Hebrews 8:11
Verse
Context
The New Covenant
10For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord. I will put My laws in their minds and inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people. 11No longer will each one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest. 12For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.”
Sermons





Summary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
They shall not teach every man his neighbor - Under the old covenant, properly speaking, there was no public instruction; before the erection of synagogues all worship was confined at first to the tabernacle, afterwards to the temple. When synagogues were established they were used principally for the bare reading of the law and the prophets; and scarcely any such thing as a public ministry for the continual instruction of the common people was found in the land till the time of John the Baptist, our Lord, and his apostles. It is true there were prophets who were a sort of general teachers, but neither was their ministry extended through all the people; and there were schools of the prophets and schools of the rabbins, but these were for the instruction of select persons. Hence it was necessary that every man should do what he could, under that dispensation, to instruct his neighbor and brother. But the prophecy here indicates that there should be, under the Gospel dispensation, a profusion of Divine light; and this we find to be the case by the plentiful diffusion of the sacred writings, and by an abundant Gospel ministry: and these blessings are not confined to temples or palaces, but are found in every corner of the land; so that, literally, all the people, from the least to the greatest, know and acknowledge the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent. Almost every man, at least in this land, has a Bible, and can read it; and there is not a family that has not the opportunity of hearing the Gospel preached, explained, and enforced. Some have thought that from the least to the greatest is intended to signify the order in which God proceeds with a work of grace; he generally begins with the poor, and through these the great and the high often hear the Gospel of Christ.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Second of the "better promises" (Heb 8:6). they shall not--"they shall not have to teach" [ALFORD]. his neighbour--So Vulgate reads; but the oldest manuscripts have "his (fellow) citizen." brother--a closer and more endearing relation than fellow citizen. from the least to the greatest--Greek, "from the little one to the great one." Zac 12:8, "He that is feeble among them shall be as David." Under the old covenant, the priest's lips were to keep knowledge, and at his mouth the people were to seek the law: under the new covenant, the Holy Spirit teaches every believer. Not that the mutual teaching of brethren is excluded while the covenant is being promulgated; but when once the Holy Spirit shall have fully taught all the remission of their sins and inward sanctification, then there shall be no further' need of man teaching his fellow man. Compare Th1 4:9; Th1 5:1, an earnest of that perfect state to come. On the way to that perfect state every man should teach his neighbor. "The teaching is not hard and forced, because grace renders all teachable; for it is not the ministry of the letter, but of the spirit (Co2 3:6). The believer's firmness does not depend on the authority of human teachers. God Himself teaches" [BENGEL]. The New Testament is shorter than the Old Testament, because, instead of the details of an outward letter law, it gives the all-embracing principles of the spiritual law written on the conscience, leading one to spontaneous instinctive obedience in outward details. None save the Lord can teach effectually, "know the Lord."
John Gill Bible Commentary
And they shall not teach every man his neighbour,.... The Alexandrian copy reads, "citizen"; that is, fellow citizen; and so the Syriac and Arabic versions: "and every man his brother, saying, know the Lord": this is not to be understood, so as to set aside the external and public ministry of the word, which is a standing ordinance of God under the Gospel dispensation; or even the, private instructions of saints one to another, in Christian conversation, whereby they may build up one another in their most holy faith; but the sense is, that men should not only teach, but the Spirit of God should teach with them, and by them; and it stands opposed to particular and pretended revelations, and especially to magisterial dictates; and denotes the abundance of knowledge that should be in Gospel times, which should not be restrained to particular persons, and sets of men, but should be shared by all believers, more or less: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest; from babes to fathers in Christ; not with a natural, but with a spiritual knowledge; not with general knowledge of him, that he is, but with a special knowledge of him, that he is theirs; not with a legal, but with an evangelical knowledge; not with the knowledge of him in, and through the creatures, but in Christ; and that not speculative, but experimental; such as is attended with faith in him, fear of him, love to him, and a cheerful obedience to his will: the knowledge of the Lord, under the New Testament dispensation, is greater than under the former dispensation; the subject matter of it is more distinct; God is more known in the persons of the Father, Son, and Spirit, in the perfections of his nature, in his titles and characters, and in his Son; the manner of it is more clear, open, and perspicuous; the persons to whom it is communicated are more numerous; it is not restrained to Jews, but is given to the Gentiles; and all this owing to a greater effusion of the Spirit; see Jo1 2:27.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
8:11 All those in the new covenant know the Lord; intimate personal relationship with the Lord is in the very nature of the new covenant.
Hebrews 8:11
The New Covenant
10For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord. I will put My laws in their minds and inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people. 11No longer will each one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest. 12For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.”
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
(Prophecy) Introduction to Prophecy
By Zac Poonen2.5K53:21GEN 3:9NUM 12:6MAT 4:4MAT 6:33MAT 7:15HEB 8:11In this sermon, the speaker discusses the role of a prophet and the importance of being a seer, someone who sees and understands God's plans and purposes. The speaker emphasizes the need for purity of heart in order to truly see God and receive divine knowledge. The passage in Numbers 12 is highlighted, where God describes Moses as a prophet and reveals Himself to him in a vision. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of having Jesus as our example and role model, as He is the ultimate prophet who prophesied better than anyone else.
(Romans) Romans 12:1-8
By Zac Poonen2.4K46:43MAT 6:33ROM 12:1ROM 12:9HEB 8:11In this sermon, the speaker addresses the issue of a lack of fellowship in churches. He emphasizes that the problem is not a lack of activity or programs, but rather a higher estimation of oneself than is accurate. The speaker encourages believers to have a sober estimate of themselves. The sermon also highlights God's sovereignty in delivering Israel from Egypt and choosing Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as well as His faithfulness in restoring those who turn back to Him. The ultimate result of presenting ourselves to God is that we begin to understand His perfect will and live fruitful lives.
(Spirit-Filled Life) Part 3: A Baptism of Power
By Zac Poonen1.8K1:03:16MAT 4:23MAT 8:16MAT 12:15JHN 7:38ACT 1:4ACT 5:16HEB 8:11In this sermon, the speaker shares his personal experience of relying on the power of the Holy Spirit in his ministry. He emphasizes the importance of having a connection with the river of God, which is always full of water, to effectively serve in any calling. The speaker initially desired to be an evangelist but realized that God had called him to be a teacher instead. He compares his ministry to pumping water from a hand pump, requiring great effort to obtain a small amount, while desiring to experience the effortless flow of a river. The sermon also references the disciples' encounter with the risen Jesus and the receiving of the Holy Spirit, highlighting the need for believers to continually seek the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
The Last Days and the Lord's Coming - Faith That Overcomes Fear
By Zac Poonen1.7K59:22Last Days1SA 3:1JHN 14:26JHN 20:192TI 1:7HEB 8:11In this sermon, the preacher discusses the fear that many people experience when thinking about the future and the events that will occur in the last days. He mentions that God will shake everything that can be shaken, as stated in Hebrews 12, and that this shaking will cause fear among people. Jesus also spoke about this fear in Luke 21, saying that men will faint from fear when they see the things that are coming upon the world. The preacher emphasizes the importance of not succumbing to fear but instead straightening up and lifting up our heads, as Jesus instructed. He also highlights the tendency for convictions and truths to evaporate over time unless they are set on fire by the Holy Spirit. The sermon concludes by referencing the disciples' fear even after witnessing Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, emphasizing the need to overcome fear with the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Functioning of the Church
By Zac Poonen1.1K1:15:48PRO 27:17MAT 16:18MAT 18:20EPH 6:12HEB 8:11This sermon emphasizes the importance of unity and love within the body of Christ. It highlights the power of prayer and agreement among believers to overcome the forces of darkness. The speaker shares personal experiences of how prayer and unity in the church have influenced government decisions and protected against anti-Christian laws. The message encourages humility, valuing every member of the church, and being willing to surrender personal opinions and traditions for God's will.
The Heart - Part 3
By Stephen Kaung9881:21:57EPH 1:17HEB 8:11In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of knowing God beyond just knowing about His acts. He highlights how many people in the Bible knew God through witnessing His powerful acts, such as the parting of the Red Sea and the feeding of the five thousand. However, the speaker warns against solely relying on these acts to know God, as the people of Israel often murmured and doubted despite witnessing His miracles. Instead, the speaker encourages the audience to seek a personal relationship with God and to know Him through His principles and teachings. By knowing God in this way, one can experience His impartation and be filled with the knowledge of God.
Mr Darby's Footnote to 1 Cor. 8:1 in the New Translation on Ginosko
By John Nelson Darby0Knowledge Of GodSpiritual UnderstandingJHN 8:55JHN 13:71CO 8:11CO 16:152TI 1:122TI 3:14HEB 8:11John Nelson Darby explores the distinction between the Greek words 'ginosko' and 'oida' in the context of knowledge in the New Testament. He explains that 'ginosko' refers to objective knowledge, akin to being acquainted with something, while 'oida' signifies inward, intuitive knowledge that comes from within. Darby illustrates this difference using various scripture passages, emphasizing that true understanding involves both types of knowledge but highlights the importance of conscious knowledge in the believer's relationship with God. He concludes that while objective knowledge can inform us, it is the inward knowledge that truly shapes our faith and understanding of God.
Three Important Exhortations
By Zac Poonen0Holy SpiritIntimacy With GodGenerosityDAN 11:32MAT 4:4JHN 7:37JHN 17:31CO 14:12CO 3:182CO 9:7EPH 5:18PHP 3:10HEB 8:11Zac Poonen emphasizes three crucial exhortations for Christians: the necessity of being continually filled with the Holy Spirit to effectively live and serve as Jesus did, the importance of knowing God intimately for spiritual strength, and the call to be cheerful givers in all aspects of life. He explains that without the Holy Spirit, believers cannot fulfill their God-given ministries, and that true knowledge of God leads to overcoming life's challenges. Poonen also highlights that giving should come from a place of joy and freedom, as God values cheerful acts over those done under compulsion.
Knowing God Intimately Is the Secret of Being Strong
By Zac Poonen0Intimacy With GodSpiritual Strength1SA 3:10ISA 50:4DAN 11:32MAT 4:4LUK 10:42JHN 17:3PHP 3:10HEB 8:11Zac Poonen emphasizes that knowing God intimately is essential for spiritual strength, as highlighted in Daniel 11:32. He encourages believers to seek a personal relationship with God rather than relying on others' experiences, citing that eternal life is defined by knowing God and Jesus Christ (John 17:3). Poonen stresses the importance of listening to God daily, following Jesus' example of spiritual nourishment through His words (Matthew 4:4). He advocates for a continuous listening attitude, even during the night, to remain receptive to God's guidance (1 Samuel 3:10). Ultimately, knowing God equips us to overcome life's challenges by revealing His solutions to our problems.
A Loving Father
By Zac Poonen0God's LovePrayer and FaithPSA 37:4PSA 84:11MAT 6:26MAT 7:11JHN 16:27HEB 8:11Zac Poonen emphasizes that God the Father is not a strict figure but a loving parent who cares deeply for His children. He highlights that it was the Father's love that sent Jesus to save humanity, and that believers should approach God in prayer with the confidence of being loved and cared for. Poonen encourages the congregation to recognize that God listens to all His children, regardless of their maturity in faith, and that faith is essential for effective prayer. He reassures that God delights in giving good gifts to those who seek Him, reinforcing the idea that God is a good Father who desires to fulfill the needs and desires of His children. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a deeper understanding of God’s fatherly love as the foundation of faith.
With the Light See Salvation
By George Fox0SalvationLight of ChristPSA 119:105ISA 60:1MAT 5:14JHN 8:12JHN 10:27ROM 8:12CO 4:6EPH 5:8HEB 8:111JN 1:5George Fox emphasizes the importance of the Light of Christ as a guiding force for believers, urging them to heed this divine illumination to recognize their sins and the transient nature of worldly desires. He encourages individuals to rely on the Light for personal revelation and understanding, rather than on human teachings, leading to a deeper relationship with God. By embracing this Light, believers can witness the New Covenant and experience true rest and salvation. Fox warns against the distractions of vain thoughts and idolatry, reminding that true life comes from hearing the voice of Jesus.
On Knowing the Lord (Philippians 3:10)
By T. Austin-Sparks0Spiritual GrowthKnowing GodPRO 3:5JHN 5:19JHN 14:9JHN 17:3PHP 1:10PHP 3:10COL 2:3HEB 8:111JN 2:201JN 2:27T. Austin-Sparks emphasizes that the primary objective of God's dealings with His children is for them to know Him intimately. He illustrates that this knowledge is foundational for strength, steadfastness, and effective service, as exemplified in the life of Jesus and the apostle Paul. The sermon highlights that true guidance and confidence stem from a deep, personal relationship with the Lord, rather than mere external knowledge or service. Sparks warns against the dangers of relying solely on doctrine and external practices, urging believers to seek a profound understanding of God. Ultimately, he calls for a commitment to knowing the Lord, which is essential for spiritual resilience and effectiveness in ministry.
We Have a Loving Heavenly Father
By Zac Poonen0PSA 37:4PSA 84:11MAT 6:26MAT 7:11JHN 16:27HEB 8:11Zac Poonen emphasizes the misconception that God the Father is strict while only Jesus loves us, clarifying that it was the Father's love that sent Jesus to save us. Jesus assures His disciples of the Father's love and care, comparing it to how earthly fathers provide for their children. Poonen challenges believers to approach God in prayer with faith, believing in His tender, fatherly care and His willingness to grant good gifts to His children, regardless of their maturity in faith. He encourages all, regardless of spiritual age, to boldly come to God as a loving Father who delights in hearing and meeting their needs.
Day 226, Hebrews 8
By David Servant0JER 22:15HEB 7:12HEB 8:11HEB 8:131JN 2:3David Servant preaches on the transition from the old covenant to the new covenant, emphasizing the appointment of a perpetual high priest after the order of Melchizedek, signifying the abolishment of the Levitical priesthood and the obsoleteness of the Mosaic Law related to it. The earthly tabernacle and priestly ministry were mere foreshadowings of Christ's superior priestly ministry in the heavenly tabernacle, culminating in the inauguration of the superior new covenant promised in the Old Testament. Those who cling to the old covenant miss the mark, as the new covenant has made the old one obsolete, requiring obedience to the law of Christ instead of the Law of Moses.
(Knowing God's Way) 4. How a Spiritual Movement Declines
By Zac Poonen0PSA 12:1MAT 16:3ACT 13:362CO 11:3COL 1:282TI 2:222TI 3:12TI 3:5HEB 8:11REV 2:4Zac Poonen preaches about the importance of sincere devotion to God in a world filled with deception and flattery. He emphasizes the need for believers to know God personally, not just through knowledge of the Bible, to avoid being led astray by cults and false teachings. Poonen warns about the dangers of seeking correctness in doctrine without pursuing personal devotion to Christ, highlighting the decline of movements that lose sight of true spirituality. He urges believers to seek shepherds after God's own heart, who prioritize building up believers in Christ rather than seeking personal gain or recognition.
How a Spiritual Movement Declines
By Zac Poonen0PSA 12:1MAT 16:3ACT 13:362CO 11:3COL 1:282TI 2:222TI 3:12TI 3:5HEB 8:11REV 2:4Zac Poonen preaches about the importance of sincere devotion to God in a world filled with deception and flattery. He emphasizes the need for believers to know God personally, not just through knowledge of the Bible, to avoid being led astray by cults and false doctrines. Poonen warns about the dangers of losing personal devotion to Christ and the tendency for movements to decline after the passing of their founders, stressing the significance of shepherds after God's own heart who do not seek their own but build up believers in Christ.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
They shall not teach every man his neighbor - Under the old covenant, properly speaking, there was no public instruction; before the erection of synagogues all worship was confined at first to the tabernacle, afterwards to the temple. When synagogues were established they were used principally for the bare reading of the law and the prophets; and scarcely any such thing as a public ministry for the continual instruction of the common people was found in the land till the time of John the Baptist, our Lord, and his apostles. It is true there were prophets who were a sort of general teachers, but neither was their ministry extended through all the people; and there were schools of the prophets and schools of the rabbins, but these were for the instruction of select persons. Hence it was necessary that every man should do what he could, under that dispensation, to instruct his neighbor and brother. But the prophecy here indicates that there should be, under the Gospel dispensation, a profusion of Divine light; and this we find to be the case by the plentiful diffusion of the sacred writings, and by an abundant Gospel ministry: and these blessings are not confined to temples or palaces, but are found in every corner of the land; so that, literally, all the people, from the least to the greatest, know and acknowledge the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent. Almost every man, at least in this land, has a Bible, and can read it; and there is not a family that has not the opportunity of hearing the Gospel preached, explained, and enforced. Some have thought that from the least to the greatest is intended to signify the order in which God proceeds with a work of grace; he generally begins with the poor, and through these the great and the high often hear the Gospel of Christ.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Second of the "better promises" (Heb 8:6). they shall not--"they shall not have to teach" [ALFORD]. his neighbour--So Vulgate reads; but the oldest manuscripts have "his (fellow) citizen." brother--a closer and more endearing relation than fellow citizen. from the least to the greatest--Greek, "from the little one to the great one." Zac 12:8, "He that is feeble among them shall be as David." Under the old covenant, the priest's lips were to keep knowledge, and at his mouth the people were to seek the law: under the new covenant, the Holy Spirit teaches every believer. Not that the mutual teaching of brethren is excluded while the covenant is being promulgated; but when once the Holy Spirit shall have fully taught all the remission of their sins and inward sanctification, then there shall be no further' need of man teaching his fellow man. Compare Th1 4:9; Th1 5:1, an earnest of that perfect state to come. On the way to that perfect state every man should teach his neighbor. "The teaching is not hard and forced, because grace renders all teachable; for it is not the ministry of the letter, but of the spirit (Co2 3:6). The believer's firmness does not depend on the authority of human teachers. God Himself teaches" [BENGEL]. The New Testament is shorter than the Old Testament, because, instead of the details of an outward letter law, it gives the all-embracing principles of the spiritual law written on the conscience, leading one to spontaneous instinctive obedience in outward details. None save the Lord can teach effectually, "know the Lord."
John Gill Bible Commentary
And they shall not teach every man his neighbour,.... The Alexandrian copy reads, "citizen"; that is, fellow citizen; and so the Syriac and Arabic versions: "and every man his brother, saying, know the Lord": this is not to be understood, so as to set aside the external and public ministry of the word, which is a standing ordinance of God under the Gospel dispensation; or even the, private instructions of saints one to another, in Christian conversation, whereby they may build up one another in their most holy faith; but the sense is, that men should not only teach, but the Spirit of God should teach with them, and by them; and it stands opposed to particular and pretended revelations, and especially to magisterial dictates; and denotes the abundance of knowledge that should be in Gospel times, which should not be restrained to particular persons, and sets of men, but should be shared by all believers, more or less: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest; from babes to fathers in Christ; not with a natural, but with a spiritual knowledge; not with general knowledge of him, that he is, but with a special knowledge of him, that he is theirs; not with a legal, but with an evangelical knowledge; not with the knowledge of him in, and through the creatures, but in Christ; and that not speculative, but experimental; such as is attended with faith in him, fear of him, love to him, and a cheerful obedience to his will: the knowledge of the Lord, under the New Testament dispensation, is greater than under the former dispensation; the subject matter of it is more distinct; God is more known in the persons of the Father, Son, and Spirit, in the perfections of his nature, in his titles and characters, and in his Son; the manner of it is more clear, open, and perspicuous; the persons to whom it is communicated are more numerous; it is not restrained to Jews, but is given to the Gentiles; and all this owing to a greater effusion of the Spirit; see Jo1 2:27.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
8:11 All those in the new covenant know the Lord; intimate personal relationship with the Lord is in the very nature of the new covenant.