Hebrews 8:6-13 – The Superior Covenant

Having dealt with the issue of the better ministry of Christ as High Priest, the author turned now to focus on the Covenant that He had ratified with His Blood. His main purpose was to show the superiority of this Covenant. Hence, in verses 6-9, he gave reasons for the necessity of the New Covenant; in verses 10-12, he showed the four superior promises of the New Covenant before underscoring the certainty of the change in verse 13.

Verse 6 began by showing that the superiority of Christ’s ministry as High Priest rested on the superiority of the Covenant. In comparison with the Mosaic Covenant, this one was more superior because it rested on two things: more superior promises and a better mediator. Unlike the Old Testament that was mediated through angels and Moses; the Mediator of this New Covenant.is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ.

Verse 7 gives the first reason by stating that: had the first covenant and its promises been adequate and flawless, there would be no necessity for a second one. This implied that the first covenant had faults; hence, the need for another. Therefore, in verse 8, God declared that He would make a New Covenant with the house of Israel and Judah.

Verse 9 then shows that the New Covenant to be made with Israel would be unlike the first. In the Old Covenant, the people of Israel had failed God and that made it necessary for a new one. Hence, God gave the promise of a New Covenant. In the first covenant given by Moses, the people were not empowered to keep the covenant and they did not stay faithful to God. Now in the New Covenant, believers would have the ability to stay faithful to God. The Laws of God would not be engraved in stones but in hearts instead. Besides, God’s abiding presence would also be in the believers. This would make the second covenant different from the first.

In verses 10-12, the author delineated four promises made to the people in the New Covenant: (1) they would know God’s will and desire to do it - verse 10; (2) they would enjoy a privilege and unique relationship with God - verse 11; (3) they would know God personally - verse 11; and (4) they would experience permanent forgiveness of sins - verse 12.

Here, the author contrasted the two covenants God had made with the people. The first one, the Mosaic covenant, had become obsolete, as it was growing old. The destruction of the temple in AD 70 literally brought this to pass. The temple, the rituals and everything attached to it, were destroyed and the Jews were scattered throughout the world. The New Covenant was enacted at the death of Jesus Christ. Hence, the basis of the New Covenant was the death and Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord. This New Covenant had only been partially fulfilled. We must bear in mind that the New Covenant was made with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not with the Church. The part of the New Covenant offered to us is salvation. The rest of the Covenant will find its fulfillment in the millennial kingdom. The Apostle Paul affirmed it in Romans 9-11. Paul taught that at that time, God would gather Israel and they would be reunited with Him again. We need to know that God did not eliminate the promise He made to Abraham although the Old Covenant was terminated.

In the Old Covenant, knowing God was only in the realm of the intellect, but in the New Covenant and with Christ Jesus, we can know God intimately. There is a knowing that leads to a longing. Are we there?

There is a longing, only You can fill

A raging tempest, only You can still

My heart is thirsty Lord

To know You as I’m known

Drink from the river

That flows before Your Throne

Draw me deeper

Deeper in love with You

Jesus hold me close

In Your embrace

Draw me deeper

Deeper than I’ve ever been before

I just want to know you

More and more

How I long to be

Deeper in love.