1 The main point of what we're saying is this: We have just such a high priest who is seated at the right hand of God, who sits in majesty on his throne in heaven. 2 He serves in the sanctuary, the true Tabernacle that was set up by the Lord and not by human beings. 3 Since it's the responsibility of every high priest to offer gifts and sacrifices, this high priest must also have something to offer. 4 Now if he was here on earth, he wouldn't be a priest at all, because there are already priests to present the offerings that the law requires. 5 The place they serve is a copy, a mere shadow of what is in heaven. That's what God told Moses when he was going to set up the Tabernacle: “Be careful to make everything according to the blueprint you were shown on the mountain.” 6 But Jesus has been given a far better ministry just as he is the one who mediates a far better agreed relationship between us and God, which is based on much better promises. 7 If that first agreement had been perfect, then a second wouldn't have been necessary. 8 Pointing out their failings, God told his people, “Pay attention, says the Lord, because the days are coming when I will make a new agreement with the people of Israel and Judah. 9 This will not be like the agreement I made with their forefathers when I led them by the hand out of the land of Egypt. For they didn't keep their part of the agreed relationship, so I gave up on them, says the Lord. 10 The relationship I promise to the house of Israel is this: After that time, says the Lord, I will place my laws inside them, and write them in their minds. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 11 No one will need to teach their neighbor, and no one will need to teach anyone in their family, telling them, ‘You ought to know the Lord.’ For everyone will know me, from the smallest to the greatest. 12 I will be merciful when they do wrong, and I will forget about their sins.” 13 By saying, “A new agreed relationship,” he makes the first agreement out-of-date. The one that's old and worn out has almost disappeared.
Hebrews 8 Free Bible Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Cross references (13)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 3:1; Revelation 3:21; Hebrews 12:2; Hebrews 7:26–28
- 2 Exodus 33:7; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Romans 15:8; Hebrews 9:23–24; Hebrews 10:21
- 3 Ephesians 5:2; Hebrews 5:1; Hebrews 9:14; Hebrews 10:9–12; Hebrews 7:27
- 4 Hebrews 7:11–15; Hebrews 5:1; Numbers 18:5; Numbers 17:12–13; 2 Chronicles 26:18–19
- 5 Exodus 25:40; Colossians 2:17; Hebrews 10:1; Exodus 26:30; Exodus 27:8
- 6 Hebrews 7:22; Galatians 3:16–21; Hebrews 12:24; Luke 22:20; 2 Peter 1:4
- 7 Hebrews 7:11; Galatians 3:21; Hebrews 7:18; Hebrews 8:6
- 8 Jeremiah 31:31–34; Hebrews 10:16–17; Hebrews 12:24; Jeremiah 32:40; Hebrews 9:15
- 9 Jeremiah 31:32; Galatians 4:24; Ezekiel 20:37–38; Mark 8:23; Job 8:20
- 10 Ezekiel 36:26–28; Jeremiah 31:33; 2 Corinthians 3:3; Ezekiel 11:19–20; Hebrews 10:16–17
- 11 Jeremiah 31:34; Isaiah 54:13; John 6:45; 1 John 2:27; Jeremiah 24:7
- 12 Isaiah 43:25; Hebrews 10:16–17; Romans 11:27; Micah 7:19; 1 John 1:7–9
- 13 2 Corinthians 5:17; Hebrews 7:18–19; Hebrews 7:11–12; Hebrews 9:15; Hebrews 9:9–10
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
Paul mixes the lowly things with the lofty, ever imitating his Master, so that the lowly become the path to the lofty, and through the former we are led to the latter, and when we are amid the great things we learn that these [lowly ones] were a condescension. This accordingly he does here also.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 14 (1889)
… of Israel: after those days, saith the Lord, I will give my laws in their mind, and will write them upon their hearts, and I will see to them; and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people;" --without doubt this is prophesied to the Jerusalem above, whose reward is God Himself, and …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
… thou mayest learn that this was far better, hear what He saith by the Prophet: "I will make a new covenant with you, putting my laws into their mind, and in their heart I will write them," and, "they shall be all taught of God." And Paul too, pointing out the same superiority, said, that they had received a law …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
… when Paul testified in the spirit concerning Christ "that he is at the right hand of God;" when the Father says, "Sit thou on my right hand;" when the Holy Spirit bears witness that he has sat down on "the right hand of the majesty" of God; we attempt to degrade him who shares the honour and the throne, from …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 8 (1895)
God indeed said to Moses, Look that thou make them after their pattern which was shewed thee in the mount.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 9 (1899)