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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 8:3

3. For—assigning his reason for calling him "minister of the sanctuary" ( :-). somewhat—He does not offer again His once for all completed sacrifice. But as the high priest did not enter the Holy Place without blood, so Christ has entered the heavenly Holy Place with His own blood. That "blood of sprinkling" is in heaven. And is thence made effectual to sprinkle believers as the end of their election ( :-). The term "consecrate" as a priest, is literally, to fill the hand, implying that an... 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

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 8:5

5. Who—namely, the priests. serve unto the example—not "after the example," as BENGEL explains. But as in Hebrews 13:10, "serve the tabernacle," that is, do it service: so "serve (the tabernacle which is but) the outline and shadow." The Greek for "example" is here taken for the sketch, copy, or suggestive representation of the heavenly sanctuary, which is the antitypical reality and primary archetype. "The mount" answers to heaven, Hebrews 13:10- :. admonished—The Greek especially applies to... 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 Darby

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - Hebrews 8:5

8:5 (g-1) Hostis , as Matthew 7:24 , 'who are such as.' for (h-22) See Exodus 25:40 . 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 8:3

(3) This verse and the three following confirm and illustrate the importance of the statement just made. The general course of thought appears to be as follows:—That which stands “at the head” of what we are saying, and gives completeness to the whole, is, that we have a High Priest who ministers in heaven itself (Hebrews 8:1-2). For, whereas the very conception of high-priestly duty would, were He on earth, exclude Him from being a priest at all (Hebrews 8:3-4), like those who “serve a copy of... 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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