Hebrews 8:4

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Hebrews 8:3-4

Hebrews 8:3-4. For every high-priest, &c. As if the apostle had said, And it appears that Christ is a minister, or priest, of the true tabernacle, because he offers sacrifice, which none but the priests might do. Wherefore Greek, οθεν , whence; the whole force of this inference depends on this supposition that all the old typical institutions did represent what was really to be accomplished in Christ; it is of necessity that this man have somewhat to offer For whatever otherwise... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Hebrews 8:1-13

A new priest and a new covenant (8:1-13)Only once a year could the Levitical high priest enter God’s symbolic dwelling place (the Most Holy Place), but Christ the great high priest lives in the actual presence of God for ever (8:1-2). Levitical priests offered animal sacrifices, but Christ offered himself. He did not make this offering as a Levitical priest (for he was not of the family of Aaron), but the work of the Levitical priests pictured his work. The sacrifices they offered were a... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Hebrews 8:4

if . Greek. ei . App-118 . earth . Greek. ge . App-129 . should not be = would not even be. priests . The texts omit. Read "those who offer". according to . Greek. kata . App-104 . the . Omit. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Hebrews 8:4

Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, seeing there are those who offer gifts according to the law.Jesus could not have been a priest on earth because he did not belong to the priestly family, nor even to the tribe from which that family descended. Christ's priesthood was of a different order altogether, being after the order of Melchizedek. The importance of this is in the bearing it has on the purpose for which the Son of God came into the world. It had absolutely nothing... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Hebrews 8:4-5

Hebrews 8:4-5. For if he were on earth,— "But, we may observe by the way, that if he were always to continue on earth, he could not, in any consistence with the Jewish institutions, have been a priest, to officiate at the temple of God in Jerusalem; as there are already a certain order of priests there, who offer the gifts of the people according to the law; and it is exactly settled, that none of any other family should have access to these services; nor would it have been agreeable to the... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 8:4

4. Implying that Christ's priestly office is exercised in heaven, not in earth; in the power of His resurrection life, not of His earthly life. For—The oldest manuscripts read, "accordingly then." if, c.—"if He were on earth, He would not even (so the Greek) be a priest" (compare Hebrews 7:13 Hebrews 7:14); therefore, certainly, He could not exercise the high priestly function in the earthly Holy of Holies. seeing that, c.—"since there are" already, and exist now (the temple service not yet... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Hebrews 8:1-5

Christ’s better ministry 8:1-5In this section the writer first stated (Hebrews 8:1-2) and then explained (Hebrews 8:3-5) Jesus Christ’s better ministry. It is superior in three respects. He serves as a seated priest, having finished His work of offering a final sacrifice for sins (Hebrews 8:1). He is an enthroned priest, having taken His place at the right hand of God the Father (Hebrews 8:1). And He is a heavenly priest, having entered the true sanctuary where He now ministers (Hebrews 8:1-2). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Hebrews 8:3-5

Hebrews 8:4 sounds as though the Jewish priests were presenting offerings in Herod’s Temple when the writer wrote. This understanding of the text has led some students of the book to date its writing before the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in A.D. 70. However it is more likely that we should take these present tenses as timeless. [Note: See Lane, p. lxiii.] The writer was describing what had been done in Judaism as though it was still going on, for the sake of vividness (cf. Hebrews 7:27-28;... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 8:1-13

The High Priest of the Heavenly Sanctuary and the Fulfilment of Jeremiah’s ProphecyChrist, as Melchizedek-High-Priest, has a higher ministry than the Levitical priesthood, because He ministers in the true Tabernacle in heaven which indeed was the pattern for the earthly tabernacle (Hebrews 8:1-5). Besides He is superior in proportion as the new covenant is better than the first (Hebrews 8:6-13).1. The sum] RV ’the chief point.’2. A minister] i.e. an officiating high priest.The sanctuary]... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Hebrews 8:4

(4) For if he were . . .—The oldest Greek MSS. and two important versions read, “If then He were”; and two other changes in the text of this verse also rest on high authority. In its correct form the verse will stand thus: If then He were on earth, He would not even be a priest (that is, He would not be a priest at all), seeing there are those who according to law offer the gifts. The argument somewhat resembles that of Hebrews 7:13-14; there, however, the impediment is that of tribe; here the... read more

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