The New Covenant – Jeremiah 31:31-34

by Micky Galloway

About 850 years after the making of the covenant on Mt. Sinai, the Lord stated that He would make a new and different covenant. Now that the new covenant is established, what is our relationship to the ten commandments? In principle, nine of the ten commandments contained in the Old Covenant are repeated in the New Covenant (the New Testament). We are to keep these nine New Testament teachings, NOT because they are in the Law of Moses, but because they are in the New Covenant, the Law of Christ.

Old Covenant		New Covenant
1. Exodus 20:3	“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”	Acts 14:15,17; I Thessalonians 1:9
2. Exodus 20:4-5	“Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image.”	Acts 17; I Thessalonians 1:9; 1 John 5:21
3. Exodus 20:7	“Thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain..”	James 5:12
4. Exodus 20:8	“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”	* Keeping the Sabbath (seventh) day is not commanded in the new covenant. However, certain acts of worship are commanded on the first day of the week. Acts 20:7; I Corinthians 16:1-3; Revelation 1:10
5. Exodus 20:12	“Honor they father and thy mother...”	Ephesians 6:1-2
6. Exodus 20:13	“Thou shalt not kill.”	Romans 13:9; Matthew 5:21-24; (cf Matthew 19:18 KJV)
7. Exodus 20:14	“Thou shalt not commit adultery.”	I Corinthians 6:9-10; Matthew 19:9
8. Exodus 20:15	“Thou shalt not steal..”	Ephesians 4:28
9. Exodus 20:16	“Thou shalt not bear false witness..”	Colossians 3:9
10. Exodus 20:17	“Thou shalt not covet.”	Colossians 3:5

Note the difference in the Old Covenant and the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34; cf Hebrews 8). The New Covenant would not be like the one God made with Israel when he brought them out of Egypt. The New Covenant would be in the hearts and minds of the people, rather than on tables of stone. All of those in covenant relationship under the New Covenant would know the Lord. Under the Old Covenant, a child came into covenant relationship with the Lord at birth. Circumcision, on the eighth day, was a sign of the covenant relationship. The child was taught later. Under the New Covenant, the people are to be taught first and then come into covenant relationship with the Lord. Baptism is the birth that puts us into this new relationship (John 3:3-5). Baptism is the seal of entrance into this new relationship. One cannot come into covenant relationship with the Lord today unless he is first taught His will, and unless he agrees to do it (John 6:44-45). Under the Old Covenant there was a remembrance made of sins each year (Hebrews 10:3) but under the New Covenant, the Lord promises complete remission of sins (Hebrews 8:7-13; cf Jeremiah 31:31ff). This was the heart of the New Covenant (Hebrews 10:16-18) (Note the term “perfect” in Hebrews 10:1-2, 11ff; See Hebrews 10:17 & 7:27). Christ is a better mediator than Moses. The New Covenant is a much better covenant.

What does that mean for us regarding the Old Covenant? Paul teaches the “passing away” of the Old Covenant in II Corinthians 3:1-16. The Old Covenant was purposed to pass away because Israel had broken the covenant (cf Hebrews 8:9). The “liberty” Paul speaks of in II Corinthians 3:17 is freedom from the Law (Romans 7:17; Galatians 4:18), fear (Romans 8:13), law of sin and death (Romans 8:2), sin (Romans 6:18), and corruption (Romans 8:21). In II Corinthians 3:14-15, Paul shows that the Old Covenant is understood to be fulfilled in Christ. In Romans Paul argues that the Jews were dead to the Old Law (cf Romans 7:1-7) that they might be joined to Christ. Please note that the law that the Jews were freed from was the Law that included the 10 commandments, the Mosaic law. Paul shows that Christ blotted out the “handwriting of ordinances that was against us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to the cross …” (Colossians 1:14-17). Christ abolished in his flesh the Law that caused enmity between the Jew and the Gentile (Ephesians 2:14-17 ; cf Hebrews 10:9-10). The Hebrew writer said, “He taketh away the first (covenant - mg) , that he may establish the second.”

Since the Old Covenant (Law) has been abolished, no one can appeal to it for support of any religious teaching to bind on man today, whether it be the use of mechanical instruments of music in worship, burning of incense or candles, tithing, or animal sacrifices. It was given only to the Jews and now even they are free from it. The Jewish law came to an end with the death of Christ on the cross. What then is the value of the Old Covenant (Law) for us now? Paul says it is given for “our learning” (Romans 15:4), it is for “our example” (I Corinthians 10:1-13). The Lord dealt with the nation of Israel in the development of the scheme of redemption. The Old Covenant was a part of that relationship. When the Old Covenant had served its purpose to bring us unto Christ (Galatians 3:24-25), then it was replaced with a new and better covenant which we now enjoy in Christ.