HEBREWS 15


     We will begin this lesson in Hebrews 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;"
Hebrews 8:2 "A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle,
which the Lord pitched, and not man."

     As we said, in the last lesson, The Tabernacle in the wilderness
was a model of the one in heaven. The heavenly Tabernacle was not made
with human hands. Moses had been warned of God that every detail must
be exact as the one God had shown Moses. Our High Priest is Jesus
Christ, who carried His precious blood to the throne of God. We
mentioned that Jesus is seated at the right hand of God the Father,
because His work is done. His 6 hours on the cross, was His 6 days of
work, for all of mankind. He said It is finished, and went to heaven to
be with the Father. Jesus is our representative before the Father. He
is our Advocate, because He pleads our case. Revelation 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." This
statement, in Jesus' own words is in red in my Bible. By this, I know
this is Jesus speaking. We must not fear problems of this earth,
because we have a promise of a better life in heaven with Jesus.
II Corinthians 5:1 "For we know that if our earthly house of [this]
tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made
with hands, eternal in the heavens."

     Hebrews 8:3 "For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and
sacrifices: wherefore [it is] of necessity that this man have somewhat
also to offer."

     The duties of the high priest, as we have said before in these
lessons, is to be the link between God and man. He is to represent God
to the people, and to represent the people to God. The high priest was
the only one permitted to go into the most holy place. He carried blood
into the most holy place for the sins of the people and for himself.
God spoke to the heart of the high priest through the Urim and Thummin
worn over the heart of the high priest. The high priest was in
authority over the other priests. Besides being in charge of matters of
religious importance, he was also in charge, of civil matters, as well.
If we look at the high priest of these Israelites as a type of Christ,
we will be able to see many similarities. Our great High Priest [Jesus
Christ] represents us before the Father, He carried His own precious
blood to atone for our sin, to the Throne of God. God spoke to all
believers through His Son Jesus Christ. I could go on and on, but you
get the picture. Titus 2:14 "Who gave himself for us, that he might
redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people,
zealous of good works."

     Hebrews 8:4 "For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest,
seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:"

     Jesus would not have been a high priest under the law, here on
earth, because He was not of the Levitical tribe. Another good reason
that He would not have been a high priest here on the earth, is that
the high priest on earth is of the law, Jesus was not of the law, but
of
grace.

     Hebrews 8:5 "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."

     The entire Tabernacle was patterned after the real thing in
heaven. We see in the next verse that Moses truly was warned for it to
be exactly as God had shown Him. I believe this whole thing was so that
mankind could understand the heavenlies a little better. Almost every
thing in the tabernacle was symbolic of Jesus. Jesus is the Bread,
Jesus is the Light, Jesus is the Lamb Sacrifice. Here again we could go
on and on, but our point is made. This earthly high priest and the
earthly Tabernacle was to show us a little glimpse of heaven and how it
works. Exodus 26:30 "And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to
the fashion thereof which was shewed thee in the mount."

     Hebrews 8:6 "But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry,
by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was
established upon better promises."

     Jesus did not do away with the law; He fulfilled it. The law had
to be fulfilled before the more excellent ministry of grace could be in
effect. When Jesus said {It is finished}, it brought the end to the law
and ushered in grace. II Corinthians 3:6 "Who also hath made us able
ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit:
for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life."  II Corinthians
3:7 "But if the ministration of death, written [and] engraven in
stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not
stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance;
which [glory] was to be done away:" II Corinthians 3:8 "How shall not
the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?" II Corinthians 3:9
"For if the ministration of condemnation [be] glory, much more doth the
ministration of righteousness exceed in glory." II Corinthians 3:10
"For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by
reason of the glory that excelleth." II Corinthians 3:11 "For if that
which is done away [was] glorious, much more that which remaineth [is]
glorious." You see, the law condemned, but Jesus brought hope through
grace. Grace is so much better, you would not be able to find anyone
who would want to go back to the law. Mediator, in verse 6 above, means
a go between.

     Hebrews 8:7 "For if that first [covenant] had been faultless, then
should no place have been sought for the second."

     The fault was not actually in the law, but in man's ability to
keep the law. Galatians 3:21 "[Is] the law then against the promises of
God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have
given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law."  As I
said, it was just too much for man to keep. All have sinned and come
short of the glory of God. Praise God we are saved, not because we are
worthy, but because Jesus loves us and paid in full for our sin. Romans
3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" When we
accept Jesus as our Saviour and Lord, we do so by simple faith in Him.
This alone makes us righteous in the sight of God.

     This entire lesson is saying to us that our great High Priest
{Jesus Christ} has done all of the work for us. He has paid our debt to
the Father in full. He has washed us in His precious blood and made us
pure. He has become sin for us that we might become His righteousness.
He even fulfilled the law that we might be saved by the new covenant
God made with man, through His son.  Our Creator became our Saviour.








































                              Questions 15

1.  Where is our High Priest?
2.  Who pitched the true Tabernacle?
3.  What had God warned Moses of, in regard to the Temple?
4.  Why is Jesus seated at the right hand of the Father?
5.  Jesus is our representative before whom?
6.  Every high priest is ordained to do what 2 things?
7.  Who was the only one allowed to go into the most holy place in the
    Temple?
8.  Who did the high priest carry the blood into the most holy place
    for?
9.  Show some similarities between the earthly high priest and our
    great High Priest, Jesus Christ.
10. Give two reasons why Jesus was not high priest on earth?
11. What does the author think is the reason for building the
    Tabernacle in the wilderness?
12. Name a few things in the Temple that were symbolic of Jesus.
13. What is grace that Jesus brought to us called in Hebrews chapter 8
    verse 6?
14. In the same verse as above, what is Jesus called?
15. Did Jesus do away with the law? Explain.
16. When was the end of the reign of the law, and grace entered?
17. Finish this statement; The letter killeth, but the Spirit --------.
18. Why could the Israelites not look on the face of Moses?
19. 2 Corinthians chapter 3 verse 11 says what about law and grace?
20. Which would you rather live under, law or grace?
21. What really was the fault of the law?
22. We are saved, not because we are worthy, but why?
23. Who did all the work for us to be saved?
24. He became sin for us, that we might become ___ ______________.
25. Our Creator became our ________.