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The Book of Hebrews describes the New Covenatnt as better than the Old Covenant, because it is established upon better promises (Heb 8:6-10, 12-13). The Greek word new means totally different and superior. The word better means far better. The superiority of the New Covenant over the Old Covenant is demonstrated in the following contrasts between the two.
- The Old was imperfect, powerless to save, and was ended by Christ (Heb 8:7, 10:4, Rom 10:4). — The New is perfect in its power to save because Christ initiated it (Jam 1:25, Heb 7:25, 8:6, 10:9).
- The Old was given to one race (Deu 4:7-8). One’s sense of self-worth could be demeaned by restrictions in regard to who could participate in society and worship. The factors were determined by regulations pertinent to gender, genealogy, and physical impairments/appearance (Deu 23:1-3, Lev 12:2-5, 21:17-24, 27:1-7) — The New is extended to whosoever will come (Joh 3:15-16, 6:37). Every benefit is available to all regardless of sex, genealogy, or physical characteristics (Gal 3:28, Heb 4:15-16).
- The Old was a yoke of bondage that constantly exposed everyone to reminders of sinfulness (Gal 5:1, 3:19, Heb 10:3). — The New is a royal law of liberty and love (Jam 1:25, 2:8). It covers a multitude of sins and enables everyone to forget their sins and to enjoy a childlike sense of blamelessness from guilt (Rom 5:19-20, 4:7-8, Heb 8:12, Eph 1:4).
- The Old anointed only a few as kings and priests and fewer still with the power to work signs and wonders (Exo 30:30-33, Heb 7:11) — The New anoints all as kings and priests and empowers every believer with supernatural gifts (1Jo 2:27, 1Pe 2:9, Rev 1:6, 1Co 12:7-11).
- The Old demanded continuous animal sacrifices (Heb 9:12-13). The process of forgiveness was unpleasant and could last for hours. Sinners had to take time off from their vocations and could be seen by all as they led their sacrifices through their villages to the priests who officiated at the altar. After the embarrassing shame-parade, they had to wait their turn in line behind other sinners who had arrived earlier. The priests required that offenders kill and butcher their own animals of sacrifice. Then, the priests burnt the sacrifices and sprinkled the blood around the altar. Afterward, the cleansed sinner was required to dispose of the skin and entrails of his sacrifice (Heb 10:3-4, Lev 1:1-9, 4:11-12). — The New provided instantaneous forgiveness. When Jesus offered Himself, His blood became the single sacrifice that is sufficient to eternally remit the sins of all that call upon Him (Heb 10:12-14). No shame-parades are required. Repentant sinners have the option of confessing their sins to others or to keep them confidential through private confessions to God (1 Joh 1:9, Jam 5:16).
- The Old required residence in ancient Israel for perfect compliance with its ordinances. It obligated adherents to a complex system of ordinances about what they could eat, specific Sabbaths that had to be observed and yearly pilgrimages to the temple in Jerusalem for all males over the age of twelve (Lev 11, Exo 23).The New can be perfectly complied with no matter where a person resides. It only demands faith in Jesus. Believers are free to follow their own preferences in regard to how, when and where they will worship. They have no obligations to set aside specific days as holy and they can eat whatever they please as long as they receive it with thanksgiving (Joh 4:23-24, Col 2:16, 1Ti 4:3-4, Rom 14:5).
- The Old caused people to carry a sense that the impending wrath of God might descend upon them at any moment for the slightest infraction of God’s Law (Rom 4:15). This made them fearful of His voice (Exo 20:18-19). — The New saves people from the fear of God’s wrath (Rom 5:9). It instills the hope of glory that enables people to joyfully anticipate God’s voice (Col 1:27, Joh 10:14).
- The Old had a year of Jubilee only once every 50th year. During that year everyone could experience the restoration of whatever they had lost in the preceding years (Lev 25). — The New abolished the need for a year of Jubilee. Through faith in Christ any day can be a Jubilee day of restoration (2Co 6:2).
- The Old gave only Moses an impartation of God’s glory and it eventually faded away (2Co 3:11-13). The Newimparts ever-increasing measures of God’s glory upon each Christian (2Co 3:18).
- The Old quarantined women during and after their menstrual cycles and post the birth of a child. Anyone who had communicable diseases was quarantined until they could demonstrate wholeness (Lev 12:2-6, Num. 5:2-4). — The New puts no such restrictions on women and can provide divine healing for any type of disease (1Pe 2:24).
Contemporary Christians should not imitate the foolishness of the Galatians by becoming ensnared by the Law of Moses or any system of man-made regulations as a means of righteousness (Gal 3:1, Rom 10:4). If the Law that God gave to Israel through the administration of angels proved to be a yoke of bondage, any man-made system will prove even more impotent in providing freedom (Gal 3:19; 5:1).
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