The Passage in Translation for today is in response to a question from one of our members. Do you know the difference between the Mosaic Covenant and the New Covenant? There are many references to both in the book of Hebrews. In this week’s study, Dr. Blizzard translates Hebrews 8:6 and discusses the significance and difference in the Old Covenant and the New Covenant.
By Roy B. Blizzard
Our passage in Translation for today is from Hebrews 8:6 and it is a result of a question asked by one of our members. No doubt, his question reflects a question of many students of the Bible and one we will briefly try to answer as our study for this week.
The question was as follows:
Dr. Blizzard, I know the New Covenant is better than the Old one…Many say to forget the Old Covenant. What is the real meaning with the word Better? What are the Scriptures really saying here and in other verses in Hebrews regarding these covenants? Does the term "better covenant" mean that the old is done away with or does better refer to completion or fulfilled?
Although there are many similar passages throughout the book of Hebrews that use the same terminology, we are going to focus simply on Hebrews 8:6 that says:
But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant which was established upon better promises.
New International Version (NIV)
[6] But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.
This question is somewhat complicated in that it really doesn’t say or indicate exactly what it may seem on the surface. Throughout Hebrews it talks about the covenant God made with Moses and from verse 6 and following of chapter 8 the writer begins to speak of a better covenant.
In the covenant God made with Moses, purification took place through the offering of the blood of bulls and goats. Here is a key point. That covenant was basically for Israel or the Hebrews.
With the new covenant, the wall of partition or separation was broken down. Now, access to God is available to all, not through the blood of bulls and goats but through what God himself did in the person of Yeshua.
The word in Hebrew translated in English as "better" is a form of the word Yud Tav Resh. It can be translated as "better" but it can also be translated as "more," (yoter). Instead of thinking that the Mosaic covenant had been completely done away with, think rather in terms that now the door has been opened to everyone and the kingdom of God has expanded greatly with the door to the kingdom now being opened to all who would enter in. Think in terms of larger, greater, more expansive and better in that sense, not in the sense that the old was bad and was completely done away with and is no more. Thinking of better in this context will perhaps enhance your understanding the passages in Hebrews.
