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The
Hebrew expression “heavens” envisioned three heavens: our
atmosphere, outer space, and then heaven itself. That is where Jesus
serves as our high priest. He is also a minister! He ministers in
a heavenly sanctuary - the true tabernacle, not an earthly one like
the ones made with human hands, but one made without hands by God.
Jesus
is a minister. The ministers in Israel were priests. They offered
sacrifices for sin and thanksgivings. What is Jesus’ ministry?
The Holy Spirit told us in Heb. 7:27 that he offered Himself as a
sacrifice for sins.
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. . . who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer
up sacrifices, first for His own sins, and then for the sins
of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered
up Himself. (NASB) Heb. 7:27 |
The
Shadow.
But if Jesus had still been on earth He would not have been a minister
or a high priest, since the old Mosaic Law - the Old Covenant - was
still in place. The old Law, even though it is only a copy, even though
it is only a shadow, was still in force. But not for long. History
tells us that the Mosaic law along with the sacrifices and temple
worship, disappeared with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.
God ended it using His tool - the army of the Roman Empire! The Mosaic
law was only a shadow of the real thing.
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Now
if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since
there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law; who
serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses
was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle;
for, “SEE,” He says, “THAT YOU MAKE all things
ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN WHICH WAS SHOWN YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN.”
(NASB) Heb. 8:4-5 |
The last portion of this passage is amazing. It tells us that there
is a tabernacle in heaven. The Holy Spirit proved this by quoting
Exodus 25:40. The literal Hebrew of the passage says, that “which
you are caused to see.” Moses was shown a copy on Mt. Sinai and
was instructed to make a tabernacle similar to it.
He
Is Better.
So Jesus is a better minister, who offered a better sacrifice, and
has a better ministry in a better place.
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But
now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as
He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been
enacted on better promises. (NASB) Heb. 8:6 |
Wow, Hebrews is full of many “betters.” This is the reason
these first seven-plus chapters of Hebrews were written! In the first
chapter of Hebrews, the Holy Spirit warned us to listen to Jesus.
The angels had helped give the law. But Jesus is better than those
who gave the law - the angels. Jesus is better than faithful Moses,
who was the mediator of the Law. Jesus is better than any earthly
high priest of the Mosaic Law. Jesus is a better minister of a better
covenant with a better promise in a better tabernacle. Jesus is better
and better and better! And the Mosaic Law - the old covenant - cannot
match Him!
Old
Covenant.
The old covenant was faulty - it was imperfect. The Jews believed
that it was perfect and that it would never go away. No wonder the
readers of Hebrews thought they were wearing “invisible clothes.”
There was no ridicule in Judaism like that received when they came
to Jesus. They must have thought “Who needs this?” But they
had sinful priests, who offered inferior sacrifices, who served a
shadow - not the real thing - and had to endlessly offer sacrifices.
The old covenant was faulty.
The
Mosaic Law is called the first covenant, or old covenant. It was established
in Exodus 19:5-6 when God said,
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Now
then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant,
then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for
all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests
and a holy nation.’ (NASB) Ex. 19:5-6 |
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