The New Covenant

    Heb 8:7-13
The quotation of Jer. 31:31-34, the longest OT
quotation in the NT, plays a vital role in the book’s
discourse on Christ’s superior high-priestly offering
(8:3-10:18), laying the groundwork for the climax
of the book’s christological exposition.

  Beale & Carson, Commentary on the NT use of the OT, 970
“Covenant”
     – pact, pledge, alliance, agreement, promise

Wording – to “cut a covenant” (cf. Gen 15)
• Visual demonstration incurring sobriety for the
  significance of the agreement reached & sealed
• Meant to ensure fulfillment of agreement, by
  consenting (generally mutually) to the death of
  the one who breaks covenant
Covenants
(Adamic)            Noahic          Abrahamic          Mosaic           Davidic             New

   Gen 1-2            Gen 9            Gen 12          Exo 19-24         2 Sam 7         Jer 31:33-34
                                       Gen 13
   Hos 6:7                             Gen 15         Deut 26-28                        Ezek 36:23-36
                                       Gen 17
                                       Gen 22




 Conditional:    Unconditional:     Unconditional:    Conditional:    Unconditional:    Unconditional:

                   (w/o God’s                          Exclusive                         Forgiveness
                   immediate                         devotion and                       Regeneration
Obedience to        presence)       (Circumcision)     absolute                           Holy Spirit
one command                                          obedience to                        Restoration
                 Provision:                             YHWH
                    Seasonal
 Provision &         stability       Great Name       Provision &       Great Name       Provision &
  protection                         Great Nation      protection       Eternal Rest      protection
enjoying God’s   Protection:            A Seed       enjoying God’s    Eternal House    enjoying God’s
 presence in         No more            A Land        presence in      Eternal Throne     unlimited
   Paradise       universal flood     A Blessing        Canaan        Eternal Kingdom      presence
Creation                        Fall                                   Redemption                         Consummation


 4000 BC?   4000 BC – 2300 BC      2300 BC – 2000 BC   2000 BC – 1500 BC   1500 BC – 33 AD   33 AD – ??    1000 yrs + Eternity!



                                                                           Rest of OT
                           Genesis
                                                                           (& Gospels)


                                                                Pentateuch
                                                       (Revelation Signals Redemption)


                                                                                             [Mosaic Cov.]
                                                                               Law
                                                                                                 Davidic Covenant


                                                         Promise                         Abrahamic Covenant


                                   Human Gov’t                                  Noahic Covenant


            Conscience


Innocence    Individuals               Family               Clan             Nation
Mosaic Covenant

Initiated in Exo 24:3-8, & confirmed with blood

• The people themselves are sprinkled with “the
  blood of the covenant”
Covenant Renewals
•   Exo 34:10 (Moses – 1st generation, after golden calf)
•   Deut 29:1(Moses – 2nd generation, after wild. wand.)
•   Josh 24 (Joshua – 2nd generation, after initial conq.)
•   1 Sam 12 (Samuel – upon the institution of the king)
•   2 Chron 29-31 (Hezekiah – roughly 725 BC)
•   2 Kgs 22-23 (Josiah – roughly 625 BC)
•   Neh 8-9 (upon returning to the land after captivity)
Creation                        Fall                                   Redemption                         Consummation


 4000 BC?   4000 BC – 2300 BC      2300 BC – 2000 BC   2000 BC – 1500 BC   1500 BC – 33 AD   33 AD – ??    1000 yrs + Eternity!



                                                                           Rest of OT
                           Genesis
                                                                           (& Gospels)


                                                                Pentateuch                    Grace       New Covenant
                                                       (Revelation Signals Redemption)


                                                                                             [Mosaic Cov.]
                                                                               Law
                                                                                                 Davidic Covenant


                                                         Promise                         Abrahamic Covenant


                                   Human Gov’t                                  Noahic Covenant


            Conscience


Innocence    Individuals               Family               Clan             Nation           World
Covenant Renewals
•   Exo 34:10 (Moses – 1st generation)
•   Deut 29:1(Moses – 2nd generation)
•   Josh 24 (Joshua – 2nd generation)
•   1 Sam 12 (Samuel – institution of king)
•   2 Chron 29-31 (Hezekiah – 725 BC)
•   2 Kgs 22-23 (Josiah – 625 BC)
    – Jeremiah                “New” Covenant
    – Also, Ezek 34, 36-37 & Isa 40-55
    – Jeremiah’s New Covenant most familiar b/c directly
      quoted twice in Hebrews (8:9-13 / 10:15-18)
Creation                        Fall                                   Redemption                         Consummation


 4000 BC?   4000 BC – 2300 BC      2300 BC – 2000 BC   2000 BC – 1500 BC   1500 BC – 33 AD   33 AD – ??    1000 yrs + Eternity!



                                                                           Rest of OT           New
                           Genesis                                                           Testament
                                                                                                              Kingdom
                                                                           (& Gospels)


                                                                Pentateuch                    Grace       New Covenant
                                                       (Revelation Signals Redemption)


                                                                                             [Mosaic Cov.]
                                                                               Law
                                                                                                 Davidic Covenant


                                                         Promise                         Abrahamic Covenant


                                   Human Gov’t                                  Noahic Covenant


            Conscience


Innocence    Individuals               Family               Clan             Nation           World            Cosmos
Creation                        Fall                                   Redemption                         Consummation


 4000 BC?   4000 BC – 2300 BC      2300 BC – 2000 BC   2000 BC – 1500 BC   1500 BC – 33 AD   33 AD – ??    1000 yrs + Eternity!



                                                                           Rest of OT           New
                           Genesis                                                           Testament
                                                                                                              Kingdom
                                                                           (& Gospels)


                                                                Pentateuch                    Grace       New Covenant
                                                       (Revelation Signals Redemption)


                                                                                             [Mosaic Cov.]
                                                                               Law
                                                                                                 Davidic Covenant


                                                         Promise                         Abrahamic Covenant


                                   Human Gov’t                                  Noahic Covenant


            Conscience


Innocence    Individuals               Family               Clan             Nation           World            Cosmos
So, where does the “New” Covenant fit?
Creation                                Fall                       Redemption                            Consummation
       Text: Bible              Height of Conflict:                      Reversal:
                                        Jesus, the Messiah                        Jesus, the Messiah
                                 Perfect cov’t leadership rejected        Perfect cov’t leadership confirmed
                                           – Crucifixion                            – Resurrection

  Conflict Intensifies:
                                                                                      Resolution Begins:
  God enters into covenant w/ His people
   ([Noah], Abraham, Moses, Levi [Phinehas], David)                                               The Church
                                                                                           (New Covenant initiated)
  God establishes leadership for His people                                            – God’s heavenly people on earth
    (Prophets, Priests, Judges, Kings)
                                                             Driving Conflict:
  Rejection of covenant by ldrship – Exile/Restoration
               (New Covenant promised)                                                          Conflict Unravels:
                                                                God’s Glory in
                                                              Salvation through                    The Millennium – Messiah reigns
       Conflict Builds:                                           Judgment                      (New Covenant realized / Curse removed)
        Personal Degradation – Cain, Lamech                                                          – God on earth w/ His people
                                                              (James Hamilton)
         Universal Judgment – Flood, Babel
                                                                                                Convergence of Abr., David., & New Cov’ts




Setting:                         Occasioning Event:                    Conflict Resolved:                   Outcome:
                                    Fall – Man rejects God’s                                                   – God’s Glory in Re-Creation of
   God’s Glory in Creation
                                           righteous rule and              God’s Glory in Judgment                New Heavens/New Earth
             of
                                           violates God’s Glory          – Heavens & Earth destroyed           – God’s right. rule established
     Heavens & Earth
                                                                                                                  over New Cov’t Community
                                    Creation cursed
                                                                                                                  in New Creation
Creation   Fall   Redemption   Consummation
Different word than used in
 Eschatological significance –
used 3 times in Jer 31 context
                                 Heb 8:8-12                LXX in Jer 31 – “to bring to
                                                             completion/fulfillment”

"Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new
     covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah,
 9 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took
     them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not
     continue in my covenant, and so I showed no concern for them, declares
     the Lord.
 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those

                          1
     days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write
                                 2
     them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my
     people.
 11 And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother,
     saying, 'Know the Lord,' 3 they shall all know me, from the least of them
                              for
     to the greatest.
    4
 12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their
     sins no more."
What was wrong with the Old Cov’t?
• With it, God found “fault” – v. 8
  – possessing defect
  – blameworthy
  – cf. 7:19 – “the Law made nothing perfect”

• In establishing a “new” covenant, God made
  the first one “obsolete” – v. 13
  – to make old/antiquated
  – outmoded, outdated
  – useless
Without the Temple, there was no altar, no Holy
of Holies. There could therefore be no sacrifices
and no ministering priesthood. And without a
priesthood and its sacrifices, there could be no
Old Covenant. It was finished. . . The destruction
of the Temple completed the closing of the Old
Covenant – by removing the place of sacrifice that
no longer served a purpose. The age of the
Mosaic law and the Levitical priests was over.
The age of the Son was come forever.
                                     – MacArthur
But isn’t the New Cov’t for Israel?
• Convergence of all the covenants
  – Adamic
  – Noahic
  – Abrahamic
  – Mosaic
  – Davidic
(Adamic)            Noahic           Abrahamic           Mosaic          Davidic             New

   Gen 1-2            Gen 9              Gen 12          Exo 19-24        2 Sam 7         Jer 31:33-34
                                         Gen 13
   Hos 6:7                               Gen 15         Deut 26-28                       Ezek 36:23-36
                                         Gen 17
                                         Gen 22




 Conditional:    Unconditional:      Unconditional:     Conditional:   Unconditional:    Unconditional:

                                                                                          Forgiveness
                                                                                         Regeneration
                                                                                           Holy Spirit
                                         A Seed                                           Restoration
                                                          Exclusive
 Provision &     Earthly stability     A Blessing       devotion and
  protection       & blessing                             absolute                        Provision &
enjoying God’s                                          obedience to     Eternal Rest      protection
 presence on                          To become a          YHWH         Eternal House    enjoying God’s
    Earth                              blessing . . .                   Eternal Throne     unlimited
                                      to all nations                   Eternal Kingdom      presence
NT Uses of “New Covenant”
• Luk 22:20
                Last Supper
• 1 Cor 11:25

• 2 Cor 3:6         Us as participants!


• Heb 8:8
• Heb 9:15      Jesus as Mediator
• Heb 12:24
The Connection of the Covenant & the Blood
• Heb 9:12 – purchases an eternal redemption
• Heb 9:14 – provides an internal regeneration
• Heb 10:19-20 – opens a “new & living way”
• Heb 10:29 – “the blood of the covenant” is what is
  “spurned” when the new covenant is rejected
• Heb 12:24 – “speaks” to one who is accepted
• Heb 13:12 – shed “outside the camp” for those within
• Heb 13:20 – “the blood of the eternal covenant” (!)
The New Covenant . . .

 Replacing all that comes before . . .
It anticipates all that is yet to come.

          And it’s ours . . .
              today!
           (And forever!)

12 04-11 - the new covenant (for web)

  • 1.
  • 2.
    The quotation ofJer. 31:31-34, the longest OT quotation in the NT, plays a vital role in the book’s discourse on Christ’s superior high-priestly offering (8:3-10:18), laying the groundwork for the climax of the book’s christological exposition. Beale & Carson, Commentary on the NT use of the OT, 970
  • 3.
    “Covenant” – pact, pledge, alliance, agreement, promise Wording – to “cut a covenant” (cf. Gen 15) • Visual demonstration incurring sobriety for the significance of the agreement reached & sealed • Meant to ensure fulfillment of agreement, by consenting (generally mutually) to the death of the one who breaks covenant
  • 4.
  • 5.
    (Adamic) Noahic Abrahamic Mosaic Davidic New Gen 1-2 Gen 9 Gen 12 Exo 19-24 2 Sam 7 Jer 31:33-34 Gen 13 Hos 6:7 Gen 15 Deut 26-28 Ezek 36:23-36 Gen 17 Gen 22 Conditional: Unconditional: Unconditional: Conditional: Unconditional: Unconditional: (w/o God’s Exclusive Forgiveness immediate devotion and Regeneration Obedience to presence) (Circumcision) absolute Holy Spirit one command obedience to Restoration Provision: YHWH Seasonal Provision & stability Great Name Provision & Great Name Provision & protection Great Nation protection Eternal Rest protection enjoying God’s Protection: A Seed enjoying God’s Eternal House enjoying God’s presence in No more A Land presence in Eternal Throne unlimited Paradise universal flood A Blessing Canaan Eternal Kingdom presence
  • 6.
    Creation Fall Redemption Consummation 4000 BC? 4000 BC – 2300 BC 2300 BC – 2000 BC 2000 BC – 1500 BC 1500 BC – 33 AD 33 AD – ?? 1000 yrs + Eternity! Rest of OT Genesis (& Gospels) Pentateuch (Revelation Signals Redemption) [Mosaic Cov.] Law Davidic Covenant Promise Abrahamic Covenant Human Gov’t Noahic Covenant Conscience Innocence Individuals Family Clan Nation
  • 7.
    Mosaic Covenant Initiated inExo 24:3-8, & confirmed with blood • The people themselves are sprinkled with “the blood of the covenant”
  • 8.
    Covenant Renewals • Exo 34:10 (Moses – 1st generation, after golden calf) • Deut 29:1(Moses – 2nd generation, after wild. wand.) • Josh 24 (Joshua – 2nd generation, after initial conq.) • 1 Sam 12 (Samuel – upon the institution of the king) • 2 Chron 29-31 (Hezekiah – roughly 725 BC) • 2 Kgs 22-23 (Josiah – roughly 625 BC) • Neh 8-9 (upon returning to the land after captivity)
  • 9.
    Creation Fall Redemption Consummation 4000 BC? 4000 BC – 2300 BC 2300 BC – 2000 BC 2000 BC – 1500 BC 1500 BC – 33 AD 33 AD – ?? 1000 yrs + Eternity! Rest of OT Genesis (& Gospels) Pentateuch Grace New Covenant (Revelation Signals Redemption) [Mosaic Cov.] Law Davidic Covenant Promise Abrahamic Covenant Human Gov’t Noahic Covenant Conscience Innocence Individuals Family Clan Nation World
  • 10.
    Covenant Renewals • Exo 34:10 (Moses – 1st generation) • Deut 29:1(Moses – 2nd generation) • Josh 24 (Joshua – 2nd generation) • 1 Sam 12 (Samuel – institution of king) • 2 Chron 29-31 (Hezekiah – 725 BC) • 2 Kgs 22-23 (Josiah – 625 BC) – Jeremiah “New” Covenant – Also, Ezek 34, 36-37 & Isa 40-55 – Jeremiah’s New Covenant most familiar b/c directly quoted twice in Hebrews (8:9-13 / 10:15-18)
  • 11.
    Creation Fall Redemption Consummation 4000 BC? 4000 BC – 2300 BC 2300 BC – 2000 BC 2000 BC – 1500 BC 1500 BC – 33 AD 33 AD – ?? 1000 yrs + Eternity! Rest of OT New Genesis Testament Kingdom (& Gospels) Pentateuch Grace New Covenant (Revelation Signals Redemption) [Mosaic Cov.] Law Davidic Covenant Promise Abrahamic Covenant Human Gov’t Noahic Covenant Conscience Innocence Individuals Family Clan Nation World Cosmos
  • 12.
    Creation Fall Redemption Consummation 4000 BC? 4000 BC – 2300 BC 2300 BC – 2000 BC 2000 BC – 1500 BC 1500 BC – 33 AD 33 AD – ?? 1000 yrs + Eternity! Rest of OT New Genesis Testament Kingdom (& Gospels) Pentateuch Grace New Covenant (Revelation Signals Redemption) [Mosaic Cov.] Law Davidic Covenant Promise Abrahamic Covenant Human Gov’t Noahic Covenant Conscience Innocence Individuals Family Clan Nation World Cosmos
  • 13.
    So, where doesthe “New” Covenant fit?
  • 14.
    Creation Fall Redemption Consummation Text: Bible Height of Conflict: Reversal: Jesus, the Messiah Jesus, the Messiah Perfect cov’t leadership rejected Perfect cov’t leadership confirmed – Crucifixion – Resurrection Conflict Intensifies: Resolution Begins: God enters into covenant w/ His people ([Noah], Abraham, Moses, Levi [Phinehas], David) The Church (New Covenant initiated) God establishes leadership for His people – God’s heavenly people on earth (Prophets, Priests, Judges, Kings) Driving Conflict: Rejection of covenant by ldrship – Exile/Restoration (New Covenant promised) Conflict Unravels: God’s Glory in Salvation through The Millennium – Messiah reigns Conflict Builds: Judgment (New Covenant realized / Curse removed) Personal Degradation – Cain, Lamech – God on earth w/ His people (James Hamilton) Universal Judgment – Flood, Babel Convergence of Abr., David., & New Cov’ts Setting: Occasioning Event: Conflict Resolved: Outcome: Fall – Man rejects God’s – God’s Glory in Re-Creation of God’s Glory in Creation righteous rule and God’s Glory in Judgment New Heavens/New Earth of violates God’s Glory – Heavens & Earth destroyed – God’s right. rule established Heavens & Earth over New Cov’t Community Creation cursed in New Creation
  • 15.
    Creation Fall Redemption Consummation
  • 16.
    Different word thanused in Eschatological significance – used 3 times in Jer 31 context Heb 8:8-12 LXX in Jer 31 – “to bring to completion/fulfillment” "Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 9 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not continue in my covenant, and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those 1 days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write 2 them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 11 And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' 3 they shall all know me, from the least of them for to the greatest. 4 12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more."
  • 17.
    What was wrongwith the Old Cov’t? • With it, God found “fault” – v. 8 – possessing defect – blameworthy – cf. 7:19 – “the Law made nothing perfect” • In establishing a “new” covenant, God made the first one “obsolete” – v. 13 – to make old/antiquated – outmoded, outdated – useless
  • 18.
    Without the Temple,there was no altar, no Holy of Holies. There could therefore be no sacrifices and no ministering priesthood. And without a priesthood and its sacrifices, there could be no Old Covenant. It was finished. . . The destruction of the Temple completed the closing of the Old Covenant – by removing the place of sacrifice that no longer served a purpose. The age of the Mosaic law and the Levitical priests was over. The age of the Son was come forever. – MacArthur
  • 19.
    But isn’t theNew Cov’t for Israel? • Convergence of all the covenants – Adamic – Noahic – Abrahamic – Mosaic – Davidic
  • 20.
    (Adamic) Noahic Abrahamic Mosaic Davidic New Gen 1-2 Gen 9 Gen 12 Exo 19-24 2 Sam 7 Jer 31:33-34 Gen 13 Hos 6:7 Gen 15 Deut 26-28 Ezek 36:23-36 Gen 17 Gen 22 Conditional: Unconditional: Unconditional: Conditional: Unconditional: Unconditional: Forgiveness Regeneration Holy Spirit A Seed Restoration Exclusive Provision & Earthly stability A Blessing devotion and protection & blessing absolute Provision & enjoying God’s obedience to Eternal Rest protection presence on To become a YHWH Eternal House enjoying God’s Earth blessing . . . Eternal Throne unlimited to all nations Eternal Kingdom presence
  • 21.
    NT Uses of“New Covenant” • Luk 22:20 Last Supper • 1 Cor 11:25 • 2 Cor 3:6 Us as participants! • Heb 8:8 • Heb 9:15 Jesus as Mediator • Heb 12:24
  • 22.
    The Connection ofthe Covenant & the Blood • Heb 9:12 – purchases an eternal redemption • Heb 9:14 – provides an internal regeneration • Heb 10:19-20 – opens a “new & living way” • Heb 10:29 – “the blood of the covenant” is what is “spurned” when the new covenant is rejected • Heb 12:24 – “speaks” to one who is accepted • Heb 13:12 – shed “outside the camp” for those within • Heb 13:20 – “the blood of the eternal covenant” (!)
  • 23.
    The New Covenant. . . Replacing all that comes before . . . It anticipates all that is yet to come. And it’s ours . . . today! (And forever!)