[Originally posted by the same author at Ang Tinig Sa Ilang website]
In part 1 of this series we learned that the word "covenant" in Hebrew 8:7 is NOT the same meaning of the word "covenant" in Deuteronomy 4:13 or Exodus 34:27-28, thus those verses should not be connected in interpreting the "covenant that became faulty" in Hebrew 8:7.
We also found out that Exodus 19:1-8 is the best and reasonable passage to link with Hebrews 8:7-onwards. Let’s continue…
So What Is The Real Message of Hebrew 8:7?
Yes, there’s no need to jump away from the book of Hebrews to get the real message of Hebrew 8:7-13. If one can’t get the message for a particular verse, try to read the surrounding verses, or other books written by the same author first.
What our critics did is that they read Hebrew 8:7-onwards and immediately linked it to Deut 4:13 or Exodus 34:27-28 without taking the real message of Hebrew 8:7 first! If only they adhere to the real message of Hebrew 8:7 (and onwards) it would not be necessary to use outside Hebrew verses.
The chapters of Hebrew 7-10 are enough to get the real meaning of Hebrew 8:7, and we can summarize it this way:
“That the old covenant was flawed because of the people’s laxity in fulfilling their promise (8:7). That is why there’s a need to renew the covenant so that humanity can still have the hope of salvation (8:8, 10). The ceremonies in the earthly sanctuary were symbols used so that men can grasp God’s way of salvation. When the new covenant came these symbols were taken over by the real ones–not by symbols anymore (7:12; 9:1).
So now in the new covenant we have a High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary and that is no other than Jesus Christ. He is now the Lamb that was sacrificed once and for all (7:27; 9:12). His blood completed that covenant (9:14). In this new covenant it is the same law that God wants us to follow. He even wrote it in our minds and hearts instead of putting it away (8:10).”
As we noticed, there is no indication of a "Ten Commandments that was flawed and thus abolished" in the passages above. To come up with that interpretation one will move away from Hebrew 8, and take the word "covenant" in Hebrew 8:7 OUT OF ITS CONTEXT.
OUT OF CONTEXT
Now let's look closer at our critics' interpretation of Hebrew 8:7 and see if it's really in accordance with what the author is saying. Again, this is how they crafted their reasoning.
First, they will emphasize the word "covenant" in Heb 8:7
Heb 8:7-13 “For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second…”
After reading completely the whole verses (they are doing this to point out indirectly that they are not omitting or neglecting any part of the verse, which is fine but kind of hypocritical because they will still intentionally use the wrong emphasis), the next importance that they will point out is this verse...Heb 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.."
They also use that verse above to bridge it with the verses from the Old Testament, and then eventually landed on...
Deu 4:13 “And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone. “
Exo 34:27-28 “And the LORD said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel. And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.”
So now they will conclude that it is the "Ten Commandments-covenant that was flawed" in Hebrew 8:7 and thus abolished.
But we found out above (the real meaning of Hebrew 8) that NOTHING, even in the whole chapter of Hebrew 8, suggests about a "Ten Commandments that was flawed and thus abolished". Instead, in Hebrew 8:10, God's law is written in hearts and mind instead of abolishing it.
Here we can see that the word "covenant" in Hebrew 8:7 was taken out of its context by our critics to come up with their crafted doctrine (Ten Commandments was abolished) which is totally not the topic even in the whole chapter of Hebrew 8.
ALMOST NEAR AND YET SO FAR
Their chaining of these verses are very convincing, since most verses talk of the same event and with the same "covenant" words.
In my personal study of this, I temporarily accept their interpretation and see for myself if it will not violate any already laid out fundamental teachings of the Bible..meaning I checked if their interpretation is sound or not. Even with just little research, I found so many errors that violates the fundamental teachings of the Bible. These errors were discussed in part 3 of this series.
So I go back to their chaining of verses and find the problem in their reasoning. Fortunately, the ultimate author of the book of Hebrews, the Holy Spirit, guides me on this and this is what I am sharing now with you.
Now let's use the words of the author of Hebrew himself to expose the poisons of our critics' interpretation. Some of these were already discussed.
God Found Fault in the People, not in the Covenant-Ten Commandments
Again with our critics reasoning, the covenant-Ten Commandments is the one that was found to be flawed, imperfect, lacking so many laws, etc. They even mock us “Where is the law against sniffing cocaine in the Ten Commandments?” Certainly, this kind of thinking asserts their claim that the Ten Commandments lack so many things. That is why for them the Ten Commandments is the covenant that is found to be flawed.
Maybe it’s already obvious for you where to get the truth to iron out this erroneous statements. Yes it’s the immediate verses of Hebrew 8:7!
Heb 8:8-9 “For finding fault with them…because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.”
This is a slumdunk truth against our critics claim. Clearly, it is not the Ten Commandments that is faulty. God found fault in the people that is why the old covenant was flawed. Immediate verses answer our critics’ stand.
The Law Is Written In Our Hearts
Moreover..
Heb 8:10 “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people”
I think there is no need for further explanation. Amen! The verse speaks for itself unless the reader has preconceived thinking against it.
A New Set of Laws?
Now some may argue that the “law” above refers to the “new set of laws started by Jesus”.
- Firstly, it’s not written in the verse that this law is a new law.
- Secondly, let’s all remember that the author of Hebrew was explaining what was prophesied by prophet Jeremiah (31:31). Upon his expounding of this prophecy, the author of Hebrews NEVER gave a hint that this law is a new set of laws! It was his opportunity to tell us that God is giving a new set of law as replacement to the Ten Commandments, but he never did.
Exo 19:5 “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant [Ten Commandments--Deut 4:13], then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: “
The basis of Israel’s being faithful to their covenant with God is their obedience to God’s words, especially the Ten Commandments. In the new covenant it is still the same set of laws, the Ten Commandments, where God wants us to follow. He is putting it in our hearts and mind. Our critics want to take it away from us!
Part 3 of this series talks about the dangers of our critics interpretation of Heb 8:7.
