Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Hebrews 8

Heb 8:2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

sanctuary

Or, holy things.

the true tabernacle

Heb 10:21; 1Ti 3:15.

Heb 8:5 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.

serve unto the example and

serve the representation and.

admonished

oracularly told.

make all things according to the pattern

Exo 25:40.

Heb 8:6 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.

covenant

Or, testament.

Heb 8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.

if that first covenant had been faultless

Exo 3:8; 19:5.

Heb 8:8 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:

Lord

Jehovah. Heb 8:8-12; Jer 31:31-34.

make

consummate, or, perfect.

new

The New Covenant, Summary:

1. "Better" than the Mosaic covenant not morally, but efficaciously (Heb 7:19; Rom 8:3-4).
2. Established on "better" (i.e. unconditional) promises. In the Mosaic Covenant God said, "If ye will" (Exo 19:5); in the New Covenant He says, "I will" (Heb 8:10, 12).
3. Under the Mosaic Covenant obedience sprang from fear (Heb 2:2; 12:25-27); under the New from a willing heart and mind (Heb 8:10).
4. The New Covenant secures the personal revelation of the Lord to every believer (Heb 8:11);
5. the complete oblivion of sins (Heb 8:12; 10:17; cf. Heb 10:3);
6. rests upon an accomplished redemption (Mat 26:27-28; 1Co 11:25; Heb 9:11-12, 18-23);
7. and secures the perpetuity, future conversion, and blessing of Israel (Jer 31:31-40; see also "Kingdom (O.T.)," and 2Sa 7:8-17).

The New Covenant is the eighth, thus speaking of resurrection and of eternal completeness.

covenant

I. The Eight Covenants, Summary:

1. Edenic Covenant (Scofield Genesis 1:26-28, note) conditioned the life of man in innocency.
2. Adamic Covenant (Scofield Genesis 3:14-19, note) conditions the life of fallen man and gives promise of a Redeemer.
3. Noahic Covenant (Scofield Genesis 9:1, note) establishes the principle of human government.
4. Abrahamic Covenant (Scofield Genesis 15:18, note) founds the nation of Israel, and confirms, with specific additions, the Adamic promise of redemption.
5. Mosaic Covenant (Scofield Exodus 19:25, note) condemns all men, "for that all have sinned."
6. Palestinian Covenant (Scofield Deuteronomy 30:3, note) secures the final restoration and conversion of Israel.
7. Davidic Covenant (Scofield 2 Samuel 7:8-17, note) establishes the perpetuity of the Davidic family (fulfilled in Christ, Mat 1:1; Luk 1:31-33; Rom 1:3), and of the Davidic kingdom, over Israel and over the whole earth; to be fulfilled in and by Christ (2Sa 7:8-17; Zec 12:8; Luk 1:31-33; Act 15:14-17; 1Co 15:24).
8. New Covenant rests upon the sacrifice of Christ, and secures the eternal blessedness, under the Abrahamic Covenant (Gal 3:13-29), of all who believe. It is absolutely unconditional, and, since no responsibility is by it committed to man, it is final and irreversible.

II. The relation of Christ to the eight covenants is as follows:

1. To the Edenic Covenant, Christ, as the "second Man," the "last Adam" (1Co 15:45-47), takes the place over all things which the first Adam lost (Col 2:10; Heb 2:7-8).
2. He is the "Seed of the woman" of the Adamic Covenant (Gen 3:15; Jhn 12:31; 1Jo 3:8; Gal 4:4; Rev 20:10), and fulfilled its conditions of toil (Mar 6:3) and obedience.
3. As the greatest son of Shem, in Him was fulfilled supremely the promise to Shem in the Noahic Covenant. (Scofield Genesis 9:1, note; Col 2:9).
4. He is the "Seed to whom the promises were made" in the Abrahamic Covenant; the son of Abraham obedient unto death (Gen 22:18; Gal 3:16; Phl 2:8).
5. He lived sinlessly under the Mosaic covenant and bore for us its curse (Gal 3:10-13).
6. He lived obediently as a Jew in the land under the Palestinian Covenant, and will yet perform it gracious promises (Deu 28 - 30:9.
7. He is the "Seed," "Heir," and "King" under the Davidic Covenant (Mat 1:1; Luk 1:31-33).
8. His sacrifice is the foundation of the New Covenant (Mat 26:28; 1Co 11:25).

The Eight Covenants. (Gen 1:28).

Heb 8:10 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:

Lord

Jehovah. Jeremiah 31:33.

laws

Law (of Moses). Heb 10:28. (Exo 19:1; Gal 3:1-29).

I will be to them a God

Assurance. Heb 8:10-13; 9:26. (Isa 32:17; Jde 1:1.)

they shall be to me a people

Jer 31:33.

Heb 8:11 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.

Lord

Jehovah. Jeremiah 31:34.

Heb 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

merciful

Greek hileous. propitious. See Scofield 1 John 2:2; Romans 3:25, note.

unrighteousness…sins

Sin. Scofield Romans 3:23, note.

iniquities

lawlessnesses.

Heb 8:13 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.

decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away

grows old and aged is near to disappearing.