What does Hebrews 8:5 mean?

Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. Hebrews 8:5

Explanation

Hebrews 8:5 emphasizes the concept that the old covenant and its practices, particularly the tabernacle and its services, were a prefigure or a “shadow” of the realities found in Christ and the new covenant. The verse references how Moses was instructed by God on Mount Sinai to construct the tabernacle in exact accordance with the pattern shown to him. The implication is that the earthly tabernacle was a copy of a true, heavenly sanctuary, and the rituals associated with it pointed forward to something greater, that is, the ministry of Jesus Christ as the high priest in the true tabernacle in heaven.

Historical Context

Hebrews is traditionally believed to have been written to Jewish Christians who were familiar with Old Testament scriptures, particularly the Pentateuch, which describes the construction of the tabernacle. The author of Hebrews is emphasizing the supremacy of the new covenant over the old, arguing that the old served as a precursor to the new. The tabernacle, which was central to the worship and community life of ancient Israel, is here given a spiritual interpretation in light of the revelation of Christ.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, Hebrews 8:5 is often interpreted as indicating the typological significance of the Old Testament. The “pattern” shown to Moses is seen as a divine blueprint representing spiritual truths. This verse raises questions about the nature of heaven and the ongoing work of Christ. Some Christian traditions emphasize the importance of heaven as a real, physical location where Christ is performing a priestly role, while others focus more on the metaphorical meaning of the heavenly sanctuary as it applies to the believer’s personal relationship with God.

Practical Applications

In a practical sense, Hebrews 8:5 can encourage believers to pay attention to divine instructions and patterns in their spiritual walk. It can also serve as a reminder to look beyond the physical and temporary aspects of religion and to focus on the spiritual realities. It suggests that earthly rituals and religious practices have a deeper, spiritual significance and should be seen as pointing towards greater truths.

Cross-References

• Exodus 25:40: “And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was showed thee in the mount.”
• Acts 7:44: “Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.”
• Colossians 2:17: “Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”

Language Study

• “Example” (Greek: hupodeigma): This term typically means a representation or a sample that is intended to demonstrate the characteristics of something else.
• “Shadow” (Greek: skia): Refers to something that suggests the form of another object without being the object itself. It also conveys the idea of something that is less substantial or temporary.
• “Pattern” (Greek: tupos): Can mean a model, form, or blueprint that is to be replicated or followed, as in the specific design shown to Moses.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparisons can be drawn between the Hebrew concept of the tabernacle and temple as earthly representations of cosmic realities and similar ideas found in other ancient Near Eastern cultures. Many ancient religions featured temples that were considered microcosms of the universe or points of contact between the divine and the human realms.

Scientific Perspectives

While Hebrews 8:5 is theological and symbolic in nature, culturally, it presents an early example of the concept of ideal forms or patterns, which might be tangentially related to the philosophical underpinnings of Platonic thought—Plato’s theory of Forms. Scientifically, the verse doesn’t intersect directly with empirical or experimental disciplines. Yet, the idea of patterns and shadows of things could be metaphorically aligned with the way scientific models and theories aim to represent and explain deeper realities.

Commentaries

Commentators on the Book of Hebrews often note that Hebrews 8:5 highlights the transitory and incomplete nature of the Old Covenant’s sacrificial system, underscoring the need for a New Covenant in Christ. Matthew Henry’s Commentary, for instance, emphasizes the role of the earthly sanctuary as a place that foreshadowed the “heavenly things” fulfilled in Christ. The Pulpit Commentary discusses the importance of Moses receiving and enacting the pattern exactly, pointing out the reverence and obedience required in service to God. John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible interprets “the example and shadow of heavenly things” as the ceremonial laws that had a figurative sense, pointing out that the true substances of these were Jesus Christ and His benefits.