屬天的祭司

以上所說的要點是:我們有這樣的一位大祭司,已經坐在諸天之上至尊者的寶座右邊, 他是聖所和真會幕的服事者。這會幕是主所搭建的,不是人所搭建的。 每一位大祭司受委任,都是為了獻上禮物和祭物;故此,這一位也必須有所獻上。 既然如此,如果他在地上,就不會做祭司,因為地上已經有照著律法獻祭物的祭司[a] 那些祭司所事奉的,是天上事物的模型和影子,就如摩西將要完成會幕的時候,得了神的指示,說:「你要注意,一切都要按照在山上指示你的樣式去造。」[b] 但如今,耶穌得了更尊貴的服事工作,就像他也是更美好之約的中保那樣;這約建立在各樣更美好的應許之上。

完美的新約

原來,如果那第一個約[c]是無可指責的,就沒有尋求第二個約的必要了, 因為神[d]指責說:

「看哪,時候就要到了!
主說,我要與以色列
猶大家訂立新約。
這約[e]不像從前我拉著他們祖先的手,
在領他們出埃及地的日子裡
與他們所立的約。
因為他們沒有持守我的約,
我就不理他們——這是主說的。
10 主又說,在那些日子以後,
我要與以色列家訂立這樣的約:
我要把我的法則放在他們的意念中,
刻在他們的心上;
我將要做他們的神,
他們將要做我的子民。
11 他們絕不需要教導各自的同胞[f]、各自的兄弟,說:
『你要認識主』——
因為他們所有的人,
從卑微的到尊貴的,
都將認識我;
12 又因為我要寬恕他們的不義,
絕不再想起他們的罪孽[g]。」[h]

13 當神[i]說到「新約[j]」,就已經把第一個當做舊的;而那漸漸變舊、漸漸變老的,很快就要消逝了。

Footnotes

  1. 希伯來書 8:4 有古抄本沒有「祭司」。
  2. 希伯來書 8:5 《出埃及記》25:40。
  3. 希伯來書 8:7 約——輔助詞語。
  4. 希伯來書 8:8 神——原文直譯「他」。
  5. 希伯來書 8:9 這約——輔助詞語。
  6. 希伯來書 8:11 同胞——有古抄本作「鄰人」。
  7. 希伯來書 8:12 有古抄本附「和他們的罪惡」。
  8. 希伯來書 8:12 《耶利米書》31:31-34。
  9. 希伯來書 8:13 神——原文直譯「他」。
  10. 希伯來書 8:13 約——輔助詞語。

Jesus, High Priest of a New Covenant

Now the main point in what is being said is this: we have such a (A)high priest, who sat down at (B)the right hand of the throne of the (C)Majesty in the heavens, a (D)minister [a]in the [b]holy places and [c]in the (E)true [d]tabernacle, which the Lord (F)pitched, not man. For every (G)high priest is appointed (H)to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer. Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who (I)offer the gifts according to the Law; who serve (J)a copy and (K)shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses [e]was (L)warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “(M)See,” He says, “that you make all things according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.” But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the (N)mediator of (O)a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises. For (P)if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second. For finding fault with them, He says,

(Q)Behold, days are coming, says the [f]Lord,
[g]When I will complete (R)a new covenant
With the house of Israel and with the house of Judah;
(S)Not like the covenant which I made with their fathers
In the day when I took them by the hand
To lead them out of the land of Egypt;
For they did not continue in My covenant,
And I did not care for them, says the [h]Lord.
10 (T)For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
After those days, says the [i]Lord:
[j]I will put My laws into their minds,
And (U)upon their hearts I will write them.
And I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.
11 (V)And they shall not teach everyone his fellow citizen,
And everyone his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’
For (W)all will know Me,
From [k]the least to the greatest of them.
12 (X)For I will be merciful to their iniquities,
(Y)And I will remember their sins no more.”

13 [l]When He said, “(Z)A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. (AA)But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is [m]ready to disappear.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 8:2 Or of
  2. Hebrews 8:2 The holy places within the sanctuary, cf. 9:2-3
  3. Hebrews 8:2 Or of
  4. Hebrews 8:2 Or sacred tent
  5. Hebrews 8:5 Lit has been
  6. Hebrews 8:8 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Jer 31:31
  7. Hebrews 8:8 Lit And
  8. Hebrews 8:9 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Jer 31:32
  9. Hebrews 8:10 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Jer 31:31
  10. Hebrews 8:10 Lit Putting my laws into
  11. Hebrews 8:11 Lit small to great of them
  12. Hebrews 8:13 Or In His saying
  13. Hebrews 8:13 Or near

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;

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.

For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:

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.

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.

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

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:

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.

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.