JESUS IS AUTHOR OF
A BETTER COVENANT

The letter to the Hebrew Christians was written to prove that the new covenant under Jesus is better than the old covenant under Moses. The author of Hebrews argues that Jesus is greater and the covenant through Him is better because of:

A BETTER REVELATION:
In the past God spoke through the prophets but now speaks to us through His Son, Jesus. Jesus is greater because He:
        Was appointed heir of all things,
        Created the world,
        Reflects the glory of God,
        Bears the very stamp of God’s nature,
        Upholds the universe by His word of power,
        Purged our sins,
        Sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
        Has a more excellent name than the angels. (See Hebrews 1:1-4)

Jesus is called the “Word of God.” He brought God’s message of a new and better hope. The message of the old covenant was how to identify sin. The new covenant was how to find a solution for sin, which solution is in the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins.

A BETTER HOPE:
The old covenant was set aside because of its weakness and uselessness for it did not make anyone perfect. Therefore, a better hope was introduced through which hope we draw near to God. (See Hebrews 7:18,19)

A BETTER PRIESTHOOD:
Under the old covenant there were many priests because they died and had to be replaced. Because Jesus lives for ever He holds His priesthood permanently and so is able for all time to save those who draw hear to God through Him. He is always there to make intercession for us.

God appointed His Son, who has been made perfect for ever, as our highpriest. Because He is holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens, He does not need to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people. He did this once for all when he offered up Himself. Jesus died once for the sins of the world and it is a great wrong to put Him to death again and again.

A BETTER COVENANT ESTABLISHED ON BETTER PROMISES:
“But now he has obtained a more excellent ministry, by so much as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. For finding fault with them, he said, "Behold, the days come," says the Lord, "That I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers, in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; for they didn't continue in my covenant, and I disregarded them," says the Lord. "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel. After those days, says the Lord; "I will put my laws into their mind, I will also write them on their heart. I will be to them a God, and they will be to me a people. They will not teach every man his fellow citizen, Every man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' For all will know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness. I will remember their sins and lawless deeds no more." In that he says, "A new covenant," he has made the first old. But that which is becoming old and grows aged is near to vanishing away.” (Hebrews 8:6-13 WEB)

A BETTER SACRIFICE:
“It was necessary therefore that the copies of the things in the heavens should be cleansed with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ hasn't entered into holy places made with hands, which are representations of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest enters into the holy place year by year with blood not his own, or else he must have suffered often since the foundation of the world. But now once at the end of the ages, he has been revealed to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. Inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this, judgment, so Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, without sin, to those who are eagerly waiting for him for salvation.” (Hebrews 9:23-28 WEB)

BETTER POSSESSIONS:
The Christians this letter was written to had been persecuted and the author encourages them to remember they have a better place in heaven.

“But remember the former days, in which, after you were enlightened, you endured a great struggle with sufferings; partly, being exposed to both reproaches and oppressions; and partly, becoming partakers with those who were treated so. For you both had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and an enduring one in the heavens. Therefore don't throw away your boldness, which has a great reward. For you need endurance so that, having done the will of God, you may receive the promise. "In a very little while, he who comes will come, and will not wait. but the righteous will live by faith. If he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him."” (Hebrews 10:32-39 WEB)

A BETTER COUNTRY:
The saints under the old covenant looked for the redeemer but they were told He would come later. We have the privilege of knowing Jesus as our redeemer, but like the saints of old we must also look for a better country.

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking after a country of their own. If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return. But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” (Hebrews 11:13-16 WEB)
Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. (Hebrews 11:35 WEB)

A BETTER RESURRECTION:
We also must have faith to know that regardless of the suffering we go through here on earth we look for a resurrection to eternal life with Jesus. This is the hope we have as believers in Jesus the Son of God who died that we might have eternal life. (Hebrews 11:35)

CONCLUSION:
“But now he has obtained a more excellent ministry, by so much as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. For finding fault with them, he said,

"Behold, the days come," says the Lord,
"That I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah;
Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers,
In the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt;
For they didn't continue in my covenant,
And I disregarded them," says the Lord.
"For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel.
After those days," says the Lord;
"I will put my laws into their mind,
I will also write them on their heart.
I will be to them a God,
And they will be to me a people.
They will not teach every man his fellow citizen,
Every man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,'
For all will know me,
From the least of them to the greatest of them.
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness.
I will remember their sins and lawless deeds no more."

In that he says, "A new covenant," he has made the first old. But that which is becoming old and grows aged is near to vanishing away.” (Hebrews 8:6-13 WEB)

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Revised June 2000. Scriptures changed to The World English Bible.
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