Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Hebrews 8:6-13

In this part of the chapter, the apostle illustrates and confirms the superior excellency of the priesthood of Christ above that of Aaron, from the excellency of that covenant, or that dispensation of the covenant of grace, of which Christ was the Mediator (Heb. 8:6): his ministry is more excellent, by how much he is the Mediator of a better covenant. The body and soul too of all divinity (as some observe) consist very much in rightly distinguishing between the two covenants?the covenant of... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Hebrews 8:1-6

8:1-6 The pith of what we are saying is this--it is just such a high priest we possess, a priest who has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of majesty in the heavens, a high priest who is a minister of the sanctuary and of the real tabernacle, which the Lord, and not man, founded. For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices. It is therefore necessary that he should have something which he might offer. If then he had been upon earth, lie would not even have... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 8:6

But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry ,.... Christ has a ministry, he is the minister of the sanctuary, Hebrews 8:2 he has "obtained" this ministry of his Father; he was called unto it and engaged in it by him; and he has "now" obtained it; for though he was called to it from eternity, it was in time he came an high priest of good things, to come; and his ministry is a more excellent one than that of the priests, who offered gifts according to the law and served to the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 8:6

Now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry - His office of priesthood is more excellent than the Levitical, because the covenant is better, and established on better promises: the old covenant referred to earthly things; the new covenant, to heavenly. The old covenant had promises of secular good; the new covenant, of spiritual and eternal blessings. As far as Christianity is preferable to Judaism, as far as Christ is preferable to Moses, as far as spiritual blessings are preferable to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 8:6

Verse 6 6.But now has he obtained a more excellent ministry, etc. As he had before inferred the excellency of the covenant from the dignity of the priesthood, so also now he maintains that Christ’s priesthood is more excellent than that of Aaron, because he is the interpreter and Mediator of a better covenant. Both were necessary, for the Jews were to be led away from the superstitious observance of rituals, by which they were prevented from advancing directly forward to the attainment of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 8:1-6

The chief point. This passage does not present a recapitulation of the topics already considered; it emphasizes, as the crowning topic in connection with our Lord's priesthood, the fact that he has been "made higher than the heavens." I. THE HEAVENLY MAJESTY OF OUR HIGH PRIEST . ( Hebrews 8:1 ) He dwells now in heaven, his native home. He occupies there the loftiest place; for he shares the sore-reign authority and the universal dominion of the absolute God. Aaron... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 8:6

But now ( νυνὶ in its usual logical, not temporal, sense; cf. Hebrews 11:16 ; also Hebrews 2:8 ; Hebrews 9:26 ; Hebrews 12:26 ) hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the Mediator of a better covenant, which ( ἥτις , equivalent to quippequae, as usual) hath been established upon better promises. Here the idea of the new διαθήκη , introduced first in the way of anticipation at Hebrews 7:22 , is brought to the front, to be carried out in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 8:6

Three better things. "But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry's etc. In these words the writer states in brief what he at once proceeds to illustrate and establish at considerable length, from this point on to Hebrews 10:18 . We may perhaps with advantage take a general glance at these three better things, leaving their particular examination until summoned to it by the development of the Epistle. I. THE BETTER MINISTRY . "But now hath he obtained a more excellent... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 8:6

A verse of comparisons. A more excellent ministry—a better covenant—better promises. How all this illustrates the way of God! Whatever he appoints and plans is good, and good just because it is exactly proportioned to good ends. But these ends have to be measured by the power of men to fall in with them. Man, with his limited prospect, reckons to be an end what God reckons as only the means to a greater end. God made to Israel promises of a land of inheritance on earth, just that they... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 8:6-13

The new covenant. Here we have another of the broad contrasts which everywhere meet us in this treatise. In those Epistles which are undoubtedly Paul's, the process of reasoning resembles the movement of a file of soldiers; but in this to the Hebrews, the movement resembles rather that of soldiers in rank. The writer introduces his contrast between the covenants with the remark ( Hebrews 8:6 ) that our Lord's heavenly ministry as greatly excels that of Aaron as the new covenant which... read more

Group of Brands