The Advantages of the New Covenant

by Bob Warren

Scripture references:

Deuteronomy 4:8, 13; 5.1-3; 9.9, 11; 12.6; 18.15; 27.6

Exodus 34:28

Nehemiah 8:1, 8, 14, 18; 9:13-14

Exodus 31:13

Leviticus 11; 23:7-8, 16-21, 24-29, 34-39; 26.46; Numbers 28:26; 29.1

Ezra 8:21

1 Chronicles 23:31

Exodus 12:48; 19.8

Isaiah 11.9; 25:7

Galatians 3:10

James 2:10-11

Mark 7.18-19; 9:7

Luke 8:18

Hebrew 5:9

John 14:23

2 Corinthians 1:22

Hebrew 8.6, 13; 10:9

Romans 3:21; 4.15, 20; 7.6; 10.4

Galatians 4:4

2 Corinthians 3:6—15

Galatians 2:4

Acts 15:5

Colossians 2:16

1 Timothy 4:3-5

Commentary by David Guzik:

"The old covenant was a ministry of condemnation, but the new covenant is the ministry of righteousness. The old covenant is passing away, but the new covenant remains. No wonder the new covenant is much more glorious!"

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   "James here guards us against a selective obedience, the sort that will pick and choose which commands of God should be obeyed and which could be safely disregarded."

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown Commentary:

"Paul here ( 2Cr 3:13 ) passes from the literal fact to the truth symbolized by it, the blindness of Jews and Judaizers to the ultimate end of the law: stating that Moses put on the veil that they might not look steadfastly at (Christ, Rom 10:4 ) the end of that (law) which (like Moses' glory) is done away."

The Lord’s Supper: A call to readjust your values

All quotes from My Enemy is My Guest: Jesus and Violence in Luke, J.M. Ford:

Luke places the dispute about who is the greatest at the last supper: Luke 22.24-30.

This is unlike the other Gospels who place it much earlier [Mark 10.35-45; Mat 20.20-28 as a specific petition from James & John, the sons of “thunder”, Zebedee].

Communion service is followed by Jesus’ warning to Simon Peter that “Satan has demanded permission to sift [test]” all of the disciples “like wheat”. How? Why?

One of the ways is via the buying of swords & eventual confrontation-arrest of Jesus in the garden. The teaching that follows will be the last before his resurrection:  

·       The promise of the New Covenant to share the coming Messianic/KOG meal with Jesus again depends on one’s preparation to start living “a life of humility and service, not of political and military leadership and rivalry ...”

·       Apart from the fact that the disciples expected a violent overthrow of the Gentiles by their promised Jewish Messiah, some had revolutionary/political connections [“sons of thunder” = the Zebedees; Judas Iscariot = of the sicarii, “dagger-men”, assassins; Simon the Zealot].

“[This means that] members of violent resistance movements are to be numbered with transgressors…” Thus, fulfilling Isa 53.13 & Luke 22.22 [as planned/determined; cp. Matt 26.24; Mar 14.21 “just as it is written”].  

A teaching that is starkly brought to light in Jesus’ “words that strongly suggest that violent hostility is supernaturally inspired/evil”:  

Luke 22.53: “This is your hour and the power of darkness”.

“Jesus’ teaching at the last supper forms a climax to all his teachings that accompanied meals during his earthly life. It means that sword bearers are classified with transgressors…The account would also imply that bearing arms is demonic…This is a sobering thought. It is a readjustment of values.”