An Introduction to Christ’s New Covenant Ministry (Hebrews 8:1–13)

Hebrews 8 begins a three-chapter-long discussion on the New Covenant, that efficacious oath sworn by God the Father, ratified by God the Son, and applied by God the Spirit. It’s the cumulative covenant in which all believers are united, forgiven, and kept. It’s the covenant Christ’s church remembers when they take the bread and drink the cup, commemorating and anticipating he who is both its sacrificial lamb and its mediating priest. Because of all that it is and all that it does, the New Covenant’s importance is not easily overstated. The more that God’s people understand its necessity, its capacity, and its practicality, the more we will enjoy the hope it gives, the peace it brings, and the freedom it offers. And this chapter provides an introduction to this beautiful and powerful new Covenant and a reminder of the old covenant it replaced.