Did Jesus make the old covenant of Moses obsolete.. or not.. ?

[LEWard]

Yes, Hebrews recognized that the Old Covenant "is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away." (Heb 8:13b NKJV). The underlying theme of chapters 7-10 focuses on the change in the priesthood. Yet Hebrews 7:5 acknowledges that Levi had the right to receive tithes. This right was given in the law (Num 18:21). So likely the temple still stood when Hebrews was written and the Old Covenant that established Levi stood as well. Hebrews knew though that the handwriting was on the wall and soon that covenant would become unworkable.

It was not unworkable because the instruction to the common man on how to relate to the Creator or their neighbor was obsolete or of no value. The system of atoning for mistakes had been replaced and we can now see the old method was about to be eliminated with the destruction of the temple. The fault necessitating the change was not with the covenant, but the people who were bound by it. They didn't uphold their half of the bargain (Heb 8:7-10).

However, God is faithful and He determined to confirm another covenant that could be kept. His plan is: "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 in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people" (Heb 8:10).

The fundamental terms of the covenant are the same, minus the Levitical system, but He will enable believers to do them. One does what is in their heart, as I explained my last post. (see also Prov 3:1, 3)

"His Laws" are not 'the law'. When we understand the quirks of Hebrew speech we see that 'His law' is the same as His covenant (Ps 78:10, Hos 8:1). His covenant, the covenant of the Lord, is the Ten Commandments. "So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone." (Deu 4:13) This was done in Exodus 20-24 (Deu 4:12-13, 23) This was also the covenant He made with Abraham and the Patriarchs. "He remembers His covenant forever, The word which He commanded, for a thousand generations, 9 The covenant which He made with Abraham, And His oath to Isaac, 10 And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, To Israel as an everlasting covenant, 11 Saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan As the allotment of your inheritance," (Ps 105:8-11).

What people don't fully consider is that there were two covenants made with Israel in the wilderness. The Old Covenant, that established Levi was the second, made just before Israel went into the Promised Land (Deu 29:1, 31:24-26). Hebrews calls it the "first", because Hebrews is only dealing with two, the Old and the New. Of those the old was obviously the first. The original Greek 'prote' indicates a first in a series. The series under discussion in Hebrews consists of only the Old and New.

The covenant at Sinai mentions nothing of Levi, sin offerings or curses for disobedience. It contained the original terms under which Israel was to live, which were the same terms Abraham followed. Israel didn't keep those terms for long. Within a few weeks they made themselves the golden calf and God was about to destroy them. Because of Moses pleading He relented, but established Levi as a buffer. (Ps 106:23, Deu 10:5, 8, Ex 32:10). The Law came as a result of that. One doesn't add or annul a covenant. So a second covenant was established in Deuteronomy, which means 'second law'.

That covenant is the Old covenant. The account of the confirmation of that covenant doesn't fit Exodus 20-24.. According to Hebrews Moses spoke every important precept of the law and sprinkled the tabernacle and utensils at the confirmation of the Old Covenant. (Heb 9:18-21). Moses didn't speak every precept of the law at Sinai, but only Exodus 20-23. The tabernacle didn't exist at the confirming of Exodus 24.

"not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the LORD." (Heb 8:9) A gloss read when one is only aware of one covenant will typically connect the rejected covenant with Exodus 20-24. But where was Israel when "I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt "?

In order to take them "out of Egypt" they had to be in Egypt. The Exodus 20-24 covenant was not in Egypt (Ex 16:1). Of course, neither was the covenant of Deuteronomy (Deu 1:1). Is God more interested in geographical location or state of mind? Israel desired to go back to Egypt regularly while wondering in the wilderness. It was not until Israel entered the Promised Land that they were separated from the pull of Egypt. 'Then the LORD said to Joshua, "This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you."' (Josh 5:9). The Deuteronomy covenant was made just before they left mental Egypt.

The purpose of the Old Covenant was to help them keep His covenant. It failed. "because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the LORD". Those who grasp the New Covenant will continue in His Covenant, His Law.

"But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament (covenant), because the veil is taken away in Christ." (2Cor 3:14). Jesus example makes evident the true intent of the Law. The Jews didn't know which commands were more important. They got bogged down in food, clothing, bathing and washing. They minimized justice, mercy and faith. By understanding that the instruction of Exodus 20-23 is from the beginning, we can better evaluate and apply the rest of the Law. A gloss read of these chapters is insufficient. David pondered His law regularly, but never claimed he knew it all.

Our sense of time and that of the Creator seem to be different. Peter definitely felt the New Covenant had arrived (Acts 2:16-21). However there are other scriptures that make it appear to be a future event as the quotes of Gwynedd1 would indicate. They're both right. "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." (Mat 7:14). Fortunately our Creator is faithful to His promises and incredibly merciful. He will keep trying even after Christ's return.

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them." (Eze 36:26-27) "David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them." (Eze 37:24)

Thank you Richio for your kind words.

LEW