the throne of his Majesty, or glory, in the third or highest heaven. See before chapter 1. 3. Acts 3:21.]

2. A Minister of the Sanctuary [Gr. Of the Holies: whereby the heaven is understood, whereof the holy of Holies was a type, as afterward chapter 9 ver. 8. 12. which is here distinguished from the first part of the Tabernacle, into which the Priests went every day, but the high Priest went but once a year into the Sanctuary, or holy of Holies, as is further declared in the beginning of the following chapter] and of the true [the word true is here opposed to the shadows, as John 1:17.] Tabernacle [as by the holy of Holies heaven is represented, Hebrews 9:24. so by this Tabernacle is understood the human nature of Christ, which is also compared thereunto John 1:14. and 2. 19. Hebrews 9:11. and in which the fullness of the Godhead dwelleth bodily, as in its Temple or Tabernacle, Colossians 2:9. which was conceived by the power of the Ghost, and was set up by no man, and by the offering up and blood whereof, Christ went into the holy of Holies: which well agrees with following verse. Whereof Christ may also be said to be said to be a Minister, because he sanctified the same human nature of his for a meet sacrifice, therein to expiate he sins of his people, and to accomplish the work of our salvation. See John 17:19. and hereafter chapter 9. 11. where this is thus declared at large] which the large] which the Lord set up, and no man.

3. For every high Priest [This word for gives a reason why he said in the former verse that Christ is a Minister of the true Tabernacle of his body. Namely, because as an high Priest he also must have somewhat to offer] is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it was necessary that this man also bad somewhat [namely, himself or his own body, as heretofore, chapter 7. 27. and hereafter, chapter 9. 14. is expressed] to offer.

4. For if he were on earth, he should not be a Priest, [Namely, because he had now fulfilled all things on earth, that were to be done by him on earth, as Priest. Therefore he should have finished his Ministry: but he must yet fulfill the true holy of Holies] while there are Priests, which offer gifts according to the Law. [That is, duly, and legally. And in these words is also a reason contained, why Christ should now be no Priest on earth, namely, who should legally and according to the ordinance of God administer the Priesthood here, because the Law maketh no Priest, but of the tribe of Levi, and no sacrifices but of ceremonial gifts, whereof Christ was made no Minister, but a Minister of that which was represented hereby, as the following verse also imports.]

5. Who minister to the type and the shadow of heavenly things [That is, of the things, which must also be administered and fulfilled by Christ in heaven, and which are necessary for us for an entrance into heaven] even as Moses was admonished by a divine oracle, when he was to perfect the Tabernacle. For see, saith he, that thou make all things, according to the representation [or prescript, mould, pattern, example, according to which men do or build any thing] which was showed thee [namely, in vision, either on the mount, or much rather in heaven opened, as afterward, chapter 9. 23. is declared: for Moses being in the mount saw this pattern in heaven itself] on the mount. [Or in the mount i.e. on the mount, namely, Horeb.]

6. And now hath he [Namely, the Lord Jesus Christ] gotten so much the more excellent Ministry, as he is also Mediator of a better Covenant [namely, then the Covenant of the Law and the ceremonies was] which was confirmed [Gr. Was legitimated] in better promises. [namely, which hereafter ver. 10. 11, 12. are expressed.]

7. For if that first (covenant) had been blameless, [That is, there had been nothing wanting in it, wherein nothing more could be required. For that which is perfect is not to give place to any other thing of the like condition. For the Law of Moses, whereof the ceremonies are here considered as an appendix, was indeed perfect in itself if any man had perfectly observed the same, but by reason of the impotency of the corrupt nature of man, which the Law could not take away, it could bring no man to salvation, Romans 8:3. Galatians 3:21. Therefore God would make this new Covenant with man through Christ, in the room of the first, that defect of the first might hereby be amended: of which new Covenant the ceremonies were also shadows and types, Colossians 2:17. as shall be showed in the following chapter, and of which the ancient Fathers had indeed also received the promises, Galatians 3:17. etc. but the fullness thereof was revealed unto us by Christ, as the Apostle shows in that which follows out of Jerem. 31.] there should no place have been sought for the second.

8. For blaming [Or showing them the defect, or complaining of them, i.e. showing the weakness which through their corruption was in the covenant, and complaining of it] (them) [namely, the Israelites: or the same, namely, Covenant] he saith unto them, Behold the days come [namely, in the times of the Messiah] saith the Lord, and I will set up [Gr. Consummate. See the annotate. On ver. 10] a new covenant, [or Testament] over the house of Israel, and over the house of Judah: [hereby are also understood all the elect of the Gentiles, as may be seen every where in the Prophets, who should by faith be ingraffed into this Olive tree. See Romans 11:17, 25, 26. Galatians 4:26, etc]

9. Not according to the Covenant that I made with their Fathers [Namely, by Moses in the wilderness] in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt: for they abode not in that my Covenant, and I regarded them not, [or I esteemed them not: In the Prophet it is, should I have remained in marriage with them or as a Lord? Which hath one sense with these words but the apostle would retain the Greek translation because there was no difference in matter] saith the Lord.

10. For this is the covenant that I will make [that is fully reveal and spread abroad throughout the whole world for the promise of this covenant was not made by void of the law of Moses Gal.3.17 but was first fulfilled fully revealed and set up in its perfection by Christ] with the house of Israel after those days saith the Lord I will give my laws into their understanding [that is not only in tables of stones and rarchments see 2Cor.3.3 &c] and in their hearts I will inscribe them and I will be unto them for a God and they shall be to me for a people.

11. And they shall not teach everyone his neighbor [namely by words or by writings only as was done in the legal covenant and they shall be taught of God namely by his spirit as Christ speaketh John 6:45,65 who not withstanding preached the gospel unto them also with his own mouth and exhorted them unto the knowledge of God this therefore is not absolutely or altogether denied but by comparison with manner in the instruction of the old testament as such phrases divers time occur see examples therefore John 5verse 30 1Thessalonians 4.9] and everyone his brother saying know the Lord for they shall all know me [namely who shall have learned of God as Christ testifies in the place fore mentioned John 6:45 for that here is spoken only for the saving knowledge and of true faith appears from the following verse seeing sins are forgiven to no man in the new covenant by they by true faith Romans 3:30 some understand this of the state of the life to come where they shall be no more need of outward instruction when we shall see him face to face 1corinthians 13.12 1 John 3:2 but from the whole scope of the apostle appears that these promises concern all the elect believers of the new testament even in this life] from the little among them unto the great among them.

12. For I will be gracious to their iniquities and their sins and their transgressions I will in no wise remember anymore[namely to punish them therefore God in the new covenant retaineth no more punishment in when he hath once given sin as some urge although he yet sometimes out of fatherly love chastiseth his for their good see Hebrews 12:6,7]

13. When he saith [thus far the words of the prophets are rehearsed now the apostle speaketh again Gr in saying] a new covenant he hath made the first old [or caused to wax old that is declared to be old] now that which is made old and waxed old in nigh to vanishing [that is taking away so that it is removed and used no more.]