Hebrews

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Hebrews 8 – Skeptic's Annotated Bible answered

A response and reply to the notes on Hebrews 8 in the Skeptic's Annotated Bible (SAB).

King James Version

SAB comment

My comment

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.

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.

(8:6-7) "A better covenant"
Is the law of God perfect?

Yes, God's laws are perfect as this verse clearly says. But the author of the SAB compares two different things. The subject in this verse is not the law, but the covenant. The covenant is the channel through which God's law was made known. God's law and the covenant between God and Israel are two separate things. This can be clearly seen in verse 10 where the author says that God's law, the same law, this time will not be written on stone, but in the hearts of people.

7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.

8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:

9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

Misquote of Jer.31:32, which says: "Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD."

It appears the apostle Paul cites here the Septuagint, the Greek translation of Jer. 31:32. Because if we compare the equivalent verse (Jeremiah 38:32 in the LXX) where we read:

not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day when I took hold of their hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; for they abode not in my covenant, and I disregarded them, saith the Lord.

The sense is the same as the Hebrew of course. God made a covenant with Israel, but they did not abide in his covenant, therefore God made a new covenant.
Given the way people quoted in those days, it is not misquote at all.

10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.