Letter to the Hebrews Volume 72

 Jesus Christ is now Seated @ the Right Hand of Majesty Part 2

Hebrews 8:2-3 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this Man have somewhat also to offer.  KJV Note: CEV=Contemporary English Version

During the days of the Hebrew people wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, Moses was given by God the Father a pattern to build a Tabernacle, that is, the place of worship for the Hebrew people where they would meet with God. Then they were required by God to offer up sacrificed animals to cover their sin before God the Father in that Tabernacle or place of worship, just as God the Father had shown must be done in the very beginning when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, as it is written here, "Then the LORD God made clothes out of animal skins for the man and his wife. The LORD said, 'These people now know the difference between right and wrong, just as we do. But they must not be allowed to eat fruit from the tree that lets them live forever.' So the LORD God sent them out of the Garden of Eden, where they would have to work the ground from which the man had been made. Then God put winged creatures at the entrance to the garden and a flaming, flashing sword to guard the way to the life-giving tree." (Genesis 3:21-24) (CEV). The clothes of animal skinned used to cover Adam and Eve from the shame of their nakedness before one another was the result of the Lord God slaying and shedding the blood of animals to cover their sin against Him. The writer of Hebrews now details to us that our High Priest Jesus Christ that has gone into heaven (as Man) is there ministering on our behalf in the true Tabernacle which is heaven, as it is written here, "A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man." (Hebrews 8:2) (KJV). The little English phrase 'a minister' at the very beginning of this verse is translated by the Greek word leitourgos which implies priestly ministry in the temple. The English word 'sanctuary' is translated by the Greek word hagion which means 'the holy places'; the Holy of Holies. Here the heavenly sanctuary is meant. When the writer of Hebrews declares these words in the last part of this verse, 'and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man', he means the new glorified body of our Lord, Master, and Savior in heaven right now is the true Tabernacle that is now in heaven. Here is what JFB Commentary had to say of the true Tabernacle, "Through His glorified body as the tabernacle, Christ passes into the heavenly 'Holy of Holies,' the immediate immaterial presence of God, where He intercedes for us. This tabernacle in which God dwells, is where God in Christ meets us who are 'members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.' This tabernacle answers to the heavenly Jerusalem, where God's visible presence is to be manifested to His perfected saints and angels, who are united in Christ the Head; in contradistinction to His personal invisible presence in the Holy of Holies unapproachable save to Christ."

Next the writer of Hebrews makes the analysis between the earthly Levitical high priest of the Hebrew people who were required by God the Father to offer gifts and sacrifices and that this requirement also pertains to Christ Jesus our Lord as well, as it is written here with these words, "For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this Man have somewhat also to offer." (Hebrews 8:3) (KJV). This is what makes our Lord Jesus Christ a minister of the heavenly Sanctuary because the gift that He has offered up to God the Father in the holy of holies in heaven is His Blood that He shed for the sins of we His elect saints and for the whole world on the Cross at Calvary. Christ gift is His Blood and His sacrifice was Himself for sin, as it is written here by the Apostle John, "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John 1:7) (KJV) and also these words from the same Apostle, "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own Blood;" (Revelation 1:5) (KJV). Here is what JFB Commentary had to say of Christ offerings of gifts and sacrifices, "He does not offer again His once for all completed sacrifice. But as the high priest did not enter the Holy Place without blood, so Christ has entered the heavenly Holy Place with His own blood. That 'blood of sprinkling' is in heaven. And is thence made effectual to sprinkle believers as the end of their election (1 Peter 1:2). The term 'consecrate' as a priest, is literally, to fill the hand, implying that an offering is given into the hands of the priest, which it is his duty to present to God. If a man be a priest, he must have some gift in his hands to offer. Therefore, Christ, as a priest, has His blood as His oblation to offer before God." Here also is what Matthew Henry had to say of Hebrews 8:3, "The tabernacle which was pitched by man, according to the appointment of God. There was an outer part, in which was the altar where they were to offer their sacrifices, which typified Christ dying; and there was an interior part within the veil, which typified Christ interceding for the people in heaven. Now this tabernacle Christ never entered into; but, having finished the work of satisfaction in the true tabernacle of His own body, He is now a minister of the sanctuary, the holy of holies, the true tabernacle in heaven, there taking care of His people's affairs, interceding with God for them, that their sins may be pardoned and their persons and services accepted, through the merit of His sacrifice. He is not only in heaven enjoying great dominion and dignity, but, as the High Priest of His Church, executing this office for them all in general, and every member of the Church in particular."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…