Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
now—not time; but "as it is."
more excellent ministry—than any earthly ministry.
by how much—in proportion as.
mediator—coming between us and God, to carry into effect God's covenant with us. "The messenger (angel) of the covenant."
which—Greek, "one which" [ALFORD]: inasmuch as being one which.
established—Greek, "enacted as a law." So Romans 3:27, "law of faith"; and Romans 8:2; Romans 9:31, apply "law" to the Gospel covenant. It is implied hereby, the Gospel is founded on the law, in the spirit and essence of the latter.
upon—resting upon.
better promises—enumerated Hebrews 8:10-11. The Old Testament promises were mainly of earthly, the New Testament promises, of heavenly blessings: the exact fulfilment of the earthly promises was a pledge of the fulfilment of the heavenly. "Like a physician who prescribes a certain diet to a patient, and then when the patient is beginning to recover, changes the diet, permitting what he had before forbidden; or as a teacher gives his pupil an elementary lesson at first; preparatory to leading him to a higher stage": so Rabbi Albo in his Ikkarim. Compare Jeremiah 7:21-22, which shows that God's original design in the old covenant ritual system was, that it should be pedagogical, as a schoolmaster leading and preparing men for Christ.
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Hebrews 8:6:
Deuteronomy 5:5
Isaiah 4:2
Isaiah 42:6
1 Timothy 2:5
Hebrews 7:19
Hebrews 7:22
Hebrews 8:1
Hebrews 8:10
Hebrews 8:11
Hebrews 8:12
Hebrews 9:11
Hebrews 9:15
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