Peter Barnes: The Promise of the New Covenant, Jeremiah 31:31-34 (Sunday 17 May 2020 Evening Service, 6.00 a.m.)
– cited in full in Hebrews 8 – the longest citation from the Old Testament in the New Testament.
1. The Church is new Israel. – 31:31; Heb.8:7, 13. The promises to Israel in the Old Testament are expanded and given to the Church in the New. Chris Wright gives the illustration of a father who promises his young son a horse when he comes of age, but in the meantime cars are invented so he gives his son a car: ‘The promise is fulfilled, because the substantive meaning of the promise was a personally owned means of transport.’
2. The law will be written upon our hearts. – 31:32-33. The sacrifices never took away sin but reminded people that they were sinners – Heb.10:11. – Jer.17:1, 9. In the old covenant, obedience was commanded; in the new covenant it is promised. – Ezek.36:26-27; Joel 2:28-29; John 7:37-39. – Jer.31:33b-34a. See 1 Tim.2:5; 1 John 2:20, 27.
3. Sin will be forgiven. – 31:34b. There was forgiveness of sins in the Old Testament period – Ps.103:12; Mic.7:19. But not through the sacrifices – Heb.10:1-4. – Daniel 9:24, 26a; 1 John 1:7. The tide of time shall never/ His covenant remove;/ His name shall stand for ever,/ His changeless name of Love (James Montgomery, 1771-1854).
Watch the service below.