But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant(A) of which he is mediator(B) is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.

Read full chapter

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.

Read full chapter

22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.(A)

Read full chapter

22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

Read full chapter

16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed.(A) Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,”[a](B) meaning one person, who is Christ. 17 What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years(C) later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. 18 For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise;(D) but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.

19 Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions(E) until the Seed(F) to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels(G) and entrusted to a mediator.(H) 20 A mediator,(I) however, implies more than one party; but God is one.

21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not!(J) For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.(K)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 3:16 Gen. 12:7; 13:15; 24:7

16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

Read full chapter

24 to Jesus the mediator(A) of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood(B) that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.(C)

Read full chapter

24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Read full chapter

Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises,(A) so that through them you may participate in the divine nature,(B) having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.(C)

Read full chapter

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Read full chapter

in the hope of eternal life,(A) which God, who does not lie,(B) promised before the beginning of time,(C)

Read full chapter

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

Read full chapter

20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant(A) in my blood, which is poured out for you.[a]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Luke 22:20 Some manuscripts do not have given for you … poured out for you.

20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

Read full chapter

For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.(A) But God found fault with the people and said[a]:

“The days are coming, declares the Lord,
    when I will make a new covenant(B)
with the people of Israel
    and with the people of Judah.
It will not be like the covenant
    I made with their ancestors(C)
when I took them by the hand
    to lead them out of Egypt,
because they did not remain faithful to my covenant,
    and I turned away from them,
declares the Lord.
10 This is the covenant(D) I will establish with the people of Israel
    after that time, declares the Lord.
I will put my laws in their minds
    and write them on their hearts.(E)
I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.(F)
11 No longer will they teach their neighbor,
    or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,(G)
    from the least of them to the greatest.
12 For I will forgive their wickedness
    and will remember their sins no more.(H)[b](I)

13 By calling this covenant “new,”(J) he has made the first one obsolete;(K) and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 8:8 Some manuscripts may be translated fault and said to the people.
  2. Hebrews 8:12 Jer. 31:31-34

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.

Read full chapter

He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant(A)—not of the letter(B) but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.(C)

The Greater Glory of the New Covenant

Now if the ministry that brought death,(D) which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory,(E) transitory though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that brought condemnation(F) was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!(G) 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

Read full chapter

Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:

How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?

For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.

11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.

Read full chapter

15 For this reason Christ is the mediator(A) of a new covenant,(B) that those who are called(C) may receive the promised(D) eternal inheritance(E)—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.(F)

16 In the case of a will,[a] it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 17 because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. 18 This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.(G) 19 When Moses had proclaimed(H) every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves,(I) together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people.(J) 20 He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”[b](K)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 9:16 Same Greek word as covenant; also in verse 17
  2. Hebrews 9:20 Exodus 24:8

15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.

19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,

20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.

Read full chapter

the people of Israel.(A) Theirs is the adoption to sonship;(B) theirs the divine glory,(C) the covenants,(D) the receiving of the law,(E) the temple worship(F) and the promises.(G)

Read full chapter

Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

Read full chapter