Hebrews 8:1-6

Order of Service

• Scripture Reading — Hebrews 8:1-6
• Sermon
• Prayer of Closing

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Sermon Title: The Location and Power of Christ's Priestly Ministry

Scripture: Hebrews 8:1-6

I. Review: Christ's Qualifications as High Priest (Hebrews 4:14–10:21)

A. The first subsection (chs. 4–7) established Christ's qualifications as priest

1. His person as the eternal Son of God
2. His kinship with humanity — he became like us
3. His sympathy — tempted in every way, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15)
4. His appointment by God — "a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek" (Psalm 110:4)

B. Qualifications without service are meaningless — Christ does not waste his qualifications

II. The New Emphasis: Christ's Work as High Priest (chs. 8–10)

A. Chapter 8 marks a transition from Christ's qualifications to his priestly work B. His work has been introduced in earlier chapters and now unfolds fully

1. Hebrews 7:25 — he always lives to make intercession for those who draw near through him
2. Hebrews 4:14 — he has passed through the heavens as the better Joshua, leading his people to a better promised land
3. Hebrews 6:19-20 — he is the anchoring forerunner who goes behind the curtain
4. Hebrews 7:26 — he is exalted above the heavens

C. The location of Christ's priestly ministry establishes the sufficiency of his priestly work

III. The Main Point: We Have Such a High Priest (Hebrews 8:1)

A. "The point" — the most important thing the writer has been saying B. "We have such a high priest" — an exhortation not to take this possession for granted

1. All of Christ's qualifications and interceding work belong to the believer
2. This is a corporate possession — the church together has this high priest
3. Hebrews 3:13 — the church is called to exhort one another daily
4. Hebrews 10:24-25 — stir up one another to love and good works; do not neglect meeting together
5. Hebrews 12:1 — surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses; run with endurance

IV. The Location: Seated at the Right Hand of the Majesty in Heaven

A. There is no seat for the priest in the earthly tabernacle — the Aaronic priests' work was continual and never finished

1. Hebrews 5:1, 3 — earthly priests must offer sacrifices for their own sins and for the people
2. Hebrews 7:27 — unlike those priests, Christ offered himself once for all
3. Hebrews 10:12 — after one sacrifice for sins for all time, he sat down at the right hand of God

B. Christ's seat is a seat of intercession

1. Romans 8:34 — Christ, raised and at the right hand of God, is interceding for us
2. His once-for-all sacrifice is the perpetual basis of his intercession before the Father

C. Christ's seat is a throne — priestly work and kingship united

1. Melchizedek was a priest-king; Christ is the fulfillment as priest-king
2. Ephesians 1:19-21 — seated far above all rule, authority, power, and dominion in every age
3. The heavenly tabernacle and the throne room are one; the earthly tabernacle was only a copy and shadow (Hebrews 8:5)
4. Acts 2:29-36 — Peter's Pentecost sermon: the location of Christ at the right hand is evidence that he is the true prophet, priest, and king

V. What This Means for Believers

A. Consider the character of this priest-king — he died for us and ever lives to intercede for us; unlike Israel's often-unfaithful kings, this king is wholly good B. Consider the power and authority of Christ's seat

1. Matthew Henry: Christ exercises his authority for the glory of the Father, his own honor, and the happiness of all who belong to him
2. He is powerful enough to bring undeserving sinners to God
3. Ephesians 2 — believers are already raised up and seated with Christ in the heavenly places (already/not yet)
4. At Christ's return, believers will be brought fully and forever into the consummating enjoyment of God

C. The grounds of assurance: Christ is already seated on the throne, reigning over us, ruling for us, and interceding for us — consider what you have in your high priest