Hebrews 8 brings us into a clearer understanding of Jesus as the high priest of a better covenant. The chapter urges us to recognize that the old ways, the former covenant given through Moses, were only a shadow of something far greater. Now, through Jesus, we have a new and better covenant—one that is not based on human weakness or continual sacrifices, but on God’s unshakable promises and Jesus' perfect priesthood.
The writer of Hebrews begins by reminding us that we have such a high priest who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens. This simple but powerful statement highlights the authority and completed work of Jesus. Unlike the priests of the old covenant who stood in the temple, continually offering sacrifices, Jesus is seated. His work is finished. He has done what no earthly priest could ever do—He has offered the ultimate sacrifice for sin and now sits in a position of power and intercession for us. This gives us a deep sense of security, knowing that the One who represents us before God is not a mere man with weaknesses, but the very Son of God, reigning in heaven.
Jesus' priesthood is different from the Levitical priests who served under the old covenant. Those priests served in an earthly sanctuary, a tabernacle that was built according to God's instructions to Moses. But even that sacred place was only a copy of the true tabernacle in heaven. The earthly temple was never meant to be permanent; it pointed forward to something greater. Now, Jesus serves in the true tabernacle, not one made by human hands, but the one that exists in heaven itself. This truth calls us to lift our eyes beyond earthly things and recognize that our faith is rooted in something far more lasting than any physical structure or human institution. Our hope is tied to the eternal, heavenly work of Christ, not the temporary rituals of men.
The chapter also explains why a new covenant was necessary. If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for another. But God, seeing that His people were unable to keep the old covenant, promised a new one—a covenant that would not be based on external laws but on an internal transformation of the heart. This is where we find one of the most beautiful promises in Scripture: "I will put my laws into their mind, and I will write them on their heart. I will be their God, and they will be my people."
This new covenant is deeply personal. It is not about following a set of rules written on stone, but about having God’s truth written within us. Instead of struggling to keep commandments through our own strength, we are given the Holy Spirit, who guides and empowers us to live in obedience. The promise that God will be our God and we will be His people is an assurance of an intimate relationship, one that is not based on rituals or sacrifices but on love and grace.
Under this new covenant, there is no longer a need for an intermediary to teach us about God because we all have access to Him directly. "They will not teach every man his fellow citizen, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all will know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them." This is an incredible promise. In the old system, people depended on priests and prophets to communicate God’s will, but now, through Jesus, we have direct access to God. Every one of us, regardless of status, background, or past failures, is invited to know God personally. This removes any barriers that might make us feel unworthy or distant from Him.
Perhaps one of the most comforting truths in this chapter is the promise that God will be merciful toward our unrighteousness and will remember our sins no more. This is the heart of the gospel—our sins are not just covered temporarily, as they were under the old system of sacrifices, but completely removed. We are not defined by our past mistakes, nor do we have to live under the weight of guilt and condemnation. The forgiveness we receive through Jesus is total and final, freeing us to live in the fullness of God’s grace.
Hebrews 8 concludes by saying that in declaring a new covenant, God has made the first one obsolete. What is old and aging is ready to vanish away. This is a reminder that we cannot cling to the past or try to hold on to systems that have been replaced by something better. The old way of relating to God—through laws, sacrifices, and human mediators—has been replaced by a direct, personal, and grace-filled relationship with Jesus. We are not called to mix the two or to hold on to outdated forms of religious effort. Instead, we are invited to step fully into the freedom and assurance of the new covenant.
As we reflect on Hebrews 8, we are challenged to consider where we place our confidence. Are we still trying to earn God’s favor through our own efforts, or do we trust fully in the completed work of Jesus? Do we recognize the privilege of direct access to God, or do we still live as if we need someone else to mediate for us? Are we allowing God’s laws to be written on our hearts, or are we simply following religious routines without real transformation?
This chapter reminds us that our faith is not about rituals or rules but about a living relationship with God. Jesus is our high priest, not in an earthly temple, but in the true heavenly sanctuary. His covenant is not about laws carved into stone, but about His truth being engraved in our hearts. He invites us to know Him, not through secondhand teaching, but personally, deeply, and fully. And best of all, He promises complete forgiveness, never again counting our sins against us.
Let us embrace this new covenant with confidence, knowing that we are fully loved, completely forgiven, and eternally secure in Christ. The old way is gone; a new and better way has come. Jesus has made the way for us, and now we are invited to walk in it with joy, faith, and the assurance that God is forever with us.