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Hebrews 8 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
Hebrews 8 is an important chapter because it proves Jesus was the Messiah and His covenant was both needed and expected. The Jews reject Jesus as their Messiah primarily on the grounds that His new covenant was not sufficient based on their understanding of God’s relationship to Israel.
Moses’ Eternal Covenant
Since the original covenant made with Moses was eternal, the Jews believe there is no need for a new one. It is true that God’s covenant with Moses is eternal, just like it was eternal with Abraham as well. The author of Hebrews debunks this theory by quoting the writings of Jeremiah.
But finding fault with His people, He says: Look, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— 9 not like the covenant that I made with their ancestors on the day I took them by their hands to lead them out of the land of Egypt. I disregarded them, says the Lord, because they did not continue in My covenant.
Hebrews 8:8-9 HCSB
New Covenant of Israel and Judah
After reading the text from Jeremiah 31, one may be tempted to think, “Why are the Gentiles included in the new covenant?” Jeremiah says that the new covenant will be over the house of Israel and the house of Judah. This is another misconception. Jesus brought the truth of the new covenant directly to His people. In Luke 22, with His Jewish disciples, Jesus takes the bread and wine and pulls the curtain back to reveal the new covenant. His words are direct.
In the same way He also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant established by My blood; it is shed for you.
Luke 22:20 HCSB
Just several verses later, Jesus makes an astounding statement to His disciples that connects them to the house of Israel and the house of Judah and provides an explanation for Jeremiah’s prophecy. The 12 disciples are given a special standing as representatives over the 12 tribes of Israel.
I bestow on you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one on Me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom. And you will sit on thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel.
Luke 22:29-30 HCSB
The Jewish New Testament Commentary provides a helpful summary of this chapter.
“What is actually on the verge of vanishing is the old priesthood, not the old covenant-or, perhaps we may say, not God’s unchangeable nature which stands behind the old covenant. The priesthood is the subject of the whole section (indeed, the sacrificial system is the subject of the whole letter), and it is this which is about to disappear or, at the very least, take on a very much transformed role (see Heb 7:12).”
Jewish New Testament Commentary