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Hebrews 8:1-5
Hebrews 8:1-5
8:1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such
an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in
the heavens; 2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle,
which the Lord pitched, and not man. 3 For every high priest is ordained to
offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have
somewhat also to offer. 4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a
priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:
5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was
admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith
he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the
mount.[ Top of Page ]
1. Maurice Bergeron
Now of the things which we have spoken [this is] the sum: (8:1a)Here is where these Hebrew Christians were expected to sit up and listen all the more intently since all that has been previously written is to be summed up in these life-changing truths. (Once again let me remind our readers that to the original audience of Hebrew Christians these truths were to bring to pass a radical realignment of their thinking in relation to their nation and culture and would deeply affect how they would live in the times to come.)
We have such an high priest, (8:1b)
Our Lord Jesus possesses all of the qualities and qualifications needed to help poor sheep and sinners in need. What son of Levi could touch the hearts and secure the help so sorely needed by God's people? Not one.
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Heb. 4:15)
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; (Heb. 7:25,26)
Who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; (8:1c)
This place of honor was given to God's faithful Son, King Jesus, since He had accomplished a perfect work through His single offering of Himself. I believe Paul, in Ephesians 1:17-23, has captured the essence of what the saints receive as a direct result of Christ's perfect cross work. Pray that we not take His accomplished work and the resulting honor and power lightly.
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Eph. 1:17-23)
A minister of the sanctuary, (8:2a)
Such a servant have the saints in our Father's obedient Son! Do your best to stay with this portion long enough to grasp what is revealed. Ask yourself the following questions:
1. Why should He still minister in the heavenly sanctuary?
2. How were the Hebrew Christians encouraged by such knowledge?
3. Should we be encouraged any less?
4. Have I consciously relied upon this knowledge of Christ's ministering
in the sanctuary on my behalf as I have lived out my Christian life?
...and of the true tabernacle, (8:2b)
The word "true" as used here speaks volumes. Our Lord is not involved as the minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle just to occupy time until all is accomplished; King Jesus is not idle. The Spirit of God would have the Hebrew Christians to know and appreciate that their Saviour and King is continually engaged in a work that will be to their benefit even while their world about them is given over to judgment. Where the shadows had come to ruin, the truth was now being elevated in their thoughts to carry them forth to another day.
For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: (8:3)
Such was the purpose of the Levitical priesthood and so it is with our King-Priest.
For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest. (8:4)
At the time of the writing of this letter to these brethren, it was still against the law of Moses for a non-Levite to serve as a priest in the earthly sanctuary and tabernacle; thus Jesus would be excluded from service, but our Christ was already at work ministering in the heavenly sanctuary and tabernacle as High Priest.
Who serve unto the example and shadow... (8:5a)
The writer once again hammers home the sad truth that the yet remaining priesthood, sanctuary, and tabernacle were but examples and shadows depicting that which our Lord had pitched in the heavenlies.
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:2)
...for see, saith he, [that] thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. (5:b)
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. (Rev. 21:3)
But what priest who has served the shadows could ever boast in the following results? Such is the fruit of the minister who now serves.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (Rev. 21:4)
Maurice Bergeron
ic@mdc.net[ Top of Page ]
2. Kevin Hartley
The logical transition of this text affords our author the opportunity to move forth to additional matters of concern. Having well exhausted the discourse on the High Priestly service of Christ, it is only fitting that the reader should find his mind racing to the issue of sacrifice. A simple question tugging upon the mind of any Jew would be, 'If He is a High Priest of a different order as you say, what then does He bring forward as a sacrifice for sins?' For the chief role and function of the High Priest of Israel was the word of mediation and intercession for sin, in the work of atonement.Oddly enough, this is one of the few occurrences in the book of Hebrews where our author provides a concise transition in topics addressed. Often his flow is so serene that the reader finds it difficult to identify when the author has moved on to a new topic. But here we have a clear break, and on this occasion he chooses to use the continuative coordinating conjunction to signal his break. It is time to fill the hands of the High Priest with a sacrifice. For just as the day of Aaron's installment into office, Christ stands in this polemic, yet empty-handed. We can hear all Israel, as Isaiah upon Moriah, declare, 'but where then is the lamb?' Here then comes forth, r;yE hw:hyŌ the Lord our provider.
Yet note how he tantalizes the reader's thought, how tediously he summarizes and tarries on the point of a needed sacrifice. We read, "For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer." Unto this point in the epistle the hope of the reader is continually troubled by the law of old. For while Christ has spoken a more sure word, while He has served faithfully the house, yea even more so than Moses, though He has given us a better day, and while He has served as High Priest from a better line, still, there is lacking in all of these comparisons the soul's recline. For our hope is not the highest when we think solely upon His glorious nature and supremacy, but our hope is strongest when we think upon His blood. With a chant, then, does the church of the Lamb, the Israel of God, begin to cry out, "where is the surer blood?"
Note the author's further use of intrigue in this matter, where he declares, "For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount." If the glories of Israel of old pale in comparison to the unspeakable glory of Christ, what then can be compared to the pure and spotless lamb of Aaron? What better blood can be found?
Cry out, reader, with unbearable anticipation, cry out, "Cut the covenant, slay the sacrifice, seal the people with better blood, O Lamb of God." Prepare yourself to consider the river of blood that shall flow from Immanuel's veins. Purer blood than eyes can behold; greater effectual blood (than the rivers of blood that flowed through the drains of Jerusalem) has flown and sealed us to our God. Ah this is a lasting covenant, cut and sealed upon better promises. For this Lamb was slain from before the foundations of the world; He has everlasting blood. So away with the flesh of silly animals, away with the stench of decaying flesh, bring forth the power of everlasting blood to seal a lasting covenant, blood-slain from the Son of God.
Stand back then, reader, with heightened anticipation for the text to follow. Stand as all Israel on the day when Moses and Aaron entered in behind the veil with new, stirred blood. Wait for it with great wonder, for when we see the blood, when we hear of the Lamb that has been slain, surely, as all Isra, we shall see a consuming fire fall upon that precious flesh, and we shall marvel as the wrath of God is propitiated on this Great High priest, the Lamb of God, and we shall with utter wonder give forth a shout and fall upon our faces. For it is for His people's sins that He has died.
Worship Him.
Sola Gratia,
Kevin Hartley
kevinhartley@erols.com[ Top of Page ]
3. Michael T. Cruz
Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; (6:1)One of the interesting habits of the writer of Hebrews is that he makes his points by repetition. We may have gotten the idea by now that Christ is our only high priest, but the author intends to make even the simple among us aware of Christ's pre-imminent position. In no uncertain terms, Christ is our high priest and His work is now complete, having been accepted by God the father, and He now sits with Him in glory. When Christ uttered the words, "It is finished!" this completed the acts of reconciliation, redemption, and propitiation on our behalf. Christ then returned to Heaven with a job well done. The majesty now enjoyed by Christ will someday be ours to share as we take off our sin-stained bodies and are clothed with garments built only for praise and worship of the one who delivered us from a certain death.
A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. (8:2)
The true sanctuary and tabernacle are in heaven (Psalms 11:4), " The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, ....." and the amazing thing is that we will be able to enter into this glorious place because of Christ's work on our behalf! Even the priests of the old covenant did not have unlimited entrance to the Holiest place, but we will enter into His rest on the day that we are raised. Hallelujah!
For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. (8:3)
Just when we think the author is being redundant with the first part of this verse, we see there is an important point made in the second part of the verse. We first see that it was the duty of every high priest to offer sacrifice and gifts. If we go to the Pentateuch, we will see guidelines are there set out for the offering of gifts and sacrifices by the priests. Now we see that a simple, logical conclusion can be drawn from this fact about the duty of a high priest. Since Christ had all of the qualities of a priest, He was then obliged to offer a gift as well. Now let us begin to look at the importance of the gift He offered.
For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: (8:4)
If Christ were still on earth, that is still in human form, then His priesthood would not be of any value. What we need is a high priest has broken the barrier between earth and heaven. We need one who has stepped away from the comfort and perfection of heaven to rescue sinful men by His offering. For we have had countless men who offered countless sacrifices by human standards, but here we read of one who has offered by heavenly standards. What a contrast to those who offer and minister merely by human standards.
Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. (8:5)
We see in this verse that the sanctuary in which mortal priests serve is only a replica of that which is of God. In heaven we have the real sanctuary of which the one on earth has testified. When Moses was on Mt. Sinai, he got a glimpse of God's Tabernacle, but what he built, with all of its gold and finery, was only a shadow of things to come in Christ. Those things in shadow only present a hint of their true nature, and the things of God that are built by man always fade, but those things made by God endure forever. We have in Christ the Glory of a sanctuary that will never fade and which is our true sanctuary. All those who enter into it, enter into his eternal rest.
Michael Cruz
a_la_cruz@technologist.com[ Top of Page ]
4. Donald Blind
The heavenly sanctuary is surely a topic that has been covered by Mary G. White. Those people of her understanding, literalize everything. If Moses were able to comprehend the truth, he would have envisioned the eternal Word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, God's habitation in the Spirit. We will look more into it when we visit chapter nine and verse twenty three. The inspiration of God is focused on the person of this same, true, high priest, Christ Jesus.Christ is the minister of the true tabernacle in the heavenlies. That statement should seal forever any resuscitation of anything that has to do with Moses and what man pitched. The Lord pitched the true, conducive to the Spirituals, for we have been translated and sit in the heavenlies with Him. That which Moses pitched gave us an understanding, as they were an example and shadow, into the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ. At the time of this writing, between the death, burial, and resurrection of the eternal high priest and the final destruction of everything that pertained to the old covenant, God allowed the old pattern to continue under the law, as a teaching motif.
Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself, not on earth, but in the heavenilies, to the Father.
Donald E. Blind
dblind@erols.com[ Top of Page ]
5. Kostas Sarantidis
There are no textual problems in this passage of Holy Scripture. There are only a couple of insignificant differences between the textus receptus and the critical text.
Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. (8:1,2)
The writer starts this section with a word, KEPHALAION, that occurs only here in the New Testament, at least with this meaning. (The word also occurs in Acts 22:28, but with the meaning, "sum of money.") The word means, "a summary, a brief statement of the main point of a preceding discourse." The writer is thus saying: "Here is the main point, or summary, of what I've been writing so far," and he goes on to give his summary statement. This reminds us that this is not an occasional letter, responding to some questions or controversies, and it is certainly not a quick, informal note. This is a logical, carefully written and constructed exposition. The writer has a purpose in composing this epistle, and his arguments and points build cumulatively. That is why he often repeats and re-formulates his key points. He wants no room left for doubt as to what the Holy Spirit is saying through his hand.
I'm going to assume that the summary statement is what we read in verses 1-2. As we read this summary statement and everything which has preceded in chapters 6-7 and everything which follows in chapters 8-10, we see why the writer wrote in 6:1, "let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity . . ." This "maturity" which our writer meant in 6:1 is not some gnostic or mystical "knowledge," but a fuller understanding of who Christ is, what He did, and, most importantly for the Hebrews' writer, what He does.
The summary statement in 8:1-2 constitutes nothing less than a death-bomb dropped in the middle of all religious systems, including the many "Christian" religious systems. This summary statement repeats and re-states the assertion made at the conclusion of chapter 7, that Christ's priesthood is an enduring one, indeed a permanent one, "because he always lives to intercede for them" (7:25).
In the preceding chapter, the comparison between Christ's priesthood and the Levitical priesthood was couched in terms of the Melchizedek typology, the oath of God concerning the priesthood of Christ, and the superiority of Christ's sacrifice. In chapter 9 the focus shifts to a comparison of altars. Thus chapter 8 is a transition in the unfolding of the writer's argument. The altar is the place where the priestly service is offered. The Levitical priests have an earthly altar and tabernacle. But Jesus has "sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven." There, he serves in a sanctuary not made by human hands, but set up by the Lord.
When did Jesus sit at the right hand of the Majesty - MEGALOSUNE? Hebrews 1:3 told us right at the outset: When he had made purification for sins. And having made purification, he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs (1:4). In what sense is Jesus superior to the angels? Is this some ontological comparison that the Hebrews writer is making? How can one who is "in the form of God" (Phil 2:6), who IS God (John 1:1), be compared to created beings like the angels?
I believe that the Hebrews' writer has the service of Christ in mind right at the outset of his letter when he makes the long comparison of Christ to angels in chapter 1. According to 1:7, angels are LEITOURGOI, and in 1:14 they are LEITOURGIKA PNEUMATA. Now in 8:2 Jesus Christ is LEITOURGOS. His service is beyond any offered by human priests or by angelic ministers. In 1:14 angels minister to those who will inherit salvation. How is that salvation inherited? By the purification of sins effected by Christ. And who now ministers to those who have inherited salvation? Jesus Christ again, our high priest and LEITOURGOS in the heavenly sanctuary. Do you see what this does? It eliminates human priests and it even eliminates the service of angels! (Tell that to producers of TV shows and the purveyors of angel stuff in "Christian" bookstores.)
The key here is that "he serves" - he is LEITOURGOS of the Holy Place set up by God. He is LEITOURGOS - he is presently serving. His service was not limited to the time of his sacrifice; he continues now to serve in the tabernacle set up by God. This is an extremely important statement. Jesus did not offer himself as our high priest at Calvary and then turn us over to "priests" - either of the old covenant or of the church's invention. No, the Savior saves "completely" (7:25) - to the uttermost and to the end! From beginning to end he alone is our great high priest. He alone serves in the true tabernacle. He alone saves completely. Salvation is of the Lord from beginning to end. The consequences of salvation in the life of a believer is the work of Christ himself, our LEITOURGOS. Jesus himself sanctifies us, by the offering of his body (10:10) and by this same one offering we are perfected for all time (10:14)! How and why? Because he is LEITOURGOS right now in the heavenly sanctuary. What remains for earthly priests to do? Nothing. They're out of a job!
The amazing thing is that the church historically has used the word LEITOURGIA to denote a sacred service - the Mass in Rome, the Liturgy in the Eastern Church and some liturgical Protestant churches. How presumptuous. Here we have a LEITOURGOS in heaven, and we're performing LITURGIES on earth! In some Orthodox circles, the Liturgy (LEITOURGIA) is given a fanciful etymological interpretation to denote the "work (ERGON) of the people (LAOS)". This interpretation of the word has been promoted as a bit of an antidote to the clericalism that is so rampant in the Orthodox Church, but it fails to touch base with the Word of God. It doesn't matter whether a Liturgy (LEITOURGIA) is the work of a priest standing in front of a humanly-constructed altar or the work of the "people" (whoever they are, since the Catholic and Orthodox churches don't have a firm conception of what constitutes the people of God outside of family and cultural affiliations). As I said, it doesn't matter whose "work" a Liturgy is conceived to be. There is no LEITOURGIA that needs to be offered on earth since there is one LEITOURGOS in heaven!
That's the capital point (capital derives from kephalaion), our writer says: We do have such a high priest, we do have such a LEITOURGOS. Case closed.
For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. (8:3)
Since every priest must make offerings (that's the definition of a priest), so also this priest, our high priest, must have something to offer. That something is, of course, what has been identified so often in this letter, namely his own body. That is the sacrifice and offering of our great high priest.
For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: (8:4)
This can appear to be a difficult verse, but I can make only one sense of it: Because Jesus' priesthood is so totally superior (see verse 6) and so different (being in the order of Melchizedek) from the earthly priesthood, there is no place for his priesthood in an earthly tabernacle or altar. There are priests already serving at that earthly sanctuary and who offer the gifts ordained by the Law. Jesus has no place among such priests, as they go on offering their sacrifices which perfect and save no one. His priesthood is exclusively a heavenly one, in a heavenly sanctuary made by God, not by human hands. He has no connection with earthly priests. Earthly priests do not imitate his service, and He has no connection with what they do. There is a new covenant, a new priesthood. The priesthood of Jesus, if it can be likened to anything, has been likened to the priesthood of Melchizedek, but even that typology is now set aside and the writer will no longer make use of it.
Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. (8:5)
Our great high priest cannot serve as a priest on earth because the earthly priesthood in Jerusalem served in a sanctuary "that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven." Jesus serves in the true sanctuary; what business would he have to serve in a copy or a shadow? With Christ the time of shadows is over (Colossians 2:17)!
An interesting question arises. By quoting Exodus 25:40, does the Hebrews' writer really believe the heavenly sanctuary is like the pattern shown to Moses? I highly doubt it. First of all, the Exodus text simply refers to a pattern shown to Moses - no implication that this pattern derives from something in heaven. In his own text, the Hebrews' writer speaks of the earthly sanctuary as being an imitation and a shadow of the heavenly. That does not mean a physical resemblance or anything of the sort. There is an other word which the writer had at his disposal if he wanted to draw a relationship of resemblance, and that word is eikon, "image." Note in 10:1 he writes, "For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image (EIKON) of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect" (NKJ).
The earthly sanctuary is merely a shadow, not an image, of the heavenly sanctuary in terms of its arrangement and in terms of what is done in it. The writer will expand on that theme in chapters 9-10.
Kostas Sarantidis
ksarant1@maine.rr.com[ Top of Page ]
6. Tim Clifton
Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; (8:1)"this is the sum" Perhaps Hebrews could be summarized as follows: We have a better priest, who mediates a better covenant, which is wrought by faith, and we should be thus compelled to live righteously. In any event, verse 8:1 concludes where Hebrews 1:3 began, i.e., "Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;" Everything in-between has basically been showing the superiority of Jesus Christ, especially in relation to the Levitical priesthood and the law that was under it. Summary: we have a better priest! This established, we may move on to the better covenant, for that day has truly arrived in which God has written His laws in our hearts. Then we tie them together with faith, and we end up with the gospel of Jesus Christ, laid out in terms the Hebrew Christian audience can well understand. It would sound something like 1:3 or perhaps 12:2, "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
"set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens"
The Promise: Psalm 110:1, "The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool."
The Reference: Luke 20:42, "And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, 'The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,'"
The Fulfillment: Mark 16:19, "So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God."
The Confirmations by Two or Three Witnesses:
Act 2:33, "Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear."
Act 7:56, "And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God."
Rom 8:34, "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. "
The Relevance to Us: Rev 3:21, "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne."
Who can deny that Christ, sitting down in the place of utmost honor in heaven, is not of great significance, both in the book of Hebrews, and in the whole Bible. Earthly priests couldn't sit; they had work to do. Christ said, 'It is Finished!" He offered His perfect sacrifice once and that was enough. Perfection has no understudy, and heaven has no earthly rival. The key thought here is "forever," as the author will press again when he says in 10:12, "But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God."
A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. (8:2)
May I add one thought to this commentary series here? The true tabernacle is not, nor cannot be, influenced by human hands. It is of God--from beginning to end! It is thus the only place where the New Covenant could be enacted because this covenant is a satisfaction of the Father by the Son, and man is only a beneficiary of the transaction. We may truly rejoice in this and echo the prophet who proclaimed, " … The LORD hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it" (Isa 14:32).
For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. (8:3,4,5)
At one point in my life, I was not quite qualified to stay in Alaska and work on muskrat biology, so I had to come to Pennsylvania and teach biology to kids, instead. I'm so glad I wasn't qualified in hindsight. I ended up meeting Christ, and through many trials, getting the most beautiful family on this planet (my opinion of course). I believe these three verses are saying something similar: Christ just was not qualified--according to the Levitical priesthood, but this points to a far, far better conclusion to the matter! And we see that the earthly sacrifices were only shadows anyway--far better, indeed, to have the substance. Jesus is my bread and my running water. He is my portion; He is the pattern on the mount, and the shadow just cannot compare. But who is worthy of this living bread? I am truly thankful that "He giveth more grace!"
In Christ,
Tim Clifton
tclifton@hotmail.com[ Top of Page ]
Go to Chapter Eight Verses 6 through 13
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