The Promise of The New Covenant in The Old

Topic: Covenant
Passage: Hebrews 8:7–13

August 2, 2025

Commentary

Moses was the mediator (go-between) of the Old Covenant in the giving of the law (Gal. 3;19-20). The mediator of the New Covenant is Jesus Christ, and He is the only mediator (I Tim. 2:50. Jesus Christ is God’s superior Priest. He ministers on the basis of a better covenant (Chap. 8), in a better sanctuary (Chap. 9), and because of a better sacrifice (Chap. 10).

The theme of this chapter is a better covenant that is founded on better promises:

  1. The promise of God’s grace (vv-7-9). This New Covenant does not depend on man’s faithfulness to God, but on God’s faithful promise to man. No sinner can become a part of this New Covenant without faith in Jesus Christ.
  2. The promise of eternal change (v. 10). The Law of Moses could declare God’s holy standard, but it could never provide the power needed to obey it.
  3. The promise of forgiveness for all (vv. 11-12). There was no forgiveness under the Law because the Law was not given for that purpose. The Old Testament sacrifices brought a remembrance of sins, not a remission of sins (Heb. 10-3, 18).
  4. The promise of eternal blessing (v. 13). The New Covenant brings eternal blessing. Jesus Christ is the author of “eternal salvation” (Heb. 5:9) and “eternal redemption” (v. 12).

Application

Even though the New Covenant of grace brings with it freedom from the Law of Moses (Gal. 5:1), it does not give me liberty to disobey God and to sin. God still desires that the “righteousness of the Law” is to be fulfilled in me through the ministry of the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:1-4).

Hebrews 8:7–13 (NET)

7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, no one would have looked for a second one. 8 But showing its fault, God says to them, “Look, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will complete a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.

9 “It will not be like the covenant that I made with their fathers, on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not continue in my covenant and I had no regard for them, says the Lord.

10 “For this is the covenant that I will establish with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and I will inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God and they will be my people.

11 “And there will be no need at all for each one to teach his countryman or each one to teach his brother saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ since they will all know me, from the least to the greatest.

12 “For I will be merciful toward their evil deeds, and their sins I will remember no longer.”

13 When he speaks of a new covenant, he makes the first obsolete. Now what is growing obsolete and aging is about to disappear.

God is Ready to Make “Covenants” With People

Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary defines “Covenant“ as a binding agreement between two or more parties expressly for the performance of some action. God’s love and grace shows His readiness to make covenants with people. … Continue