Hebrews 8:7-13

Hebrews 8:7-13

There are occasions in which we have known something but have not realized its full meaning, implications, and impact. Verses 8-12 in this chapter are a quote from Jeremiah 31 and were not unknown to the original readers of this letter. But this may have been the first time they began to realize the full impact of this Old Testament passage. Putting together the superiority of Christ over angels, Moses, and the Levitical priesthood may have dawned on them as never before. By God's design and plan, the covenant with Israel in the law had a termination date. The old system was weak; it was a flawed system. Not because there was anything wrong with God's plan, but because men failed to be able to keep their part of the covenant. Hardly had the dust settled in the giving of the Ten Commandments when they were already broken. It was possible for a man to be a part of the Covenant people, to keep the ceremonial law perfectly, and still not know God and to be a moral reprobate. Such a covenant could not do much, but it could do enough.

It was always God's intent to bring a new and superior covenant with men. In this new covenant, everyone participating would personally know God and would have the love of God in their own hearts and minds. It would be impossible to “teach one of God's people to know God” because knowing Him would be a prerequisite to being part of the covenant. In this new covenant, God's mercy would extend to all His people because all His people would know Him.

Verse 13 offers a prediction of the destruction of Jerusalem with the words “ready to disappear.” The temple in Jerusalem was the last holdout of the old covenant, and in 70 AD that last vestige of the old covenant was removed; it had served its purpose and prepared the people for the coming of the Messiah. The job was done, and the old system was removed.

“”Thank You, Lord, for Your provision of the new and better way. AMEN”