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THE OLD vs. NEW COVENANT

Hebrews Chapter Nine

Lesson Summary

This lesson discusses the difference between the covenant made between God and Moses, known as the Mosaic law, and the new covenant under which we now live through the power and blood of Christ. The student objectives are to learn what the old Law is, what the new covenant is, why Jesus, who is God, sacrificed Himself on the cross, and how the doors to Heaven are now open to all who believe in the name of Jesus. Emphasis is on getting to heaven by believing in the blood of Jesus.

Lesson Outline

The Old Law

Temple Outer Room – earthly sanctuary

Temple Inner Room – earthly sanctuary

Annual Sacrifices, Animal Blood

Promise of New Covenant

Jeremiah 31:31-34

Isaiah 54:13-14

John 6:45

JESUS – The New Covenant

Our Bodies – earthly sanctuary

Single Sacrifice

God's Blood

Lesson

PART I

The old Hebraic law is a long list of regulations on how to worship God. Most of those regulations can be found in the Bible books of Exodus and Leviticus. Ordinary Hebrew people would routinely and ritually give offerings and perform sacrifices to God. But only the High Priest, on one day each year, could perform a ritual inside the Tabernacle, or Temple, that would let the sins of the people be forgiven.

Now the Temple was built in the following fashion. In front, there was a large open courtyard where anyone could go to fellowship and worship. Next, there was a closed-off area called the Holy Place which was accessible only to priests and other high ranking Jewish leaders. The room contained the lampstand, the table, and the consecrated bread. The room was entered regularly by the priests so they could perform their ministry. It was in this room that Zechariah, father of John the Baptist, saw the angel Gabriel (see Luke 1:5-11).

Behind that room, and separated by a large heavy curtain, was the room called the Most Holy Place, or, the Holy Of Holies (HOH). This room contained the gold altar, and the gold covered ark which contained the stone tablets given to Moses on Mount Sinai. Only the High priest could enter the HOH.

The Temple represents and earthly sanctuary. A place on earth where Jews could worship God and be cleansed of their sins on a yearly schedule. The HOH represented heaven but, in reality, it was only a building built by men from earthly materials.

One day per year, called Yom Kippur, the High priest would enter the HOH. He would always bring animal blood with him to offer as a sacrifice to God for himself and the sins of the people. It is very important to notice here that the ordinary sacrifices of the people, grain offerings, peace offering, sin offerings, etc., were not enough to cleanse them of their sin. Only blood sacrificed in the Holiest of places could clear the consciences of the people and restore them to "good standing" with God.

PART II

But God did not intend for this method of purification, to continue forever. For this covenant was difficult, temporary, and often not even followed by the Jewish people who claimed to follow the Law of God. God had a plan for a new covenant. And he described this new covenant through His prophets Jeremiah and Isaiah.

The text (NIV) of Jeremiah 31:31-34 follows:

"The days are coming," declares the LORD,"when I will make a new covenantwith the people of Israeland with the people of Judah. It will not be like the covenantI made with their ancestorswhen I took them by the handto lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant,though I was a husband tothem,"declares the LORD."This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israelafter that time," declares the LORD."I will put my law in their mindsand write it on their hearts.I will be their God,and they will be my people.No longer will they teach their neighbor,or say to one another, 'Know the LORD,'because they will all know me,from the least of them to the greatest,"declares the LORD."For I will forgive their wickednessand will remember their sins no more."

And (NIV) Isaiah 54:13-14:

All your children will be taught by the LORD,and great will be their peace.In righteousness you will be established:Tyranny will be far from you;you will have nothing to fear.Terror will be far removed;it will not come near you.

Remember that Isaiah prophesized from approximately 740-681 BC and Jeremiah from approximately 627-586 BC. This period spans over 150 years and occurred roughly 600 years before the birth of Jesus. Furthermore, Micah also speaks of the coming Messiah sometime between 750 and 680 BC.

So, just what was God trying to say? Examination of Jeremiah tells us quite plainly that God is saying that a new covenant, which means God's promise or manner of agreement, is coming. He is also saying that this new covenant will be very different from the old covenant of laws given to Moses. Instead of making us remember and perform ritualistic sacrifices, God will write His love on our hearts and minds, and we will have nothing to fear because He will forgive us and remember our sins no more.

This is also why Paul tells us in Romans 12:1-2 that we must renew our minds, and again in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that old things have passed away and all things have become new.

PART III

Jesus Christ is the new covenant. Our human bodies replace the Tabernacle of old as the earthly sanctuary (see 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19). Sure we have God's Spirit in us, but we are still built of earthly substances. We are merely vessels of clay, no different from a pottery jar.

When Jesus was born, he was born to be king; the priest of the highest order. He IS the new covenant. In Exodus 20.8 Moses sprinkled animal blood and says," This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you." But in Luke 22:20, Jesus overcomes the old covenant when he says, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."

Under the Law, the High priest would enter the Holy Of Holies, which represented Heaven, and sprinkle animal blood to atone for the sins of the people. This was done every year. Under the new covenant, Jesus entered Heaven itself, shedding His own blood for our sins. Jesus needed to die only once, for everyone, for all time.

The doors of heaven are now open to everyone.This opening became manifest (apparent) when Christ died on the cross. The heavy curtain separating the Most Holy Place from the rest of the Temple was torn in two upon Jesus' death. Now we ALL have instant access to God's heavenly home.

Just as man dies only once, and remember, we are created in God's image, Jesus needed to die only once that all may be forgiven.

Just because the doors to Heaven are now open, God does not reach out and pull us in. We must choose by free will to walk the path that leads us to God.

Questions

What is the old Mosaic Law?

How does the new covenant differ from the old one?

How are they similar?

Why did Jesus need to die only once, instead of every year?

What does Micah chapter five tell us about the coming Messiah?

PRAYER

Holy God, we are fortunate to live in the time of the new covenant. We thank You LORD for opening the gates of Heaven to us. Help us walk the path that leads to your door. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.