Exegesis of Verses 9 and 10
HEBREWS 8:7-13
SOME WRITERS CUT THEIR TREATMENTS OF THE CONCLUDING VERSES OF CHAPTER 8 OFF CLEANLY BETWEEN VERSES; OTHER WRITERS DO NOT.
NAS Hebrews 8:7-13 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second. 8 For finding fault with them, He says, “Behold, days are coming, says the Lord, When I will effect a new covenant With the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; 9 Not like the covenant which I made with their fathers On the day when I took them by the hand To lead them out of the land of Egypt; For they did not continue in My covenant, And I did not care for them, says the Lord. 10 “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel After those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their minds, And I will write them upon their hearts. And I will be their God, And they shall be My people 11 “And they shall not teach everyone his fellow citizen, And everyone his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ For all shall know Me, From the least to the greatest of them. 12 “For I will be merciful to their iniquities, And I will remember their sins no more.” 13 When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.
“THE NATURE OF THE NEW COVENANT OVER AGAINST THE OLD BEGINS TO BE ELABORATED IN VERSE 10. In Jeremiah’s context, establishing a new covenant would solve the problem of Israel’s continual violation of covenant stipulations. The promises made to Abraham can hardly become a reality if Israel continues to transgress want God commands. The Lord declares, however, that He will remedy the problem, promising to make a new agreement, a NEW COVENANT, with Israel.
“THE AUTHOR OF HEBREWS BELIEVES THE NEW COVENANT HAS BEEN FULFILLED IN HIS DAY, IN THE CROSS AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST.” – Schreiner
CONDENSED AND NOT WITHOUT ALL KINDS OF DEVIATIONS AND ADDITIONS, THAT SUMMARY COMMENT BY SCHREINER IS ESSENTIALLY WHAT I BELIEVE AND WHAT HAS PROMPTED THESE HEBREWS BLOGS – TAR…
“THE NEW COVENANT IS DISTINCT FROM THE OLD IN THAT GOD INSCRIBES HIS LAW ON THEIR HEARTS AND MINDS. Under the old covenant Israel knew the law as a written statute external to them, but knowing the commands did not give them any inclination to keep what God commanded. Jeremiah complained that they had an uncircumcised heart (Jer 4:5; 9:25-26). The NEW COVENANT is an entirely different state of affairs, for now God circumcises the heart of His people in accord with the promise of Deut 30:6…
NET Deuteronomy 30:6 The LORD your God will also cleanse your heart and the hearts of your descendants so that you may love him with all your mind and being and so that you may live.
“GOD’S COMMANDS ARE NOT AN ONEROUS BURDEN BUT REFLECT THE DESIRES OF THEIR HEARTS SINCE GOD HAS IMPRINTED THE LAW UPON THEIR HEARTS. The fundamental flaw on God’s people has been remedied, for now they delight to do the will of God.
“JOSLIN RIGHTLY ARGUES THAT THE AUTHOR DOESN’T RESTRICT HIMSELF TO FORGIVENESS OF SINS HERE AND IN HIS SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSION OF THE IMPLICATION OF THE NEW COVENANT (cf. chs. 9-10 IN PARTICULAR). Hebrews also teaches that the hearts of God’s people have been transformed. Still, Hebrews doesn’t emphasize this theme but instead focuses on the forgiveness of sins in the NEW COVENANT.
“THE COVENANT FORMULA WOULD, UNDER THE TERMS OF THE NEW COVENANT, BECOME A REALTY. GOD WOULD BE THEIR GOD, AND ISRAELWOULD BE HIS PEOPLE (cf. Gen 17:8; Exod 6:7; Jer 30:22; 32:38: Ezek 11:20; 36:28; 37:23. 27). GOD WOULD MEET EVERY NEED OF HIS PEOPLE, PROTECTING AND GUARDING THEM FROM ALL THAT WOULD HARM THEM. AT THE SAME TIME ISRAEL WOULD BE THE PEOPLE OF GOD.
“IN THE N.T., THIS PROMISE IS FUFILLED IN THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST, WHICH IS UNDERSTOOD TO BE THE NEW ISRAEL.” – Schreiner
THIS CONCLUSIVE SENTENCE IMMEDIATELY SENDS SCHOCKWAVES THROUGH THE THEOLOGY OF THE MAJORITY OF THOSE WHO ALLIGN THEMSELVES WITH DISPENSATIONALISTS. After much thought I have decided postpone the majority of my deep feelings and extensive studies on what is commonly referred to as REPLACEMENT THEOLOGY until what I think will be a more suitable time in the not-too-distant future of my Hebrew blogs.
– Professor Thomas A. Rohm
