Hebrews 8:1-2

"What has been said" (Hebrews 8:1) refers to chapter 7. This is a transitional statement. The writer now moved on to explain Jesus Christ’s ministry more fully. Chapter 7 was in a sense introductory and foundational to what follows.

". . . the doctrine of Christ’s high priesthood and the pilgrimage of God’s people dominate the expository and paraenetic [i.e., exhortation] sections [of the epistle]. The theme of Christ as High Priest, however, is central to the epistle as a whole." [Note: David J. MacLeod, "The Doctrinal Center of the Book of Hebrews," Bibliotheca Sacra 146:583 (July-September 1989):300.]

The writer again referred to the heavens where God abides and where Jesus Christ now serves as the real tabernacle, the only one that does not imitate something better than itself. In particular, the holy of holies is in view. These verses summarize what follows in chapter 8. [Note: See Philip E. Hughes, "The Blood of Jesus and His Heavenly Priesthood in Hebrews," Bibliotheca Sacra 130:520 (October-December 1973):305-14.]

"The throne He occupies and from which He ministers is not David’s throne, which He will one day occupy here on earth as the promised Messiah (Matthew 25:31). Rather, He was identified with the throne of ’the Majesty in the heavens.’ The authority assigned to the One so enthroned was to be ’a minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle’ (Hebrews 8:2). Thus He was not appointed to be a king in an earthly domain, but rather He was appointed to function as a High priest in a new sanctuary. And the appointment as High Priest, according to Psalms 110:4, follows the enthronement of Christ at His Father’s right hand." [Note: Pentecost, pp. 131-32.]

We not only have a high priest who has taken His seat at the Father’s right hand (Hebrews 8:1), but we have one who now ministers as a priest in the heavenly sanctuary (Hebrews 8:2; cf. Psalms 110:1).

"There are other sons beside the Son (Hebrews 2:10), but no other priests subordinated to Christ as high priest." [Note: Ellingworth, p. 403.]