In this article I will be explaining the new covenant bible verse scripture. In particular the covenant that the Most High made with Israel.
Today the bible is called the Old and New testament.
The word “Testament” is really just the modern term being used for “Covenant”, as you will see.
I will be looking at the implications of the covenant that Israel made with the Most High. I’ll also look at the meaning of the “New Covenant”.
Covenants From Abraham
The first covenant that was established was with Abraham, this was a covenant to circumcise male children when they are 8 days old.
This covenant was also for the strangers (Gentiles) who were amongst Hebrews (Genesis 17:10-14).
The Most High told Abraham that he would establish his spiritual covenant with Isaac and his seed (i.e. the Jacob and the 12 tribes of Israel) not Ishmael (Genesis 17:19,20-22).
Even though Isaac was his second son, when the covenant of circumcision was established Abraham circumcised all of his household including Ishmael who was 13 years old at the time.
Even though they were not 8 days old, this is important because its shows we can still be circumcised as adults. Abraham was actually 99 years old when he was circumcised (Genesis 17:24,25)
What Is A Covenant?
The term Covenant is used to mean the same thing as New testament. When you read scriptures you can see that the word Covenant and Testament are used to mean the same thing.
Here’s the Scriptures definition of a testament or covenant …
Hebrews 9:16
16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
So from the above scriptures we see that a testament is a will, which happens after a death.
In a nutshell a “Covenant” or “Testament” are agreements or pacts made between people.
In the Hebrew the word for covenant is “Berith”, which Hebrew concordance #1285
The same word in the Greek is diathéké concordance #1242
It’s in the New testament we find the word “Testament”, the old testament uses the word “Covenant”.
The New Covenant
The prophet Jeremiah prophesied the arrival of a New covenant
Jeremiah 31:30-32
30 But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.
31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
So we see that there was going to be a new covenant different from the one made when Israel came out of Egypt.
Let’s find out what the new covenant is by using new testament scriptures.
In the book of Hebrews we find explanation of how the new covenant has been established…
Hebrews 8:7-10
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
9 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 continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
So it’s said that this new covenant would mean that the “laws” would be put in the minds and hearts of Israel.
Let’s find out what this covenant which required a death is..?
Hebrews 9:11-16
11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Above we see that the Messiah has replaced the animal sacrifices by offering him self as an eternal sacrifice.
This explains how the laws are to be written on our minds and hearts, and would no longer need to be taught to us by other men.
Daniel 9:27 also prophesies an end to sacrifice and offering laws, which the Messiah has fulfilled.
The Messiah said…
John 14:15-18
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
Matthew 5:17-19
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
When Was The New Covenant Established?
The new covenant was established from the beginning. We find scriptures that prove this in the prophecy, before the new covenant is established.
You’ll find this in the book of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 31:31) the book of Ezekiel (Ezekiel 36:26) also. When we read the New Testament, after the Messiahs crucifixion, he says it is finished.
John 19:30
30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
This can be seen as the specific time when the new covenant was established.
Why A Blood Covenant?
The reason that blood had to be used is explained in the scriptures.
Leviticus 17:11
11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.
we are told that there is life in blood and that the Most High uses it to atone for sins.
When the Messiah was sacrificed his blood was spilled and this now covers our sins instead of animal sacrifice which required continuous sacrifices of animals.
To get more in-depth information on the Messiah’s death read my article. Did Christ Die For All? All Your Questions Answered
The Moral Laws Established With Blood
We can even read that all the laws were established with blood once they were written down.
Sacrifices and offerings were given at the altar that Moses built for the Most High.
Moses the took half of the blood in that sacrifice and sprinkled it on the Israelite’s as a sign of the acceptance of the Laws.
Exodus 24:4-8
4 And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.
5 And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the Lord.
6 And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.
7 And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient.
8 And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words.
Old Covenant vs New Covenant
We have discussed what the Old covenant, a New covenant are, but here I want to make the difference clear.
So I’ll just go over the major difference…
There’s only really one main difference between these covenants.
The first covenant which is the “Old Covenant”, was made with Israel and required the sacrifice of animals to atone for Sins.
Now here are the features of the New covenant:
The “New Covenant” was established with the Messiah when he died on the cross, he shed his blood, and became an eternal sacrifice for Israel and All Mankind (Acts 10).
These scriptures have been explained above in Hebrews Chapter 8 & 10, Daniel 9:27.
Hebrews 8:8-13
8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
9 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 continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
All these scriptures explained why sacrifice was a flawed way to atone for Sins.
The biggest issue being that those with the means could sacrifice animals without really being sincere.
Difference now is, when you believe in the Messiah death and resurrection, this is a conscious belief, which cannot be quantified by Man.
The truth of your belief will be shown, when you keep the Commandments…
The reason why this is proof of your belief is because this gives you access to the Holy Spirit.
The Messiah told us, if we keep his commandments he would send the Holy Spirit to make us remember all things.
John 14:26
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
This makes us remember the Most High’s Commandments and do them (James 1:22).
James 1:22
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
The similarities between the old and new covenant are that a sacrifice was required in both cases to establish them. Both of them also require us to keep the commandments of the Most High.
Accepting The New Covenant
When we accept the Messiah’s sacrifice, laws and commandments we are given the Holy Spirit. Which puts the laws in our heart and mind.
It’s important to make a distinction between Moral laws and the sacrificial laws.
Some have argued that we no longer have to keep the commandments or Laws in the scriptures. Because they say our faith in the Messiah’s sacrifice for sins takes care of this?
But was this accepted practice by the prophets in the scripture? Let’s see what Paul has to say…
Paul addressed this issue when he speaks about faith
Romans 3:30-31
30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Clearly Paul was in support of keeping the (moral) laws.
As you read earlier the only laws that were fulfilled were the sacrificial and offering laws, but is there more scripture to support this?
Daniel 9:26-27
26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
The scriptures above explain the covenant the Messiah has fulfilled, it says he was to be “cut off” more – meaning sacrificed.
When we read further we see the purpose of his sacrifice, which was to establish a new covenant without sacrifices and oblations (offerings).
Sacrifice and offering laws can be found in Exodus 20 onward and Leviticus Chapters 1 to 10. (Note: Not all the Laws are sacrificial, so we can keep them!)
What Are Offerings (Oblations) And Sacrifices?
Offerings consisted of the various types, there drink offerings, incense and animal offerings.
These offerings were presented to the Levite Priests to atone for sins (When given as animal sacrifice) or to show gratitude to the Most High.
Scriptures show us that Messiah’s Death established a new covenant or testament (Daniel 9:27).
This allows us to believe in the Most High by having faith, without having to sacrifice animals to cover our sins, or offerings to show gratitude.
Evidence of our faith is shown when we keep the laws (moral laws, not animal sacrifices) which were given in the (law and the Prophets) “old testament” scriptures…
So, NO! The laws are not done away with, unless they involve animal sacrifice and offerings.
Rejecting the Moral laws that God has given to us is contrary to to being lead by the Holy Spirit.
Which would mean the laws can not be written in your mind or heart.
Hebrews 10:1-9
1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins
3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
(Old Covenant) Continual Sacrifice For Atonement Of Sins
As you have read above, the blood was given to atone for our sins.
When we read the scriptures we see that the Levite Priests were given the job of sacrificing animals daily for the Atonement of Sin.
Exodus 29:36-44
36 And thou shalt offer every day a bullock for a sin offering for atonement: and thou shalt cleanse the altar, when thou hast made an atonement for it, and thou shalt anoint it, to sanctify it.
37 Seven days thou shalt make an atonement for the altar, and sanctify it; and it shall be an altar most holy: whatsoever toucheth the altar shall be holy.
38 Now this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first year day by day continually.
39 The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt offer at even:
40 And with the one lamb a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil; and the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering.
41 And the other lamb thou shalt offer at even, and shalt do thereto according to the meat offering of the morning, and according to the drink offering thereof, for a sweet savour, an offering made by fire unto the Lord.
42 This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee.
43 And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory.
44 And I will sanctify the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar: I will sanctify also both Aaron and his sons, to minister to me in the priest’s office.
This practice, has been abolished with the messiah’s death, his blood covers us all.
It’s out duty now, knowing we are covered, to keep the commandments of the Most High.
Conclusion
In conclusion we see that it was never the Most Highs intention for Israel to sacrifice animals, it just became a custom he was willing to accept.
If you were wondering whether or not the laws that involved stoning people are still in effect? the answer is NO.
The Messiah Fulfilled this law as you can see below
John 8:1-11
1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
The Messiah knew that the priest were also guilty of sin, as we are today, so he fulfilled the law of stoning.
By the time of the Messiahs arrival it was clear that Israel’s priests had divided loyalties.
In most cases they were only be appearing to keep the laws of God, rather than actually doing so.
I hope that cleared things up for some one, we have a new covenant but… THE LAWS ARE NOT DONE AWAY WITH*
Peace and shalom.