By Maria Merola
© Copyright Double Portion Inheritance, November 2010
Often-times Christians write to me thinking that they have infallible proof that the “Old Covenant” has vanished away with the death of our Messiah on the cross.
There are many flaws with this line of thinking. The first covenant that YaHuWaH formed with the nation of Yisra’el on Mount Sinai was a marriage contract, subject to all the instructions, (terms and conditions) that go along with that covenant.
If this marriage covenant has “vanished away,” (as so many Christians purport), then so did all the promises concerning our Messiah’s return to remarry Yisra’el. And this also means that “The wild branches,” (the gentiles) have no olive tree to be grafted into!
In Jeremiah 31:31-33, YaHuWaH promised to make a “Renewed Covenant” with the House of Yisra’el, and with the House of Yahuwdah (Judah). However, some would argue that our Messiah came to establish an entirely “brand new” covenant, rather than a renewed covenant. Let’s test that theory, shall we?
#2318 & #2319 chadash - new, fresh new thing; to renew, to rebuild, to repair.
As you can see, there are two entries in the Hebrew Strong’s Concordance, for the word “chadash,” and these two words can be used interchangeably. Another example is with the word “chodesh,” which can mean “new moon,” or a “renewed lunar cycle.”
In either case, the moon is new or being renewed, therefore, they mean the same thing. We know that it’s the same moon (since the creation), but it’s circuit around the earth is renewed each month, thus we refer to it as a “new moon.”
Similarly, the original covenant that Yah made with Yisra’el on Mount Sinai, was broken (because of their sin with the molten calf).
Consequently, the first set of stone tablets was broken. However, in Exodus 34, Yah commanded Moses to hew out a brand new set of tablets. The second set of tablets were not different in any way, for they were written with the finger of Elohiym, and they contained the same commandments as the first set.
The only difference, was that the second set of tablets were deposited into the Ark of the Covenant, as a prophetic reminder: “I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their Elohiym, and they shall be my people.”
Therefore, the “New Covenant” is an exact replica (a copy) of the first covenant that Yah made with Yisra’el, but it would come to us in the form of human flesh. Hence, the reason our Messiah is known as “The word who became flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).
In other words, the written covenant came to us in human form, and then it was destroyed via Messiah’s crucified body. However, when he resurrected, the covenant was also resurrected with him. And since we have an eternal High Priest who can never die, this Renewed Covenant, will never fade away (1st Peter 1:4 & 5:4).
The reason why the first covenant was broken, is because the hearts of the people were made of stone, and thus, they were unable to receive the commandments into their hearts. This is what YaHuWaH meant when he promised that the “New Covenant” would not be “like” the first one.
Yirmeyahuw 31:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they broke, although I was an husband unto them, says YHWH:
Yirmeyahuw 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Yisra’el; After those days, says YHWH, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their Elohiym, and they shall be my people.
It means that the “New Covenant” is not a different covenant from the “Old Covenant,” because the commandments are the same with both covenants. The Renewed Covenant was ratified, with Messiah’s blood, and therefore, the same terms and conditions apply, as with the first one.
Also see my blog entitled: Two Covenants in Galatians 4: Sarah & Hagar.
Because the New Covenant is now made incorruptible, it is all the more legally binding, because there is no longer a provision for destroying the old one, so that a new one can be remade. Hebrews 10:28 reminds us that “Whoever despised Moses’ Law, died without mercy under two or three witnesses.” However, in Hebrews 10:26, we are told that under the New Covenant, we cannot “Sin willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth.”
In Deuteronomy 24:1-4, we get a picture of what happened with this marriage covenant between YaHuWaH and the nation of Yisra’el:
1 When a man has taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he has found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.
As you can see, the “schoolmaster” is the boy leader whose office it was to take the children to school. But once the children arrive at school, who takes over from there? Our Messiah told us that he would “send the Holy Spirit” who would teach us all things:
2 And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife.
3 And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and sends her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife;
4 Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before YHWH: and you shall not cause the land to sin, which YHWH your Elohiym gives you for an inheritance.
This is exactly what happened when Mosheh (Moses) went up to receive the written marriage agreement (ketuwbah); only to return to find Yisra’el whoring with the molten calf.
This rendered Yisra’el “unclean,” and this is why YaHuWaH to divorce them as a nation. Mosheh (Moses) broke the stone tablets, and then t up to receive another set of stone tablets.
In Exodus 19:5-8, Yisra’el took wedding vows with YaHuWaH promising to obey the commandments:
Shemoth (Exodus) 19:5 Now therefore, if you will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then you shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
Shemoth (Exodus) 19:6 And you shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak unto the children of Yisra’el.
Shemoth (Exodus) 19:7 And Mosheh (Moses) came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which YHWH commanded him.
Shemoth (Exodus) 19:8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that YHWH has spoken we will do. And Mosheh returned the words of the people unto YHWH.
In Exodus 32:19, Moses returned forty days later only to find that Yisra’el had committed adultery against Yah with the molten calf. Moses then broke the stone tablets to signify that he was divorcing them. Right up until this point, their High Priest was YaHuWaH himself, Malkiy-Tzedeq (Melchizedek), the same one who covered Adam & Eve with skins, and the same one who blessed Abraham with bread and with wine. YaHuWaH wanted the entire nation to be “A kingdom of priests,” but only the Levites responded to that calling,
Furthermore, Aaron was the one who caused the nation of Yisra’el to sin in the first place, and this meant that he was worthy of death. Because of this sin on Aaron’s part, he and his sons would have to bear the guilt for the rest of the people of Yisra’el by taking on the role of the “High Priest” every year for Yom Kippur.
This would mean that they were risking their lives each year as they could die behind the veil if they had any sins for which they had not repented of. This role of the “High Priest” after the sons of Aaron was only temporary until our Messiah came to restore the role of the “High Priest” back to Malkiy-Tzedeq (Melchizedek).
This is precisely what the Apostle Sha’uwl (Paul) meant when he declared that “The Law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Messiah.”
Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the Towrah (law) was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Messiah, that we might be justified by faith.
Galatians 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
The definition of a “schoolmaster” gives us more understanding:
#3807. paidagogos pahee-dag-o-gos' from 3816 and a reduplicated form of 71; a boy-leader, i.e. a servant whose office it was to take the children to school; (by implication, (figuratively) a tutor:-- instructor, schoolmaster.
Yahuwchanon (John) 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Ruwach ha’Qodesh (Holy Spirit), whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Most Christians read Galatians 3:24-25 and assume however that the “ENTIRE MOSAIC LAW” is the schoolmaster. However, that is not the case. There was only one law that was added because of the transgression with the molten calf.
The only law that was “added” is the law that made mortal men into High Priests. When our Messiah (the seed) came, we no longer needed a High Priest who could die behind the veil. He restored the office of the High Priest in heaven who could never die behind the veil!
Galatians 3:19 Wherefore then serves the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angel (s) in the hand of a mediator.
*Explanation: The Hebrew word for “angel” is “malak,” which means the following: A king, a priest, a prophet, an ambassador, a messenger. It does not necessarily denote a winged heavenly being.
Also, in Greek the word “angel” is not plural, therefore, I believe it is speaking specifically of the Pre-incarnate Messiah. Many times in the TaNaKh, (Old Testament), our Messiah manifested to us humans as “Malak YaHuWaH,” which is rendered as “The angel of the Lord,” by the English translators. The words “of the” are italicized in the King James Version, denoting that those words do not appear in Hebrew text.
Therefore, the “malak” (angel) or messenger, who led Yisra’el out of Egypt was our Messiah! But who is the mediator? The mediator is obviously Moses! Moses was like the minister who officiates at a wedding, and leads the man and woman into taking their vows before the assembly.
To learn more, see my blog: The Messenger Whose Name is Called “Wonderful!”
Most people read the following verse and assume that the entire priesthood has changed, but this verse is referring only to the role of the Kohen ha’Gadowl (High Priest):
Abriym (Hebrews) 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the Towrah (law).
Another important thing to understand, is that the Greek word for “changed” means “To transfer, to carry over!”
Therefore, we can read this verse as follows with a clearer understanding:
Abriym (Hebrews) 7:12 For the [role of the] High priesthood being transferred, there is made of necessity a transfer also of the Towrah (law).
If the role of the High Priest went back to Melchizedek, (our Messiah), all the laws belonging to the Levitical priesthood also transferred back Melchizedek as well!
Which law “changed hands” as a result of our Messiah dying on the cross? It was the law that made mortals from the sons of Aaron into High Priests. It’s the same concept as with a relay race. One runner carries the baton to the next runner, who takes hold of the baton, and continues running with it.
Imagine for a moment that a new United States President has been inaugurated into the Oval Office. The Constitution of the United States does not change, just because we have a new Commander in Chief. The Constitution “transfers” (changes hands) from the old President to the new one!
As a matter of fact, in Matthew 5:17-19, our Messiah declared that none of the Mosaic Law (Towrah) shall “pass away until heaven and earth passes away,” and this won’t happen until after the 1,000-year reign of Messiah (Revelation 21:1-2).
In Jeremiah 3:8 we read that YaHuWaH divorced Yisra’el with a written decree:
“And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Yisra’el committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Yahuwdah (Judah) feared not, but went and played the harlot also.”
According to Deuteronomy 24:1-4, YaHuWaH can never take back Yisra’el to be his wife. However, was she ever married to another?
Howshea (Hosea) 2:7 implies that Yisra’el was married to her lovers, her false pagan gods:
“And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say, I will go and RETURN TO MY FIRST HUSBAND; for then was it better with me than now.”
Did you catch that? Yisra’el said “I will go and return to my FIRST HUSBAND….”
This means that she had other husbands after she was married to YaHuWaH. This would disqualify her from being remarried to YaHuWaH again according to Deuteronomy 24. Nevertheless, the prophet Hosea foretold of the day when Yisra’el would be remarried to YaHuWaH again:
Howshea (Hosea) 2:
16 And it shall be at that day, says YHWH, that you shall call me Ishi (husband); and shall call me no more Baali (lords, masters).
17 For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name.
18 And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely.
19 And I WILL BETROTH YOU TO ME FOREVER; YES, I will BETROTH YOU UNTO ME IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND IN JUDGEMENT, AND IN LOVINGKINDNESS AND IN MERCIES.
20 I will even BETROTH YOU UNTO ME IN FAITHFULNESS: and you shall know YHWH.
YaHuWaH would first scatter Yisra’el to the nations as “seeds” in the earth, and then they would return to him in the last days after their hearts were converted. He finalized the chapter with the following words:
Howshea (Hosea) 2:23 And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, You are my people; and they shall say, You are my Elohiym.
Now we can better understand what the Apostle Sha’ul (Paul) meant when he declared that Yisra’el was now “Free from the law of her husband.”
Was she free from the entire law? No!
Yisra’el was now free from “The law of divorce” outlined in Deuteronomy 24!
You see, this law in Deuteronomy 24 prevented Yisra’el from being remarried to YaHuWaH, because she had become defiled with her lovers, aka her “other husbands.” However, YaHuWaH made a way for them to marry him again, by sending his Spirit to earth in the form of “human flesh” (John 1:1-14). In other words, he came as “The son,” even though he always existed in eternity as “The everlasting Father!” (Isaiah 9:6; 20:25).
As a mortal human being, he came to destroy the sinful nature that resides within fallen humans (Romans 8:3). Once our Messiah died, this means that the original husband who took vows with Yisra’el also died! This means that she was no longer bound to the law which prevented her from returning to her “FIRST HUSBAND!”
Once he resurrected, he was able to marry Yisra’el again, because he took on a different form. He was still YaHuWaH, yet in a human bodily image!
This gives greater clarity to what the Apostle Sha’ul (Paul) meant in Romans 7:
Romiym (Romans) 7:1 Know you not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the Towrah (law) has dominion over a man as long as he lives?
Romiym (Romans) 7:2 For the woman which has a husband is bound by the Towrah (law) to her husband so long as he lives; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
Romiym (Romans) 7:3 So then if, while her husband lives, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
Romiym (Romans) 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, you also are become dead to the law by the body of Mashiyach (Messiah); that YOU SHOULD BE MARRIED TO ANOTHER, EVEN TO HIM WHO IS RAISED FROM THE DEAD, that we should bring forth fruit unto Elohiym.
See the article entitled: Freed From the Law of Divorce
Many Christians often cite verses from Hebrews 8 in order to disqualify the idea that we should obey the commandments in the Towrah (Mosaic Law).
At first glance, I can understand why they would come to this conclusion, just by reading the text. But let me show you how tricky these English translators were. I like the King James Version of the Bible, because it italicizes words that were not there in the original text. All other translations do not do this, therefore, the reader is left to believe that those words were there in the original text.
If you have a King James Bible, read these verses below:
Ibriym (Hebrews) 8:
7 For if that first [covenant] had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
8 For finding fault with them, he says, Behold, the days come, says YHWH, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Yisra’el and with the house of Yahuwdah (Judah):
*Explanation: You will notice in the above passages, that in verse 7, the word “covenant” is italicized. I emboldened it with brackets and highlighted it in red to show that it was not there originally. In verse 8, YaHuWaH found fault with who? It says that he found fault with “them!” He found fault with the nation of Yisra’el, because they had committed spiritual adultery with their idols!
He did not find fault with his own marriage covenant that he made with them! Why would YaHuWaH present a faulty covenant to his bride, and then blame her for breaking it? That wouldn’t seem fair, now would it? If YaHuWaH’s ways are perfect, why would he find fault with his own covenant?
He did not find fault with his own marriage covenant that he made with them! Why would YaHuWaH present a faulty covenant to his bride, and then blame her for breaking it? That wouldn’t seem fair, now would it? If YaHuWaH’s ways are perfect, why would he find fault with his own covenant?
Ibriym (Hebrews) 8:9 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 Mitzrayim (Egypt); because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, says YHWH.
*Note: Notice that Yisra’el “continued not in his covenant” and that is why he found fault with “them” not “it” (the covenant).
Ibriym (Hebrews) 8:
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Yisra’el after those days, says YHWH; I will put my Towrah (laws) into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them an Elohiym, and they shall be to me a people:
11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know YHWH: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
*Explanation: It is important at this point to give the biblical definition for sin.
1st Yahuwchanon (John) 3:4 Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the Towrah (law): for sin is the transgression of the Towrah (law).
The prophecy in Jeremiah 31:31-34 is being repeated again in Hebrews 8:10-12, and he is telling us that after Yisra’el is given a “new heart” (with Towrah written on it), then YaHuWaH will no longer remember the fact that Yisra’el transgressed the marriage covenant (Towrah).
They did not keep his covenant in the past, but in the future, Yisra’el will receive a new heart with his laws written inside, and they will then have a renewed desire to obey the marriage covenant (Towrah).
Ibriym (Hebrews) 8:13 In that he says, a new [covenant], he has made the first old. Now that which decays and waxes old is ready to vanish away.
What decays and waxes old? It is the mortal body of a human being that decays after it dies!
You will notice that in verse 7 & 13 the word “covenant” is not even there!!!
Why? In the KJV, whenever a word is italicized, it was not there in the original text!
So what is the entire book of Hebrews all about?
We get a better understanding in the following verses:
Ibriym (Hebrews) 7:23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
Ibriym (Hebrews) 7:24 But this man, because he continues ever, has an unchangeable priesthood.
Ibriym (Hebrews) 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto Elohiym by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.
The entire book is about the role of the High Priest each year on Yom Kippur. When Messiah was baptized (immersed) by John, John was
“transferring”
the role of the Sons of Aharown (Aaron) back to the original, which is the priesthood of Melchizedek. This is the reason why John the Baptist had to die. He died to illustrate that the Sons of Aaron are not a permanent priesthood. The Levitical priests (from the line of Aaron) are being superseded by the eternal priesthood of Melchizedek whose “once and for all” sacrifice was to make permanent intercession for the sins of the people forever!
Immediately following our Messiah’s baptism, he was led by the Ruwach ha’Qodesh (Holy Spirit) into the wilderness to fulfill the pattern of the scapegoat. The first goat on Yom Kippur is killed, and this was being illustrated in Messiah’s baptism, which was his legal moment of death. Romans 6:3-4 tells us that baptism (immersion) is a picture of death:
Romiym (Romans) 6:3 Know you not, that so many of us as were baptized into Yahuwshuwa Mashiyach (Messiah) were baptized into his death?
Romiym (Romans) 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Mashiyach (Messiah) was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Hence, he fulfilled the pattern of the first goat that is to be killed by the High Priest on Yom Kippur, followed by the second goat (the scapegoat) going into the wilderness to “Take away the sin of the world.”
He took the sins AWAY from Jerusalem, into the wilderness where Satan’s temptations were defeated! He then emerged from the wilderness to read Isaiah 61:1-2 on Yom Kippur, when he preached “The Acceptable Year of YHWH.”
Only the High Priest once per year could go into the Holy of Holies (behind the veil) to make atonement for the nation. If Yisra’el’s sins as a nation were not forgiven, they were not accepted. But if they were forgiven, then it was announced by the Sons of Aaron with two silver trumpets (Numbers 10:2), “The Acceptable Year of YaHuWaH!”
Only the High Priest once per year could go into the Holy of Holies (behind the veil) to make atonement for the nation. If Yisra’el’s sins as a nation were not forgiven, they were not accepted. But if they were forgiven, then it was announced by the Sons of Aaron with two silver trumpets (Numbers 10:2), “The Acceptable Year of YaHuWaH!”
Therefore, Yahuwshuwa fulfilled the pattern of the twin goats on Yom Kippur, as well as the High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. Now, you may be asking yourself “So what is Hebrews 8 really all about?”
Well, I can tell you one thing, it is not about the “The Old Covenant” being done away with. Instead, it is all about the OLD PRIESTHOOD being superseded by the heavenly eternal priesthood of Melchizedek!
Now that we know the word “COVENANT” was not in the original text of Hebrews 8:7 & 8:13, let’s see how it should read:
Ibriym (Hebrews) 8:
7 For if that first [priesthood] had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second [priesthood].
8 For finding fault with them, he says, Behold, the days come, says YHWH, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Yisra’el and with the house of Yahuwdah (Judah):
*Note: The word “new” in the above passage is seen in the Greek Concordance as follows: “new, fresh, renewal.”
#2537. kainos kahee-nos’ of uncertain affinity; new (especially in freshness; while 3501 is properly so with respect to age:--new.
#2538. kainotes kahee-not’-ace from 2537; renewal (figuratively):--newness.
In Jeremiah 31:31, the Hebrew word for “new” is as follows:
#2318 chadash: “To be new; to rebuild, to renew, repair.”
As you can see, the Greek word kainos and the Hebrew word chadash, both can mean either “new” or “renewed!”
Has the Old Covenant Been Annulled?
Has the Old Covenant Been Annulled?
Often times, I hear Christians quoting from Hebrews 7:18, and they get the false impression that the “Old Covenant” has been “annulled.”
However, by reading the entire chapter of Hebrews 7, we come to the understanding, that this is NOT talking about the Mosaic Covenant (aka “Old” Testament).
Hebrews 7:18 is specifically speaking about the role of the High Priests who were MORTALS!
You see, our Messiah was there all along as our High Priest, Melchizedek. He was with Adam & Eve in the garden making skins to cover themselves with.
He met with Abraham in Genesis 14:17.
He met with all the patriarchs, and he guided Yisra’el out of Egypt.
On Mount Sinai, Yisra’el formed a marriage covenant with YaHuWaH (who is also Melchizedek).
However, after Yisra’el committed adultery with the Golden Calf, the marriage covenant was “broken,” hence the reason why Moses broke the tablets.
Moses went back up to the mountain a second time. This time bringing another set of Ten Commandments with him. This is a foreshadowing of the New Covenant!
Only this time, he established a TEMPORARY PRIESTHOOD that would administer this NEW COVENANT!
The Temporary role of the High Priest would be made up of MORTAL MEN WHO EVENTUALLY DIE!
These would be men from the SONS OF AARON, and they would only step into the role of the HIGH PRIESTS until THE SEED SHOULD COME! (see Galatians 3:19).
When Messiah came, he restored us back to the ORIGINAL HIGH PRIEST, MELCHIZEDEK!
But the COVENANT DID NOT CHANGE!
The only thing that changed was the PRIESTHOOD THAT MINISTERS THE COVENANT!
Now, with that understanding in mind, let’s read these verses below:
Ibriym (Hebrews) 7:
15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchizedek there arises another priest,
16 Who is made, not after the LAW OF A CARNAL COMMANDMENT, but after the power of AN ENDLESS LIFE.
*Note: in Romans 7:14, Paul declared “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.” Therefore Hebrews 8:16 is not calling the “law” carnal. It is referring to the commandment that made MORTAL, CARNAL MEN INTO HIGH PRIESTS!
Ibriym (Hebrews) 7:17 For he testifies, You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
Ibriym (Hebrews) 7:18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
*Note: What was being annulled? What is weak and unprofitable? Not the covenant that Yah made with humanity!
Why would he give us a weak covenant, and then blame us for not keeping it? What was weak and unprofitable is the ROLE OF THE HIGH PRIESTS AFTER THE SONS OF AARON, A MORTAL PRIESTHOOD!
Fallen humanity is “weak,” and we are “unprofitable” in our ability to save souls! How can a fallen human being save another fallen human being? It’s like the proverbial “blind leading the blind.”
YaHuWaH only allowed the role of the High Priest to be from the Sons of Aaron TEMPORARILY, UNTIL THE SEED SHOULD COME! (see Galatians 3:19). Once the Messiah came, the role of the High Priest went back to Melchizedek!
Ibriym (Hebrews) 7:19 For the law [of the mortal high priests] made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw near unto Elohiym.
*Note: In Psalm 19:7, King David declared that “The law of YHWH is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of YHWH is sure, making wise the simple.”
So if the “Law of YaHuWaH is perfect,” how can Hebrews 7:19 be in contradiction? It’s not a contradiction, once you understand the context. Hebrews 7:19 is speaking specifically about the “law” that made mortal, weak, humans into “High Priests.” This is the “carnal commandment” that was “weak and unprofitable.” Not the entire Law of Moses!
We know this is true, because the context of Hebrews 7, makes it obvious:
Ibriym (Hebrews) 7:20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he [Aaronic Order] was made priest:
Ibriym (Hebrews) 7:21 (For THOSE PRIESTS were made without an oath; but this [Melchizedek] with an oath by him that said unto him, YHWH sware and will not repent, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek:).
A true story that helps to illustrate this:
Marcy almost married the other man, but one week before the wedding, the man that Marcy was having an affair with broke off the engagement. Marcy was devastated, but as a result, she was humbled. She called her ex-husband Don as she repented and apologized to him. They began dating again, and about a year later, they remarried.
To this day, whenever Marcy shares her testimony, she says that she has a “brand new heart” towards her husband, Don. However, the wedding vows that they took were identical to the ones they took the first time they were married. The same requirements also still apply as in the first marriage covenant. Nothing actually changed except for Marcy’s heart, and Don’s heart. Therefore, we can say that Don & Marcy “renewed” their wedding vows, and their marriage covenant with one another.
Whenever they declare that they have a “new” heart towards one another, it is because they had both repented of their sins! It does not mean that they have a different marriage covenant with different rules and requirements. Their marriage is actually “new” in the sense of their changed attitude.
However, their marriage covenant is also “renewed” in the sense that it is the very same wedding vows as the first time. The very same requirements and commandments still apply! Don agrees to love his wife as Messiah loves his bride, and Marcy agrees to submit to her husband Don as unto YaHuWaH.
The only thing that really changed was their attitude! That is the only part that is “new!” Their commitment towards one another has been “renewed!”
Now we can better understand this prophecy:
Yirmeyahuw (Jeremiah) 31:31 Behold, the days come, says YHWH, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Yisra’el, and with the house of Yahuwdah (Judah):
You will notice that the term “New Covenant” is being made with The House of Yahuwdah (Judah) & The House of Yisra’el.
It says nothing about him making a new covenant with the so-called “Gentile Christian Church!” Why? Because in order to be a part of this covenant, Gentiles must forsake all forms of pagan sun-god worship (i.e. pagan holidays, and false names of pagan deities) and they must begin to obey the Towrah!
They only way that a Gentile can be part of this covenant, is if they repent of idolatry and they begin to “sojourn with” one of the twelve tribes of Yisra’el (Ezekiel 47:22).
In the case of a born-again Christian, they are “sojourning with” (walking with) the Messiah of Yisra’el who is from the Tribe of Yahuwdah (Judah). In Ephesians 2, the Apostle Sha’uwl (Paul) explains that any former Gentile who has been “brought near” to the covenant by the blood of Messiah, is no longer considered a “stranger,” but he is now a part of the Commonwealth of Yisra’el!
So you see, this “New Covenant” is predicated on the fact that there must first be a “new priesthood” in place (Melchizedek). This does not mean that the “Old Covenant” becomes obsolete, but only the way in which the “Old Covenant” is implemented (administered) has CHANGED!
The mortal priesthood of the sons of Aaron had to offer sacrifices once per year on Yom Kippur. But there was never any guarantee that those sacrifices would be accepted. The High Priest (Kohen Gadowl) had to be righteous as he had to also make atonement for himself before he could be a proper vessel to make atonement for the nation. If the mortal High Priest had not adequately atoned for his own sins, then the entire nation would not be accepted by YaHuWaH that year. Yahuwshuwa (as our High Priest), has offered us an eternal sacrifice for he is the LAMB SLAIN FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD (Revelation 13:8)!
It says nothing about him making a new covenant with the so-called “Gentile Christian Church!” Why? Because in order to be a part of this covenant, Gentiles must forsake all forms of pagan sun-god worship (i.e. pagan holidays, and false names of pagan deities) and they must begin to obey the Towrah!
They only way that a Gentile can be part of this covenant, is if they repent of idolatry and they begin to “sojourn with” one of the twelve tribes of Yisra’el (Ezekiel 47:22).
In the case of a born-again Christian, they are “sojourning with” (walking with) the Messiah of Yisra’el who is from the Tribe of Yahuwdah (Judah). In Ephesians 2, the Apostle Sha’uwl (Paul) explains that any former Gentile who has been “brought near” to the covenant by the blood of Messiah, is no longer considered a “stranger,” but he is now a part of the Commonwealth of Yisra’el!
So you see, this “New Covenant” is predicated on the fact that there must first be a “new priesthood” in place (Melchizedek). This does not mean that the “Old Covenant” becomes obsolete, but only the way in which the “Old Covenant” is implemented (administered) has CHANGED!
The mortal priesthood of the sons of Aaron had to offer sacrifices once per year on Yom Kippur. But there was never any guarantee that those sacrifices would be accepted. The High Priest (Kohen Gadowl) had to be righteous as he had to also make atonement for himself before he could be a proper vessel to make atonement for the nation. If the mortal High Priest had not adequately atoned for his own sins, then the entire nation would not be accepted by YaHuWaH that year. Yahuwshuwa (as our High Priest), has offered us an eternal sacrifice for he is the LAMB SLAIN FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD (Revelation 13:8)!
In other words, YaHuWaH still fully intends to keep his covenant with unregenerate Yisra’el! He will not invent a new set of laws nor will he invent a new set of marriage vows. The only part that will be “new” is the heart that he gives to her and the renewed commitment and love that she will have for her bridegroom, YaHuWaH! And because she will have a “new heart” towards him (no longer a heart of stone, but instead a heart of flesh), she will desire to obey the marriage covenant! In other words, she wants to obey Towrah!
The prophet Ezekiel illustrated that the heart of the bride is what will be made new, and not the commandments that she is required to obey:
The prophet Ezekiel illustrated that the heart of the bride is what will be made new, and not the commandments that she is required to obey:
Sha’uwl (Paul) illustrated the very same thing as he explains that the Towrah is now written in the heart of the bride rather than in stone tablets. Her heart was like stone, and now her heart is like that of her Messiah who came in the flesh!
So you see, the “renewed marriage covenant” has the very same terms and conditions (commandments) as the first one which was broken. The only thing that actually changed is the eternal and permanent way in which the blood atonement is administered!
Let’s Continue now with Hebrews 8:
Ibriym (Hebrews) 8:9 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; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith YHWH.
*Note: Notice that the reason why the covenant had to be “renewed” with a more permanent sacrifice in place is because the first covenant was corruptible. In other words, the priests died, because they were mere mortal men. But the covenant became more permanent by a permanent sacrifice with an unchangeable priesthood who never dies. So what actually changed? The covenant changed to an incorruptible (immortal) form when Messiah sealed it with his eternal heavenly blood making it even more binding than ever!
Continuing in Hebrews 8:
Ibriym (Hebrews) 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Yisra’el after those days, says YHWH; I will put my Towrah (laws) into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them an Elohiym, and they shall be to me a people:
Ibriym (Hebrews) 8:11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know YHWH: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
Ibriym (Hebrews) 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Ibriym (Hebrews) 8:13 In that he says, a new [priesthood], he has made the first old. Now that which decays and waxes old is ready to vanish away.
Notice that verse 13 says that the OLD IS READY TO VANISH AWAY!
But notice that the term “Is ready to” means that The old priesthood has not vanished away yet!
Messiah will perform animal sacrifices as A MEMORIAL OF HIMSELF AS THE LAMB SLAIN FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD! If you do not believe me, see below:
Yechezqel (Ezekiel) 45:7 And a portion shall be for the prince on the one side and on the other side of the oblation of the holy portion, and of the possession of the city, before the oblation of the holy portion, and before the possession of the city, from the west side westward, and from the east side eastward: and the length shall be over against one of the portions, from the west border unto the east border.
Yechezqel (Ezekiel) 45:7 And a portion shall be for the prince on the one side and on the other side of the oblation of the holy portion, and of the possession of the city, before the oblation of the holy portion, and before the possession of the city, from the west side westward, and from the east side eastward: and the length shall be over against one of the portions, from the west border unto the east border.
Yechezqel (Ezekiel) 45:16 All the people of the land shall give this oblation for the prince in Yisra’el.
Yechezqel (Ezekiel) 48:21 And the residue shall be for the prince, on the one side and on the other of the holy oblation, and of the possession of the city, over against the five and twenty thousand of the oblation toward the east border, and westward over against the five and twenty thousand toward the west border, over against the portions for the prince: and it shall be the holy oblation; and the sanctuary of the house shall be in the midst thereof.
When Messiah returns, prophecy tells us that he will rebuild the Tabernacle of David that has fallen down:
Amowc (Amos) 9:11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of Dawiyd (David) that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:
Ma’aseh Shlichiym (Acts) 15:16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of Dawiyd (David), which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
#6664 tsedeq: justice, rightness, righteousness; what is right or just or normal, rightness, justness (of weights and measures) righteousness (in government).
When Messiah returns, prophecy tells us that he will rebuild the Tabernacle of David that has fallen down:
Amowc (Amos) 9:11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of Dawiyd (David) that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:
This is telling us that our Messiah, Yahuwshuwa will be just like King David when he offered up sacrifice and oblation in his Tabernacle! You see, King David had both the Zadok Priesthood & the Levites working side-by-side with each other in his tabernacle. What does the Zadok Priesthood represent?
The word “Zadok” is seen in the Hebrew Strong’s Concordance as follows:
#6659 Tsadowq: righteous.
The term “Melchizedek” is a compound of two Hebrew words:
#4442 Malkiy-Tsedeq mal-kee-tseh’-dek from 4428 and 6664; king of right; Malki-Tsedek, an early king in Palestine:--Melchizedek.
#4428 melek: king
#6664 tsedeq: justice, rightness, righteousness; what is right or just or normal, rightness, justness (of weights and measures) righteousness (in government).
So you see, the “Melchizedek Priesthood” is the same thing as the “Zadok Priesthood” because the root word “tsedeq” (zadok) means righteous! Melchizedek is both a “king & priest” and he is also the “King of Righteousness:”
Ibriym (Hebrews) 7:
1 For this Malkiy-Tzedeq (Melchizedek), king of Salem (JeruSalem), priest of the most high Elohiym, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem (JeruSalem), which is, King of peace;
Ibriym (Hebrews) 7:17 For he testifies, You are a priest forever after the order of Malkiy-Tzedeq (Melchizedek).
In the Messianic Kingdom, our Messiah will pattern his tabernacle in the same way as King David. He will have his eternal priesthood of Melchizedek (Zadok, righteous) and he will also have the earthly priesthood of the Levites working side-by-side with each other.
The eternal priesthood (after the order of Melchizedek) will have put on immortality, and they will also be working alongside with the mortal (earthly) priesthood of Levites. This means that during the Millennium there will be a “coming together” of heaven & earth. It will be a transitional stage of 1,000 years, before THE FIRST HEAVEN & THE FIRST EARTH ARE PASSED AWAY, as seen in Revelation 21:1.
The eternal priesthood (after the order of Melchizedek) will have put on immortality, and they will also be working alongside with the mortal (earthly) priesthood of Levites. This means that during the Millennium there will be a “coming together” of heaven & earth. It will be a transitional stage of 1,000 years, before THE FIRST HEAVEN & THE FIRST EARTH ARE PASSED AWAY, as seen in Revelation 21:1.
Chazown (Revelation) 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
The Millennium is a transitional stage of 1,000 years where the heavenly priesthood and the earthly priesthood meet and come together before the earthly priesthood of Levites will no longer be needed. The Levites are forever, but they will no longer need to perform the sacrificial system once it is done away with for good.
The first priesthood of the sons of Aaron is on its way out after Messiah’s 1,000-year reign; but the eternal priesthood of Melchizedek will never die.
But some may argue that the Levitical Priesthood are to minister before YaHuWaH forever:
1st Dibre ha’Yamiym (Chronicles) 15:2 Then Dawiyd (David) said, None ought to carry the ark of Elohiym but the Levites: for them has YHWH chosen to carry the ark of Elohiym and to minister unto him forever.
What this means is that the Levites will eventually put on immortality (a new body) according to 1st Corinthians 15:50-53 and when they do, they will be merged into the Melchizedek Priesthood which is eternal and they will never die!
Hence, the “Old Covenant” (Mosaic Covenant) became a Renewed Covenant with Messiah’s blood atonement. But Messiah’s Renewed Covenant is not even fully implemented yet. In Romans 8:23 it says that we have only received the FIRST FRUITS OF OUR REDEMPTION until we receive THE ADOPTION, THE REDEMPTION OF THE BODY.
And so the “Old Covenant” (Mosaic Covenant) is still in effect while the Renewed Covenant is still on its way to being fully implemented during the Millennium!
Why? Because it is a marriage covenant and the bride has not been taken into the marriage yet until the “Marriage Supper of the Lamb!” (Revelation 19:9). The “seal” of the Ruwach ha’Qodesh (Holy Spirit) is like an engagement ring. The bride is engaged (betrothed), but there has not been a wedding yet.
Christians are “jumping the gun” and acting like they are married already, but the MARRIAGE HAS NOT BEEN CONSUMMATED YET!
However, she must be a wise virgin by making it into the marriage. This means that she has to have her oil lamp filled at his return.
And what does she have to fill her lamp with in order to be ready?
Tehilliym (Psalm) 119:105 Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
As the bride studies the scriptures to show herself approved, her lamp will be filled with oil to light her pathway to meet the groom!
Did you just get a comment written by me? Or did I lose it? Please advise. Thanks. Jennifer
ReplyDeleteThis is really good info here. The only part I am not following is the law of the high priest and the Tabernacle was given right after the covenant was blood ratified and the covenant confirming meal had been eaten. Yahuwah then calls Moshe up the mountain to give him the tablets and a LAW "to teach them" and then we see the high priest commandment and Tabernacle details first given, only then does Yahuwah mention the golden calf. I see this Law to "teach them" is what Paul references in Gal 3 as the schoolmaster they were under. Now that Messiah has arrived they no longer need the schoolmaster. I can't seem to see how this law was due to the golden calf issue if the law was already given before the golden calf incident? The transgressions mentioned - could those have been because they shrank back and refused to hear Yahuwah, which would result in them not enduring the fear and then inevitably falling into sin? They also thereby requested a mediator, which Yahuwah obliged with the High priest.
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