since here there are already those who present the offerings
in obedience to the Law,
008:005 and serve a copy and type of the heavenly things, just as Moses
was divinely instructed when about to build the tabernacle.
For God said, "See that you make everything in imitation
of the pattern shown you on the mountain."
008:006 But, as a matter of fact, the ministry which Christ has
obtained is all the nobler a ministry, in that He is at
the same time the negotiator of a sublimer covenant,
based upon sublimer promises.
008:007 For if that first Covenant had been free from imperfection,
there would have been no attempt to introduce another.
008:008 For, being dissatisfied with His people, God says, "`There are
days coming,' says the Lord, `When I will establish with the house
of Israel and with the house of Judah a new Covenant--
008:009 a Covenant unlike the one which I made with their forefathers
on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out from
the land of Egypt; for they would not remain faithful to that.'
`So I turned from them,' says the Lord.
008:010 `But this is the Covenant that I will covenant with the house
of Israel after those days,' says the Lord: I will put My
laws into their minds and will write them upon their hearts.
And I will indeed be their God and they shall be My People.
008:011 And there shall be no need for them to teach each one his fellow
citizen and each one his brother, saying, Know the Lord.
For all will know Me from the least of them to the greatest;
008:012 Because I will be merciful to their wrongdoings, and their sins
I will remember no longer.'"
008:013 By using the words, "a new Covenant," He has made the first
one obsolete; but whatever is decaying and showing signs