The Book of HebrewsSýnishorn

The Newness of the New Covenant: Hebrews 8:1-13

In Hebrews 8:1-11:40, focuses on the new covenant. Here, the author of Hebrews further explained the supremacy of Christ as God’s ordained royal high priest by discussing how the new covenant is superior to the old.

The terminology “new covenant” derives from Jeremiah 31:31. In this verse, the prophet predicted that God would grant a covenant of final renewal to Israel and Judah after Israel’s exile in the last days. This same eschatological covenant was called a “covenant of peace” in Isaiah 54:10 and Ezekiel chapters 34 and 37. So, at this point, the author of Hebrews transitioned from his discussion of Melchizedek in the last days to a discussion of the new covenant. 

This division of Hebrews consists of eight main sections. First, Hebrews 8:1-13 introduces the idea that Jesus mediates the new covenant as the royal high priest in heaven. 

In verses 1 and 2, the author stated explicitly what he called “the point of what [he was] saying.” He explained that Christ, the royal high priest, is in heaven serving in “the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man.” 

In other words, the Levitical priesthood fulfilled that role on earth. But their priesthood was based in the law. In the Old Testament, the covenant with Moses established the earthly Levitical priesthood, but it failed because of Israel’s sins. 

By contrast, the new covenant of Jeremiah 31 cannot fail because, as Hebrews 8:6 tells us: 

It is founded on better promises.

These “better promises” offer the complete transformation of God’s people and the final eternal forgiveness of their sins.