Single lesson
Hebrews 8: Christ’s Eternal Priesthood
Hebrews 8:1–5; Hebrews 8:6–13
Hebrews 8 states its main point clearly: we have such a high priest seated at the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens. This lesson helps children trace that point and understand the chapter’s teaching about a better covenant.
Before you teach
The passage begins by naming its main point and describing this high priest as a servant of the sanctuary and the true tabernacle set up by the Lord. It then compares his ministry with priests serving under the law and quotes God’s words about a new covenant.
Students will be able to explain that Hebrews 8 presents such a high priest at the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens and describes a better covenant with God’s law written on hearts and sins remembered no more.
Welcome: Hear the main point
5 minTell the class that this chapter announces its main point at the start. Read Hebrews 8:1 aloud and ask children to listen for the key words high priest, sat down, and right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens. Explain that this opening sentence gives the lesson’s big idea.
Hebrews 8:1
Read and explain: The true tabernacle
7 minRead Hebrews 8:2-5. Explain that a sanctuary is a holy place, and the passage calls this one the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched, not man. The chapter says earthly priests offer gifts according to the law and serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, following the pattern shown to Moses.
Hebrews 8:2, Hebrews 8:3, Hebrews 8:4, Hebrews 8:5
Discuss: A better covenant
6 minRead Hebrews 8:6-9. Help children notice the comparison words more excellent, better covenant, and better promises. The passage says a second covenant was sought because the first was not faultless, then quotes the Lord’s words about making a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
Hebrews 8:6, Hebrews 8:7, Hebrews 8:8, Hebrews 8:9
Make and respond: Heart reminder card
8 minRead Hebrews 8:10-12. Invite children to choose one line for a reminder card, such as I will be their God, and they will be my people, or I will remember their sins and lawless deeds no more. They can copy the words carefully and add a simple heart or cloud symbol to match the verse.
Hebrews 8:10, Hebrews 8:11, Hebrews 8:12
Closing: What is called new?
4 minFinish with Hebrews 8:13. Explain that the chapter says, In that he says, A new covenant, he has made the first obsolete. Invite each child to complete the sentence, Hebrews 8 teaches that... Close by repeating the two main ideas from the chapter: such a high priest is at the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens, and there is a better covenant.
Hebrews 8:13, Hebrews 8:1, Hebrews 8:6
Questions to explore
According to the chapter’s main point, where is such a high priest now?
Look at the sentence that says the main point and notice where he sat down.
Hebrews 8:1
What words show that the tabernacle in this chapter is different from the earthly one?
Listen for the contrast between the true tabernacle and the copy and shadow.
Hebrews 8:2, Hebrews 8:5
What does the new covenant say God will do about his law and about sins?
Find the lines about minds and hearts, then the line about remembering sins no more.
Hebrews 8:10, Hebrews 8:12
Make, think or respond
Heart Reminder Card
What you’ll need
- card or paper
- pencils
- textas or crayons
- Bible or printed verses
Try it together
- Read Hebrews 8:10-12 together and let each child choose one phrase from those verses.
- Fold a small piece of card in half or keep it flat as a bookmark-sized reminder.
- Write the chosen words neatly and add a simple symbol such as a heart for verse 10 or a clean page for verse 12.
- Ask each child to read their card aloud and say how the words connect to the new covenant in Hebrews 8.
This activity helps children remember that Hebrews 8 describes God’s law written on hearts and God’s mercy in the new covenant.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, offer two short phrase choices from Hebrews 8:10-12 and let them trace the words before decorating the card.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to compare one idea from Hebrews 8:1-5 with one idea from Hebrews 8:6-13 in a spoken summary.
An optional closing prayer
You may pray: Lord, thank you for teaching us about the high priest, your words, and your mercy. Please help us remember what this chapter says. Amen.
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Hebrews 8
1 Now in the things which we are saying, the main point is this: we have such a high priest, who sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,
2 a servant of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched, not man.
3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer.
4 For if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, seeing there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law,
5 who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, even as Moses was warned by God when he was about to make the tabernacle, for he said, “See, you shall make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain.”
6 But now he has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which on better promises has been given as law.
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.
8 For finding fault with them, he said, “Behold, the days are coming”, says the Lord, “that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah;
9 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; for they didn’t continue in my covenant, and I disregarded them,” says the Lord.
10 “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” says the Lord: “I will put my laws into their mind; I will also write them on their heart. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
11 They will not teach every man his fellow citizen and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all will know me, from their least to their greatest.
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness. I will remember their sins and lawless deeds no more.”
13 In that he says, “A new covenant”, he has made the first obsolete. But that which is becoming obsolete and grows aged is near to vanishing away.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.