THE TWO COVENANTS COMPARED: THE SINAI COVENANT AND THE NEW COVENANT IN CHRIST

Home About Bible Studies Documents Charts Contact Links

"Look, the days are coming, Yahweh declares, when I shall make a New Covenant with the House of Israel (and the House of Judah), but not like the covenant I made with their ancestors the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of Egypt, a covenant which they broke, even though I was their Master, Yahweh declares. No, this is the covenant I shall make with the House of Israel when those days have come, Yahweh declares. Within them I shall plant my Law, writing it on their hearts. Then I shall be their God and they will be my people. There will be no further need for everyone to teach neighbor or brother, saying, 'Learn to know Yahweh!' No, they will all know me, from the least to the greatest, Yahweh declares, since I shall forgive their guilt and never more call their sin to mind"
Jeremiah 31:31-34

Then he took the bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me. He did the same with the cup after supper, and said, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood poured out for you.
Luke 22:18-20

THE OLD (SINAI) COVENANT (Hebrews 9:1-10)	THE NEW COVENANT (Hebrews 9:11-28)
Obsolete now that Christ has come Romans 10:4; Hebrews 8:13 CCC# 1963-64	A perfect covenant brought about by Christ Hebrews 7:19; 8:6-7, 13; 10:8-10; CCC# 1965; 1967
Originated at Mt. Sinai Galatians 4:24-25	Originated from the heavenly Jerusalem Galatians 4:26-27
Blessings and punishments were temporal: brought judgment, death, condemnation 2 Corinthians 3:7-9	Blessings and punishments are eternal: brings eternal life Ephesians 2:1-13: Revelation 20:11-21:4
Impossible to obey perfectly because of human weakness and slavery to sin Romans 8:3; Galatians 3:23-24	Fulfilled perfectly by Christ Romans 10:4; 1 Corinthians 11:25; Galatians 3:25-27; CCC# 580-81
Established in the blood of sacrifice: In animal sacrifice the blood of the animal was separated from the body and both are offered in sacrifice. Required continual daily atonement for unintentional sins. There was no remedy for intentional sin because no animal was perfect enough to forgive mortal sin. With the exception of the whole burnt offerings, other sacrifices are eaten: Exodus 2:7; 24:5-11; 29:10-18; Leviticus 1:1-13; 6:17-22; 19:17; 7:6-7; Numbers 15:27-31; Hebrews 9:7; 10:1-4;	Established in the blood of sacrifice: In the celebration of the first Eucharist Jesus separated His Body from His Blood [Luke 22:19-20]'the sacrifice must be eaten [John 6:53-56]. Christ atoned for all sin once for all time and all humanity and His sacrifice has the power to cleanse the conscience. The application of His sacrifice is on-going as He stands before the Father as both our High Priest and the perfect Lamb of Sacrifice: Hebrews 9:12; 10:2, 22; Revelation 5:5-6; CCC# 580; 1364-68
Restricted access to God Exodus 30:10; Hebrews 9:7-8	Christ opened access to God for all humanity Hebrews 9:15-16; CCC# 536; 1026