In our previous study on the Old Covenant, we learned that God made a covenant with the Children of Israel. The words of the covenant or the terms of the contract were the laws that they were commanded to keep. When the people heard the requirements of the covenant, they responded by saying, “All that the LORD hath spoken we will do.” Exodus 19:8

However, as we read the Old Testament stories, we learn that Israel struggled to keep God’s requirements. They adopted many of the religious practices of the surrounding heathen nations—from worshipping idols and the sun, to sacrificing their own children (2Chron 33:2-7, Eze 8:10,14,16). However, God did not leave them without the promise of a helping hand. God promised Israel that He would create a new covenant!

What was wrong with the Old Covenant?

For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. Hebrews 8:7-8

Paul appears to blame the Old Covenant when he infers that it had its faults. However, he explains what he means in the very next sentence. The Old Covenant wasn’t faulty on its own, it was faulty in the sense that the people who were supposed to keep it, kept breaking it.

What changes did God make with the New Covenant?

But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. Hebrews 8:6

The promises of the Old Covenant were essentially saying—If you keep the law, then God will bless you. However, the problem was that Israel tried to keep the law as a set of external rules that they kept breaking. They saw the law as a checklist of rules to keep and ultimately the rules became more important than the Rule-Maker which resulted in the crucifixion of the Son of God.

What were the better promises of the New Covenant?

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. Hebrews 8:10-12

The House of Israel – As part of the New Covenant, the House of Israel was no longer confined to a particular race of people. The House of Israel were all who accepted Christ by faith (Gal 3:29).

The laws in our minds – The promises of the New Covenant gave Israel better promises. God’s people would no longer see the law as a stone tablet and a book. The law was no longer an external code of do’s and don’ts. The law would be written in our hearts and thus God would provide supernatural power to change us into a new creature.

When Christ established the Church, He formed an international group of people. Unlike the Hebrews who were essentially tied to Jerusalem, the Church not only crossed all geographical boundaries, but would also consist of all nationalities, cultures, and languages.

Because Christ was the ultimate sacrifice, the Levitical offerings and sacrifices were to also be abolished. (Heb 10:1-10, Dan 9:27, Matt 27:51)

Because the earthly sanctuary would no longer exist, the Levitical Sabbath and Feast days were also to be abolished (Col 2:16-17, 1Cor 5:7)

I will be merciful – Under the Old Covenant, those who defiantly broke the law (Heb 10:28) were punished without mercy. However, when Israel’s theocracy ended, all the judgments and punishments ended with them (see John 8:3-11). Under the New Covenant, we are saved into Christ through His mercy (Tit 3:5).

Their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more – Once we ask for forgiveness, Christ no longer remembers our sins and holds them against us. (1John 1:9, Mic 7:19)

I praise God that we no longer must sacrifice animals every morning and night. We no longer need to go to the priest to atone for our sins, we can now God straight to God through His Son Jesus Christ. Praise God!