Hebrews 8
A New Way of Relating to God: Reflecting on Hebrews 8
Remembering Where We've Been
Before we dive into the richness of Hebrews 8, let’s remind ourselves of the journey that’s brought us here. In the first seven chapters of Hebrews, we've been learning that Jesus is greater—greater than angels, greater than Moses, and greater than the high priests of old. Now in chapter 8, the author doesn’t leave us wondering what it’s all about. He comes right out and says it: “The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest...” (Hebrews 8:1).
This chapter serves as a major turning point. All the comparisons and theological groundwork lead us to this truth: Jesus is the perfect High Priest who mediates a new covenant, a new way for us to relate to God—not through ritual or hierarchy, but through an intimate, heart-level relationship.
Understanding the Old to Embrace the New
Hebrews 8 uses deeply religious terms like "tabernacle," "covenant," and "high priest," which carried immense meaning for the original audience. For us, understanding these terms helps unlock the power of what Jesus has done.
The Tabernacle was essentially a massive tent that housed God’s presence among His people during their wilderness journey. It was mobile, sacred, and had layers of access—culminating in the Holy of Holies, where only the high priest could enter.
The High Priest was the one person allowed into that sacred space to offer sacrifices for the people's sins. He represented the people before God.
The Covenant was a legal agreement—like the one given to Moses on Mount Sinai. It outlined how the people should live and relate to God, often through external behavior and adherence to laws written on stone.
And that’s the crux of the issue. The old covenant focused on behavior—on external rules. But hearts remained unchanged. Even with laws, people continued to stray. That’s why the new covenant is such good news.
A Heart Transformed: The Power of the New Covenant
Quoting the prophet Jeremiah, Hebrews 8 tells us that God is no longer satisfied with rules written on stone tablets. Now, He writes His law on our hearts and in our minds. This is deeply personal and radically transforming.
"I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people." (Hebrews 8:10)
This new covenant means:
We have inner transformation. God’s truth isn't something we carry externally—it's alive in us. Like a parent who wants more than just obedience from their children, God wants a relationship with us. Not robotic compliance, but meaningful connection.
We have direct access to God. We don’t need a high priest or mediator—Jesus has already fulfilled that role once and for all. We can approach God at any moment, with confidence and honesty.
We are fully forgiven. Verse 12 says, "I will forgive their wickedness and remember their sins no more." Under the old covenant, sacrifices had to be repeated endlessly. Now, Jesus' sacrifice is final and complete.
From Compliance to Connection
One of the most beautiful illustrations of this chapter came through a parenting moment. We want our children to be good listeners, not just to follow rules, but to understand why those rules matter. We want a relationship that lasts into their adulthood—not based on bribes or threats, but on love and trust.
That’s what God wants with us. In the old covenant, behavior was the focus. In the new covenant, it’s about the heart. Jesus changed everything. He gave us access to God through the Spirit. Now, we live empowered—not to earn love or acceptance, but because we already have it.
The Invitation: Live in the New
Hebrews 8 invites us into something better, something deeper. Jesus, our great High Priest, has made a way for us to walk daily in intimate relationship with God. No more pretending. No more earning. Just honest, heart-level connection.
Let’s reflect on that. Let’s live into that. This week, may we not just go through religious motions. Let’s embrace the relationship Jesus died to give us.
