“Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven” (Hebrews 8:1 NIV).
As with several of the teachings we have already encountered within the Biblical book of Hebrews, this passage reinforces a message from earlier within this epistle. In this instance, Hebrews 8:1 aligns with the following verse from the very first chapter of this book: “…when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:3 KJV).
As mentioned previously, Jesus’ seated position “…at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (ESV) sheds some additional light on the finality of His sacrificial offering. While we might normally associate a seated position with a place of rest, this image conveys something very different. You see, unlike an Old Testament priest who stood to conduct the daily sacrificial offerings, Jesus’ sacrificial work is finished…
“The representation that Christ has ‘sat down’ is a testimony to the completed nature of his work. In the Jewish economy, the high priest did not sit down when he went into the Holy of Holies, there being no provision of a chair, testifying to the preparatory and temporal nature of the atonement that he made; but not so with Christ who having accomplished all things is seated at God’s right hand…” (1)
So this tells us that Jesus has assumed a place of supreme honor along with all the dignity and reverence that accompanies His exalted position. In fact, terms like “throne ” and “Majesty” convey the image of a sovereign, royal leader. Furthermore, the symbolism associated with the “right hand of God” is important, for it finds its origin in an ancient, cross-cultural symbol of authority and power.
Since the right hand serves as the dominant hand for the vast majority of people, the right hand (or right arm) eventually came to be associated with the greatest degree of skill and strength in the ancient world. This eventually led to a further identification with the concepts of favor, importance, righteousness, blessing, and sovereignty. In fact, we continue to acknowledge this ancient imagery today whenever we refer to a person who serves as the “right hand” of someone in authority.
This symbolic representation of Jesus’ preeminence is so important that Hebrews 8:1 represents the third time our author has referenced it within this epistle. Other New Testament authors employ this imagery as well, further attesting to the powerful nature of this metaphor.
(1) Coffman, James Burton. “Commentary on Hebrews 1”. “Coffman Commentaries on the Bible”. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bcc/hebrews-1.htm. Abilene Christian University Press, Abilene, Texas, USA. 1983-1999.