Hebrews 8:7-13
7: For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second. 8: For finding fault with them, He says, “BEHOLD, DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD, WHEN I WILL EFFECT A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH;
9: NOT LIKE THE COVENANT WHICH I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERS ON THE DAY WHEN I TOOK THEM BY THE HAND TO LEAD THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT; FOR THEY DID NOT CONTINUE IN MY COVENANT, AND I DID NOT CARE FOR 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 MINDS, AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS. AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
11: “AND THEY SHALL NOT TEACH EVERYONE HIS FELLOW CITIZEN, AND EVERYONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, ‘KNOW THE LORD,’ FOR ALL WILL KNOW ME, FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM.
12: “FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE.”
13: When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.
Paul explained that if the first covenant under the Levitical priesthood had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second one. No need for Jesus to come to suffer and die for the sins of the people. If forgiveness, cleansing, and redemption could have been possible under the Law, then the Law would have remained in place (Galatians 2:21, 3:21). But God found fault with it. It wasn’t good enough for Him. He wanted His people back, His children. He wanted fellowship with them like He intended all along from the beginning—His family.
Paul quoted a lengthy portion of Scripture from Jeremiah 31:31-34 to make his point that even the prophets of old testified of the new covenant to come—one in which the Laws of God would be put in the minds of the people and written on their hearts. All would know Him directly, not having to learn of Him outwardly through others, and He would be merciful to their iniquities and not remember their sins.
Jeremiah described the new covenant established by Jesus Christ long before He came. The first one, the old one, is obsolete and no longer in effect. The new one is the current one. It doesn’t do anyone any good to try and seek righteousness through the old Law. It cannot be obtained that way. It never could. It made its point in proving that man cannot attain unblemished righteousness through the Law (Romans 3:10-12/Psalm 14:1-3, Galatians 3:10/Deuteronomy 27:26).
Jesus, the Son of God, and the Word of God made flesh, is the only one who lived a righteous, unblemished life. He is the only one who qualified to be the perfect sacrifice for the sins of mankind. He took the curse of sin on Himself and when He was raised from the dead by the Father it was evidence that the price for our sin was paid for in full. Jesus—and all those who believe in Him are cleansed from the stain of sin and seated in heavenly places. (Galatians 3:13-14, Ephesians 2:5-6).
13: When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.
***
Paul explained that if the first covenant under the Levitical priesthood had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second one. No need for Jesus to come to suffer and die for the sins of the people. If forgiveness, cleansing, and redemption could have been possible under the Law, then the Law would have remained in place (Galatians 2:21, 3:21). But God found fault with it. It wasn’t good enough for Him. He wanted His people back, His children. He wanted fellowship with them like He intended all along from the beginning—His family.
Paul quoted a lengthy portion of Scripture from Jeremiah 31:31-34 to make his point that even the prophets of old testified of the new covenant to come—one in which the Laws of God would be put in the minds of the people and written on their hearts. All would know Him directly, not having to learn of Him outwardly through others, and He would be merciful to their iniquities and not remember their sins.
Jeremiah described the new covenant established by Jesus Christ long before He came. The first one, the old one, is obsolete and no longer in effect. The new one is the current one. It doesn’t do anyone any good to try and seek righteousness through the old Law. It cannot be obtained that way. It never could. It made its point in proving that man cannot attain unblemished righteousness through the Law (Romans 3:10-12/Psalm 14:1-3, Galatians 3:10/Deuteronomy 27:26).
Jesus, the Son of God, and the Word of God made flesh, is the only one who lived a righteous, unblemished life. He is the only one who qualified to be the perfect sacrifice for the sins of mankind. He took the curse of sin on Himself and when He was raised from the dead by the Father it was evidence that the price for our sin was paid for in full. Jesus—and all those who believe in Him are cleansed from the stain of sin and seated in heavenly places. (Galatians 3:13-14, Ephesians 2:5-6).
Comments
Post a Comment