Focal Passages: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Luke 22:14-20
Over the past few weeks we have studied the many covenants God has made with His people. From Eden’s call to replenish the earth to God’s promise of a Davidic King the Bible displays the beauty of God’s assurances to provide the faithful with a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). All of these covenant promises find their fulfillment in the New Covenant outlined in Jeremiah 31 and accomplished through the shed blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.
A new covenant unlike any other. The new covenant finds its uniqueness contrasted with the Mosaic covenant at Sinai (Exodus 19). Interestingly, God speaks through the prophet Jeremiah in this passage to the unified people of God. At this point in biblical history, the Nation of Israel had been annihilated for over 150 years and the Kingdom of Judah was in the process of being sent into exile in Babylon.
The glory days when God adopted Israel at Sinai as His chosen people seemed to be eons in the past as the Judeans were experiencing the full ravages brought about by the curses of sinful idolatry. The days of God’s people seemed numbered for good. Yet, God spoke through His prophet a new promise — for the united people of God. In this covenant God would take matters into His own hands.
Moore
A new covenant leading to a committed relationship with God. Moses received the laws from God, etched on tablets of stone. The laws were given to the people of Israel who were charged to remain faithful to them. The people heard the law; they saw the law; they were to follow the law. Yet, they failed. In the new covenant God writes the law upon the hearts of the faithful. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, God’s Word is planted within the heart of the believer as “an imperishable seed” (I Peter 1:23).
Instead of external obligation to follow the law, the law is now written upon the inclinations of the heart. The sign of the new covenant is a heart that is converted from obligation to thanksgiving and joy at doing what pleases God.
We no longer wish to conform to this world, but rather are transformed from the inside out by the renewing work of His implanted word (Romans 12:2). At the same time the Lord declares us righteous before Him. He “forgives [our] iniquity and will never again remember [our] sin” (Jeremiah 31:34). What a joy it is to experience God’s transformative power of forgiveness!
A new covenant established through Christ. God fulfilled this new covenant through the sacrifice of His Son. God sent Jesus, who knew no sin, to die the shameful death on the cross, so that we might become the very righteousness of God (II Corinthians 5:21).
Jesus Himself identified His shed blood with the new covenant when He blessed the cup on the Last Supper (Luke 22:20). Through this, our Savior has become the fulfillment of God’s great promise of deliverance given almost 600 years before.
Always remember that He who promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:23). Jesus poured out His life for the forgiveness of sins so that we might enjoy life eternal as God’s people. Remember the phrase, “I will be their God, and they will be my people” uttered in Jeremiah 31 is also repeated in Revelation 21. There God also says, “Behold, I am making all things new.” (Revelation 21:5). B&R
