The Law According to
Hebrews
Levitical,
Sinai Covenant, Old Covenant, Sinai Covenant, Hebrews, altar, sacrifices, tithe,
New covenant, Deuteronomy
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Christianity today generally teaches that the Mosaic
Law includes the first five books of the Bible that Moses is believed to have
written or at least compiled. In the King James Bible there is no mention
of a ‘Mosaic Law’ as such, but it does talk of a Law of Moses. It seems
that these are supposed to be equivalent. Often this is just referred to
simply as ‘the Law’. Indeed the New Testament divides the Hebrew
Scriptures into three pieces, the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms or
Writings. In that case the Law refers to those five books of Moses.
Hebrews refers to the Law frequently in chapters 7
through 10. However, it is much more focused in what it considers the
Law. It’s worthwhile to consider Hebrews perspective and see how that
fits in with other Scripture.
Heb 7:11
“Now if perfection
was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people
received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of
Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron?”
(NASB, See also NIV, Philips, Alford,
Emphasized Bible or EGNT).
According to Hebrews here the Law was based on the
Levitical priesthood. Certainly that agrees with the general understanding
of what the Law is. The Levitical priesthood was central to the
functioning of the Law in Ancient Israel. They were the Appellate judges
in Israel (Deu 17:8-10) and they officiated at the
temple, which was the dwelling place of God (Deu
18:1-2, 12:5). However, that priesthood did not exist until almost a year
after Israel came out of Egypt. The firstborn sons of Israel were priests
until Aaron was anointed at the beginning of the second year after Israel left
Egypt.
Traditional Christianity and Judaism teach that the Law was given at Mt. Sinai. This is intended to include the Ten Commandments and the covenant made in Exodus 20-24. However, there is no mention of the Levitical priesthood at that time. The tribe of Levi is not named at all. The firstborn were still the priests (Ex 19:22, Ex 13:2). It wasn’t until about a year later that the Levites were exchanged for the firstborn (Num 3:12). Numbers begins with Israel's second year after leaving Egypt (Num 1:1). So, if the Law was based on the Levitical priesthood, the Law must not have existed until the Levitical priesthood was there to administer it! So Hebrews must consider the Law to be only a later part of Moses writings. The Sinai covenant, Exodus 20-24, has nothing to do with the Levitical Priesthood.
In accord with this, Hebrews also mentions that “…the
sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes
from the people according to the law…” (Heb 7:5abc). Yet, there is no
instruction in the Sinai Covenant agreed in Exodus 24 that the Levites should
receive tithes from the other tribes. This instruction first appears in
Numbers 18, which was also likely given after Aaron was anointed as the High
Priest. Numbers apparently begins with Israel’s second year after leaving
Egypt (Num 1:1). Certainly the instruction to receive the tithes didn’t
exist or had no force before they were the priests in
place of the firstborn. Again, this ‘law’ to which Hebrews is referring
is not the covenant or law agreed in Exodus 24.
Changing the Law
Further down in Hebrews 7 we find that since the
priesthood changed there had to be a change of law (vs. 12). Most
translations say a change of ‘the Law’, but in the original Greek the definite
article is not included. It is not saying ‘the Law’ needs to change, but
the package arrangement of law must change. This is in agreement with our
Savior who told us that the Law doesn’t change.
Mat 5:18
"For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot
or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till
all is fulfilled.”
So the Law doesn’t change, but there must be a
change. We’ll soon see how this is accomplished.
Continuing on, verse 13 talks of ‘the altar’.
It does include the definite article even in the Greek. It is talking of
the altar of the Levitical Priesthood that stood before the tabernacle/temple.
Like the Levitical Priesthood, for all practical purposes that altar did not
exist before Aaron was consecrated. It was consecrated at the same time
that Aaron was (Ex 29:37, Lev 8:11-12). On the other hand, the covenant
at Sinai required
an altar of earth or uncut stones (Ex 20:24-25). The patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac
& Jacob, obviously didn’t use the altar in front of the tabernacle made of
wood and copper that Hebrews is talking about which is
assumed by Hebrews perception of the Law.
Consider the relationship between the Creator and
Israel inherent in each of these altars. Earth or stone altars could have
been set up anywhere they traveled. The Creator indicated He would come
to them and bless them. (Ex 20:24).
On the other hand, the Levites serviced only one
altar by the tabernacle/temple.
The other tribes had to go there to worship the Creator. If they
did that, they still couldn’t complete the offering themselves. The Levites
had to pass their offering along to the Creator. In fact, the Levites
separated Israel from their God. These two altars show two fundamentally
different relationships between Israel and the Creator. When Hebrews talks
of ‘the Law’ it is focused on the law requiring the existence of the Levitical
priesthood and the single temple altar.
Hebrews sees the whole law system as administered by
Levi, but changing, because it didn’t accomplish its intended purpose. “…
for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in
of a better hope, through which we draw near to God” (vs. 7:19). It
sees the establishment of Christ as the High Priest. This supports a way
to draw
close to the Creator. The Law as administered by the Levites didn’t
accomplish that. Consider though that Abraham and the patriarchs were close
to the Creator. Consider as well that they weren’t involved in the Levitical
system.
So if the Law doesn’t change, and we know Abraham
kept the Creator’s Law (Gen 26:5), but he didn’t tithe to Levi or use the altar
specified for their service, what is going on? Verse 22 points us in the
right direction.
Heb 7:22
“by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.”
The Law is a Covenant
Our Savior provides a better covenant. So the
Law was also a covenant or what Savior offers couldn’t be a 'better' one.
However, Hebrews is certainly not thinking of the Covenant at Sinai since it
didn’t have anything to do with the Levitical system, their altar or tithing to
them. As it turns out there is a covenant that does include those things in
Deuteronomy. Indeed, it is Deuteronomy that was referenced earlier in this
writing as evidence that the Levitical priests were the Appellate Judges and
officiated before the Creator at His dwelling.
Deuteronomy is the record of a covenant Moses confirmed
with Israel just before he died and they went into the Promised Land.
It officially established the Levitical system for Israel. Even though
Moses was a son of Levi he worked outside the Levitical system. Once this
Deuteronomy covenant was confirmed authority was turned over to Joshua and
Aaron’s son Eleazar who was then the High
Priest. Moses was removed from any place of authority (Deu
32:48-50).
The text of Deuteronomy does not contain all detail
of that covenant made in Moab, but “Moses spoke to the children of Israel according
to all that the LORD had given him as commandments to them” (Deu 1:3d). For instance; it expects that the Levites
will offer the offerings made by fire to the Creator. It doesn’t say
exactly what those offerings are. It assumes the existence of Moses other
books for that information. In that case it assumes Leviticus and
Numbers. It also assumes the existence of Genesis and Exodus in order to
know who the sons of Levi are.
Hebrews continues, focused on the Levitical
system. Hebrews 7:27 refers to the daily offerings that were offered by
the Levitical priests. Verse 28 talks of the appointment of High
priests. There is no record of daily offerings or designation of
a High Priest in the Exodus 20-24 covenant. If anyone was a high
priest of the Sinai covenant it was the Rock that was with them
(I Cor 10:4).
The animal
sacrifices were enjoined when Moses was on Mt. Sinai getting the replacement
tablets (Num 28:6, Lev 7:37-38, Ex 34:32). This was after the Exodus
20-24 covenant was confirmed. The sacrifices were not implemented
until the Tabernacle was consecrated and Aaron was anointed.
Numbers 28:6 indicates the daily offerings
were enjoined on Mt. Sinai. Moses made at least three major trips up
Mt. Sinai. (He
was apparently not on Mt. Sinai when the Sinai covenant was given, but at the
base of the mountain. Ex 20:21). After receiving the replacement tablets
Moses came down from being on Mt. Sinai with much instruction for Israel (Ex
34:29-32). Hebrews reference to daily offerings connects with the daily
animal sacrifices and High Priests that were established with the Levitical
Priesthood by the covenant of Deuteronomy (Deu
18:1-5), not with the Sinai covenant.
Christianity and Judaism teach that the Law was
given at Sinai. Typically they are referring to the Sinai covenant.
The Law according to Hebrews does not support that. However,
it doesn’t really disagree with the Law being given at Sinai. The
great bulk of the Law according to Hebrews would have come to Moses in Exodus
34 at the giving of the replacement tablets not Exodus 20-24. Hebrews doesn’t specifically mention when the
Law first came to Israel. It concerns itself with when it was enacted
(Heb 7:11) and the Levites function in it. Because the entry into the
Promised Land was delayed after the spies, so the enactment of the Law was
delayed.
Heb 8:4 “For if He were on earth, He
would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according
to the law;”
The Law, according to Hebrews, required a particular
priest (a Levite) to offer sacrifices and offerings as part of the daily
routine of the tabernacle/temple.(Deu 18:1). No one from another tribe
could be involved. On the other hand, the law of the Sinai covenant
allowed that anyone could build an altar of earth or uncut stones and offer.
However, there was no requirement to do so. In fact, if Messiah
had been of Judah under the Sinai covenant, He could have offered gifts on the
altar of earth or stone.
Old and New Covenants
Hebrews continues, beginning to focus on covenants,
specifically a New Covenant and an Old Covenant.
Especially in ancient times a covenant was a very
serious thing. It consisted of multiple parts, typically introductory
remarks, the terms and conditions, benefits and/or penalties and plans for ongoing
continuance. The terms and conditions of a covenant is the ‘law’ of
that covenant. Of
course that is a major part of a covenant. If one distinguishes the
terms and conditions one has usually identified the covenant under
discussion. So it is not unusual to jump back and forth when referring to
a covenant or the law within it.
A covenant is an agreement. It is a package
deal. One can’t just do part of the agreement and expect to receive the
benefits of the agreement. It is expected that all parties to the
covenant will actively seek to fulfill 100% of their part of the agreement. A
blood covenant, like the covenants of Sinai and Deuteronomy, included an
animal sacrifice to seal the agreement. The
understanding was that both parties would rather die like the sacrifice than
fail to live up to their part. Because covenants were very serious
matters and fully agreed by both parties, they could not be changed (Gal
3:15). Of course this supports Messiah’s statement in Matthew 5:18 quoted
above. The terms of a covenant, including the law, don’t change.
That is why Israel needed another covenant when it was apparent they couldn’t
live up to the Sinai covenant.
Hebrews refers to the
covenant that established the Levitical order as the ‘first’ covenant (Heb 8:7).
One might
expect that the Sinai covenant was the first. Actually, the covenant with
Noah is the first. However, Noah's covenant is not under discussion in Hebrews.
Neither is the Sinai covenant under discussion. The Old and new Covenant
are under discussion. In this context
the old is obviously first. Based on what we've seen it is easy enough
to determine that it is the Deuteronomy covenant
rather than the Sinai Covenant that is the 'first covenant' under discussion.
The Greek word
for first here is ‘protee’. It specifically
indicates the first in a series and is often translated ‘prior’ (see Thayer’s
Greek English Lexicon, prwtos/p???t??).). So
the ‘first’ covenant is the covenant of Deuteronomy. It fits the
context.
Hebrews continues, placing the blame for the
abandoning of the 'first' covenant on Israel’s failures to live up to their part.
Specifically they failed to live to His Covenant (Heb 8:9). Certainly His
covenant is the
covenant made in Exodus 20-24 at Sinai. However, is it the Sinai covenant
that will not be like the New Covenant? Consider the wording
"not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the
day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt.” That covenant was
not made after they left Egypt at Sinai, but when the Creator took them by
the hand to lead them OUT of Egypt. They were therefore still in Egypt.
Not even God can lead someone out of Egypt if they are not in Egypt.
So what covenant was made just before they started or came
out of Egypt? There is no record of any covenant made at that time.
They were already out of Egypt a month after they walked out of Ramses (Ex 16:1,
Num 33:3). The Sinai covenant was made about a month after that.
On the other hand, if we consider that their hearts
never left Egypt the whole time in the wilderness, it could be said they were
in Egypt throughout their journey in the wilderness (Num 11:5, 20, 14:2,
20:5). That seems to be Joshua’s perspective as he describes all those
born in the wilderness ‘as they came out of Egypt’ (Josh 5:5). However, after the
golden calf and throughout most of the time in the wilderness the Creator
distanced Himself from Israel. He dumped them on Moses after the golden calf
and separated Himself from them by the tribe of Levi (Ex 32:7-10, Num
1:53). He was not really leading Israel by the hand. He was dealing
with Moses. His relationship with Israel was not restored until the covenant
of Deuteronomy was confirmed.
Deu
27:9 “Then
Moses and the priests, the Levites, spoke to all Israel, saying, "Take
heed and listen, O Israel: This day you have become the people of the LORD
your God.”
Deu
29:12 "that
you may enter into covenant with the LORD your God, and into His oath, which
the LORD your God makes with you today, 13 that He may
establish you today as a people for Himself, and that He may be God to you,
just as He has spoken to you, and just as He has sworn to your fathers, to
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
This covenant made with Deuteronomy in Moab is how
our Creator again takes Israel’s hand and leads them out of their Egypt
oriented mentality. About 70 days later they crossed the Jordan into the
Promised Land and were separated from their connection to Egypt.
Josh 5:7
“Then Joshua circumcised their sons whom He raised up in their place; for
they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way…9 Then the LORD said to Joshua, "This day I have
rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." Therefore the name of the
place is called Gilgal to this day.”
Israel proved that it wasn’t in them to live up
to the expectation of His Covenant (Deu 5:29, Ex 32:7-10).
Out of respect for the patriarchs and because of Moses plea (Ex 34:9, Deu 9:18) they were given the Deuteronomy covenant that
would help
keep them within a reasonable level of compliance. His Covenant/His Law
is still of central importance to the Creator. Unfortunately, as
Hebrews acknowledges they still didn’t live according to His covenant.
Ultimately, our Creator left them to their own schemes and moved on (Luke
13:35).
New Covenant
Hebrews continues with the promise of another
covenant in verse 10. His laws will be written in adherents’ heart.
There is only one other reference to 'His Laws' in Hebrews. It is
found in chapter 10:16 and is a second reference to the original source in
Jeremiah 31:33. All the other references simply refer to ‘the law’.
Is there a difference?
Abraham obeyed ‘My laws’ (Gen 26:5). Abraham
didn’t obey the Law. He never tithed to the Levitical
Priesthood nor did he take his animals to the altar in front of the tabernacle
for sacrifice. He could make an altar of earth or uncut stones and offer
by himself. Abraham was a partly to His Covenant, the Ten Commandments
not the covenant of Deuteronomy (I Chron 16:15-18).
Deu 4:13 "So He declared to you His covenant
which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on
two tablets of stone.”
Deu 8:18
"And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you
power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to
your fathers, as it is this day.”
In Deuteronomy the fathers refer to the patriarchs,
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as was seen in 29:12 quoted above. In similar
parallel Hebrew fashion His covenant is directly equated to His Law (Ps 78:10, Hos 8:1). His Law is not all five books of Moses, but
specifically the Ten Commandments, His Covenant. The terms of His covenant
are His Laws.
Hebrews 8:10 is not reestablishing the Law that it
earlier called weak and unprofitable (Heb 7:18-19). It is showing His Covenant to again
be the basis for our relationship with Him just as it was with the patriarchs
and as He attempted with Israel. One difference with this new covenant is
that His Laws are written in the adherents’ heart. What does that mean?
Heart Writing
Heb 4:12
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged
sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and
marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and
open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”
Our Judge is no dummy! He can discern our
thoughts and intents. Hebrews considers that those are things that reside
in the heart. Although He may be able to read our minds it is not
absolutely necessary. In the wilderness He determined what Israel was
thinking based on what they did.
Deu
8:2
"And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way
these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know
what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.”
He watched to see whether or not they would
obey. What He saw would tell Him what was in their heart, whether they
would walk the walk or just talk the talk. Even those who aren’t taught
the law can show that at least some is written in their hearts when they
conduct themselves according to its precepts.
Rom 2:14
“for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in
the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves,
15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their
conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing
or else excusing them”.
Having His Law written on the heart will result in a
person doing His Law by nature. Unlike ancient Israel with the Sinai
covenant, those who live by the New Covenant will by nature live by His
Law. The prior agreement of Deuteronomy is no longer relevant because it
has fallen into disuse (Heb 8:13). Israel hardly ever really kept it and
the Creator simply walked away (Luke 13:35). The Levitical system was about to
disintegrate as of the writing of Hebrews. With the destruction of the
temple it could no longer even pretend to function as agreed.
More on Hebrews Law
Heb 8:13 “In that He says, "A new
covenant," He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and
growing old is ready to vanish away.”
Likely the temple and the Levitical system was still
in place as of the writing of Hebrews. However, it was doomed. The presence
of Yahweh was not there (Mat 23:38). He walked away from that arrangement. It
simply was not working. That says nothing about the value of any particular
regulation of that covenant. The intent of the package was to reduce and
hopefully eliminate sin, thus allowing Israel to be an example for Yahweh to
the world. It didn’t accomplish that.
The New Covenant is intent on eliminating sin as
well. Since both covenants have the same goal it shouldn’t be a surprise
if much enjoined by the Law is also an integral part of the New Covenant as
well.
Old Covenant
Hebrews continues to mention things that help us
identify this Old Covenant. Chapter 9 begins describing some of the
accoutrements of the temple/tabernacle. This tabernacle begins to be
described in Exodus 25. The close proximity to the confirmation of the
Sinai covenant (chapter 24) leads most to assume it is part of the Sinai covenant.
However, there is nothing in the Sinai covenant that requires its
existence. It is associated exclusively with the Levitical priesthood,
not the priesthood of the firstborn who were responsible for Israel at the time
of the Sinai covenant.
If considered carefully the tabernacle was really a
step down for Israel. Instead of the Creator talking to Moses directly
wherever his tent happened to be, Moses must move his tent far
outside the camp in order to communicate with the Creator at all (Ex
33:7). Once the tabernacle is constructed Moses must go there. The
rest of Israel is kept at a distance by the tribe of Levi. The tabernacle
instruction is probably placed where it is because of the tabernacles’
significance in Israel rather than the timing
of the tabernacle instruction.
The tablets of the covenant are mentioned in Hebrews
9:4. These, of course, describe His Covenant. Does that mean
Hebrews is referring continually to His Covenant and not the covenant of
Deuteronomy made in Moab? If Hebrews had called these tablet the tablets
of the Old Covenant one might be able to make that case. However, the tablets
were known as the tablets of the covenant. They were mentioned only in
the context of the various furnishings in the tabernacle. They were
called tablets of the covenant because that is how they were known not because
Hebrews is trying to identify His Covenant as the Old Covenant.
Hebrews tells us that the Levitical system was still
at work as of its writing (Vs. 9:9, 10:11). They were still doing animal,
food and drink sacrifices at the temple complex. The
context indicates it is talking of sin and purification offerings (Heb 9:12-13,
Num 19:9). Hebrews apparently expects them to continue until the time of
restoration, Messiah’s return (vs. 10). None of these offerings are a
function of the Sinai covenant. They started with the Levitical system and
were discontinued with the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem.
Nevertheless, these offerings were intended to
sanctify those that offered them and purify sin (vs.13). Certainly the
sacrifice of Messiah will do that and enable believers to serve the Creator
without their former death promoting conduct, namely sin.
So Messiah has mediated a new covenant that can even
cover the transgressions of the Deuteronomy, the prior, covenant (VS 15) and
enable an eternal inheritance. As that covenant was enabled by Messiah’s
blood so the first covenant was also enabled by blood (vs. 18). Hebrews
continues with an account of the confirmation of this ‘first’ covenant.
‘First’ Covenant Confirmation
Moses "...spoke every
precept to all the people according to the law, ..."(Heb 9:19a)
As we saw there was nothing about the Levitical priesthood or
tabernacle or regularly required offerings in the Sinai covenant
(Ex 20-23). These are fundamental parts of the Law missing from the
instruction in Exodus 20-23. On the other hand Hebrews 9:19 fits very
well with introductory remarks of the Deuteronomy covenant.
Deu
1:3
“Now it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the
first day of the month, that Moses spoke to the children of Israel according
to all that the LORD had given him as commandments to them”… 5 On
this side of the Jordan in the land of Moab, Moses began to explain this law,
saying,”.
Verse 19 in Hebrews also mentions Moses
sprinkled a book and the people with calf and goat blood. The account in
Exodus 24 claims that he offered young bulls. It doesn’t say he
sprinkled the book. Hebrews continuing in verse 21, says Moses sprinkled
the tabernacle and all the vessels. The tabernacle didn’t exist as of
Exodus 24 when the Sinai covenant was confirmed. So their sprinkling is
obviously not included in the Exodus account. These are accounts are of
two different covenant confirmations. The account in Hebrews is
describing what happened in Moab with the Deuteronomy confirmation.
Hebrews is mentioning this account of the covenant
confirmation because of its connection to the Law (vs. 22). The Law
purified things with sacrifices. That was not commanded with the Sinai
Covenant, but came to be because of Israel’s failure and the resulting Levitical
system and required sacrifices.
Jer 7:22
"For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I
brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or
sacrifices. 23 But this is what I commanded
them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My
people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you,
that it may be well with you.’ 24 Yet they did not obey or incline
their ear, but followed the counsels and the dictates of their evil hearts, and
went backward and not forward.”
Israel was told to obey His voice and keep His
covenant just before they agreed to the Sinai covenant (Ex 19:5-6).
Regular animal sacrifices were not a part of that covenant. On the other
hand, the Law, which was administered by the Levitical priesthood, required
sacrifices on a daily basis (Heb 10:8). Unfortunately, those sacrifices did not
make a person whole/perfect (Heb 10:1). If they had made a person
'perfect' then the sacrifices could have been discontinued (vs. 2).
The sacrifices of the Law were intended as reminders
of failure (vs 3) in hopes of promoting
success. The Law contains many reminders. The Levites were there to
remind the people of their responsibility. The tassels on their garments
were a reminder to keep the Ten Commandments. However, none of these
things was very effective in eliminating sin, which is what the Creator
desires.
Messiah has eliminated the animal sacrifices as a
means of forgiveness. At first He just walked away from the temple, but
ultimately had the temple and the altar destroyed. The Law that was
established to handle transgressions became unworkable. However,
Messiah’s sacrifice is in place and offers sanctification to those who repent,
reject their error and hold their faith without wavering (10:22-23).
Law of Moses
The last reference to law in Hebrews 10:28 connects it
with Moses. The Law according to Hebrews is the Law of Moses. The
Hebrews reference is to Deuteronomy 19:15 not any place in the Sinai
Covenant. The Law of Moses is first mentioned directly when Joshua had it
written on the stones by Mount Gerizim and Ebal when they went into the Promised Land (Josh 8:30-32). Moses
directed Joshua to write on stones the law that he presented the day he
spoke Deuteronomy.
Deu
27:1
“Now Moses, with the elders of Israel, commanded the people, saying:
"Keep all the commandments which I command you today. 2 And
it shall be, on the day when you cross over the Jordan to the land which the
LORD your God is giving you, that you shall set up for yourselves large stones,
and whitewash them with lime. 3 You shall write on them all the words
of this law, when you have crossed over, that you may enter the land which
the LORD your God is giving you”.
Hebrews sees the Law as firmly rooted in Deuteronomy.
The Law of Moses is the law that Moses presented in Deuteronomy.
References in Hebrews do not connect it with the Law of Sinai in the
Sinai Covenant. Because of tradition and historical teaching we have
missed this fact. Consequently we have misunderstood other Scriptures
that refer to the Law. Hebrews is not alone in its perception.
Gal 3:19
“What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of
transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made;…”
Moses gave the Law to the Levites
and instructed them to keep it beside the Ark which contained His Covenant.
The
Ark contained the summary terms of the Sinai covenant. This new covenant,
confirmed 39+ years later in Moab, was added beside that covenant. It
was added to allow Israel to live in spite of their
transgression which trashed the Sinai covenant.
On the other hand, the Sinai
covenant was made with the expectation that Israel would be priests
to Yahweh and a holy nation representing Him (Ex 19:5-6). It
assumed obedience. It was not added to anything nor given because
of disobedience.
I Tim 1:9
“knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for
the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the
unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for
manslayers, 10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for
perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine”
The covenant of Deuteronomy was
given so that Israel might live and inherit the Promised Land (Deu 4:1,
5:33 etc.). This was a gift from the Creator after the golden calf
when His first thought was to destroy them. As Moses said, “You
have been rebellious against the LORD from the day that I knew you
(Deu 9:24).”
John 1:17
“For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through
Jesus Christ.” (NASB)
The terms of the Sinai covenant came directly from Yahweh to all the people. The detail of the judgments was relayed to the people by Moses. The judgments simply added clarification for things that were not obvious from the simple statements of the Ten Commandments. On the other hand, all the terms of the Deuteronomy covenant came through Moses. The additional detail needed to understand and fulfill the covenant of Deuteronomy also came through Moses.
Messiah is restoring the ways of the Creator. The Old Covenant simply didn’t work, but it did allow Israel to live and inherit the land promised to Abraham. Now He calls all to repent, cleanse the hands and purify the heart and draw near to the Creator of Heaven and earth. He wants our success. Messiah was willing to die to demonstrate the lengths He will go to support us. What more could He do?
Hebrews clearly sees the Law as the terms and
conditions of the Deuteronomy covenant. This is not in disagreement with
other New Testament scripture, but our preconceived ideas blind us to what
Joshua understood as the Law of Moses. Because Christianity is oblivious, they fail to
understand that even if the Law is diminished the Creator’s Covenant stands undiminished,
but rather validated. It is the basis on which adherents of the New Covenant will guide their
lives. It is His Law that will be integral to the thoughts, intents and
actions of those who wish to grasp the New Covenant.
More background on how Deuteronomy became a separate covenant is explained in our examination of the long term effects of the golden calf.