A Better Covenant

Hebrews 8:⁵They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, "See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain." ⁶But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. ⁷ For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.

The Hebrews that Paul is writing to are ones that believe in the true identity of Christ. They are Jews just like Paul is, so they grew up with the Mosaic Law as their guide to righteousness. However, Paul is educating them, letting them know that Jesus had come to complete the old law and bring about a new and better covenant. The old covenant was a shadow and copy of what God really wanted to do. This makes sense because God always prepares the way before He does something. Like how He had the example of Jonah to be a sign of Jesus' burial and ressurection. And how the Passover which was established in Eqypt was fulfilled in the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. The Lord is our Great Teacher and teachers teach in steps so that the students may learn the full concept.

God's ways are higher than our ways, so He has to prepare us beforehand. If God sent Jesus without preparing the way with the Levitical law, Passover, prophecy, etc. then Jesus would simply be incomprehensible to us. We wouldn't understand holiness. We wouldn't understand sacrifice. These would be foreign concepts. We wouldn't understand what a covenant is. God made these things basic and then improved them so that we could grasp the magnitude of it all. I must always keep in mind an attitude of improvement. God is teaching me so things that I may understand now will be built upon just as a house has a foundation first and then the rooms are added to it. I want to be prepared for the heavenly things so I must continously grow in the things God is teaching me now.

Heavenly Father, may I always be seeking Your higher ways. Lord, forgive me for trying to live by the old covenant of justification through works. I ask that I abide in Your new and better covenant that Jesus Christ paid for with His life. Thank You for Your better covenant. Lord, help me to be the person You intended me to be. I pray all this in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord and my Savior, Amen.