TUESDAY/THURSDAY BIBLE STUDIE5 A BETTER COVENANT H ebrews 8:6 tells us, “But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the Mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.” The author now launches into a dis cussion of the Old Covenant, in which the sanctuary and its ordinance had their rightful place. Something real is, without doubt, better than a shadow; an original has far more value than a copy. But the comparative, “better,” when speaking of Christ, is merely a figure of speech. It is relative for the absolute. Whether considered as High Priest, as Sacrifice, or as Mediator of the covenant, Christ is so much “bet ter” than His counterparts in the old arrangement that He and they can not really be compared but only con trasted. The role of High Priest of the New Covenant is Christ’s “more excellent ministry,” but it is not His only one. He not only replaced Aaron and the latter’s successors, but He is a’so the counterpart of Moses in the role of mediator of the covenant (cf. chap. 9). A covenant need not be mediated by a third party. It is necessary, how ever, that there be two parties to it, though the covenant may involve the promise of only one of them, or of both. The Old Covenant had certain promises on God’s part that were not dependent on Israel’s cooperation. For example, He promised not to forsake Israel completely and forever regard less of her apostasy (Lev. 26:44). The Old Covenant also included prom ises on God’s part that were contin gent on Israel’s keeping the laws of God. To this the people agreed when the covenant was ratified (Ex. 19:8). Also, the Old Covenant had a media tor who was Moses. God gave the cov enant to Israel through him. Moses sprinkled the blood on the Book of the law, the tabernacle and its furniture, and the people, to signify that God had cleansed and accepted them (Heb.
by Dr. Lloyd T. Anderson Pastor, Bethany Baptist Church, West Covina, Calif.
Hebrews 8:6; 9:15-24
9:18-22). A sacrifice was necessary for this cleansing a n d acceptance which is type of the sacrifice Christ would make when He came to mediate the New Covenant. The New Covenant is superior to thé Old because it is a permanent cov enant superceding the Old. It is based on better promises. Above all, it is mediated by none other than the Son of God. GOD CARES When your heart is crushed and broken ■ 'Neath a heavy load of care, And the trials of life are many, Almost more than you can bear— Many tears have flowed and fallen And your heart is deeply stirred, Oh, there's consolation given— For God always keeps His Word. God is standing in the darkness, Tho' you may not feel Him near; He will never, never fail you If you cast on Him your fear. All the prayers you thought unan swered And the tears that you have shed Are recorded up in heaven As you trust in what God said. So look up my friend, and trust Him With the load upon your breast. From confusions, cares, and worries He will surely give you rest. There is victory simply trusting And in praising Jesus too— For the great Redeemer loves you And will surely see you through. — Sarah German Another meaning of the Greek word translated “covenant” is “will,” or “testament.” Commentators are divid ed as to whether the apostles used this word as the equivalent of the Old Testament word for covenant (berith), or whether the New Covenant differs from the Old by being a will or testa ment. The writer to the Hebrews says that Christ is the Mediator of the New 13
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