更美之約的大祭司

我們所講的要點是:我們有這樣一位大祭司,祂現在已經坐在天上至高上帝的寶座右邊, 並在聖所裡供職。這聖所就是真正的聖幕,不是人建立的,而是主親手建立的。 所有的大祭司都是為了向上帝獻禮物和祭物而設立的,因此我們這位大祭司也必須有所獻上。 祂如果是在地上,根本不會做祭司,因為地上已經有照律法向上帝獻禮物的祭司了。 這些祭司的事奉都是仿效和反映天上的事,正如摩西建聖幕的時候,上帝指示他說:

「你務要照著在山上指示你的樣式造各樣的器具。」

但如今,基督得到了一個更超越的職任,正如祂擔任了更美之約的中保,這約是根據更美的應許所立的。 因為如果第一個約沒有缺點,就不必另立新約了。 然而,上帝指責祂的百姓,說:

「看啊,時候將到,
我要與以色列家和猶大家另立新約,
這約不同於我與他們祖先所立的約,
就是我牽著他們祖先的手領他們離開埃及時所立的。
因為他們不持守我的約,
所以我不再理會他們。
這是主說的。
10 主又說,那些日子以後,
我將與以色列家立這樣的約,
我要把我的律法放在他們腦中,
寫在他們心上。
我要作他們的上帝,
他們要作我的子民。
11 誰都無需再教導自己的鄰居和弟兄,
說,『你要認識主。』
因為他們無論尊卑都必認識我。
12 我要赦免他們的過犯,
忘掉他們的罪惡。」

13 上帝既然說要立新約,就是把以前的約當作舊的了,那漸漸過時、陳舊的東西很快就會消失。

And the sum concerning the things spoken of [is]: we have such a chief priest, who did sit down at the right hand of the throne of the greatness in the heavens,

of the holy places a servant, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord did set up, and not man,

for every chief priest to offer both gifts and sacrifices is appointed, whence [it is] necessary for this one to have also something that he may offer;

for if, indeed, he were upon earth, he would not be a priest -- (there being the priests who are offering according to the law, the gifts,

who unto an example and shadow do serve of the heavenly things, as Moses hath been divinely warned, being about to construct the tabernacle, for `See (saith He) thou mayest make all things according to the pattern that was shewn to thee in the mount;') --

and now he hath obtained a more excellent service, how much also of a better covenant is he mediator, which on better promises hath been sanctioned,

for if that first were faultless, a place would not have been sought for a second.

For finding fault, He saith to them, `Lo, days come, saith the Lord, and I will complete with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah, a new covenant,

not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers, in the day of My taking [them] by their hand, to bring them out of the land of Egypt -- because they did not remain in My covenant, and I did not regard them, saith the Lord, --

10 because this [is] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel, after those days, saith the Lord, giving My laws into their mind, and upon their hearts I will write them, and I will be to them for a God, and they shall be to Me for a people;

11 and they shall not teach each his neighbour, and each his brother, saying, Know thou the Lord, because they shall all know Me from the small one of them unto the great one of them,

12 because I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawlessnesses I will remember no more;' --

13 in the saying `new,' He hath made the first old, and what doth become obsolete and is old [is] nigh disappearing.