Christ, High Priest in the True Sanctuary, superseding the Levitical Priesthood—The
New renders Obsolete the Old Covenant. (75) Heb. 8: 6-9.
“But now hath He obtained a more excellent ministry.” “But now” signifying at this season. It points a contrast with Mosaic period, when their priests served “unto the example and shadow of heavenly things” v. 5. A close parallel is found in Rom. 3:21, “but now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested,” defined as “to declare at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” v. 26. The proper times and seasons toward His Church. “A more excellent ministry.” The priests of old had an excellent ministry, for it was by Divine appointment they served at the altar v. 5. So, Christ has “a more excellent ministry.” In v. 2 He is designated “a Minister of the sanctuary.” Christ service where he has been called is of a higher, more excellent order and nature than any which Aaron ever discharged. It is so, because it is the real and substantial one, it pertains to things in heaven and enduring, while theirs was restricted to the earthly tabernacle, and temporary. Christ is here said to have “obtained a ministry.” “He entered the whole office and work of His mediation as expressed in Heb. 1:4 as by “inheritance”: that is, by free grant and perpetual donation, made unto Him as the Son. First, the eternal purpose and counsel of God, decreeing Him thereunto 1Pet. 1:20, Rev. 13:8. Second, the actual call of God Heb. 5:4, 5, which carried with it His unction of the Spirit above measure Ps. 45:7, for the holy discharge of His whole office. Thus, Christ obtained this ministry not by any legal constitution, fleshly succession, or carnal ordination, as did the Levitical priests.” “But now hath He obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the Mediator of a better covenant.” In Heb. 7:20, 22 he had declared that the excellency of the covenant of which Christ has been made Surety and Mediator has a proportion with the pre-eminence of His priesthood above that of Aaron’s. The Surety of it had been made so by Divine oath, the covenant must be better than the old regime. Thus, the dignity of Christ’s priesthood is demonstrated by the excellency of the new covenant, and declaratively the new covenant sets forth the dignity of Christ’s priesthood. “He is the Mediator of a better covenant.” Christ is a sacerdotal Mediator 1Tim. 2:5, 6, “For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” The mediating Priest intervenes with sacrifice and intercession for the reconciling of God and sinner. Heb. 9:15; 12:24. But now, hath He obtained a more excellent ministry by how much also He is the Mediator of a better covenant.” He is not only Priest, but Mediator; Priest because He is Mediator. The “old covenant” was that peculiar order of things under which the Jewish people were placed in consequence of the transactions at Sinai. The “new” or “better covenant” is that order of things which has been introduced by Jesus Christ, namely, the Christian dispensation. Two things were required of Christ: first, that He should remove whatever kept the covenanters at a distance, taking away the cause of enmity between them. Second, that He should purchase and procure, in a way suited to the glory of God, the actual communication of all the good things prepared and proposed in this covenant unto those on whose behalf He acts as Surety. Finally, He who is this Mediator must be accepted, trusted, and rested in by both parties entering into covenant. On God’s part, He has openly declared that He is “well pleased” with Christ Matt. 3:17; on the part of His elect, they are made willing “in the day of His power” Ps. 110:3.” Pink A. W.
