The New Covenant and the Covenant with Moses: Understanding Their Similarities and Differences

The Real Description of the New Covenant

Neither Hebrews nor any other book in Matthew through Revelation has the real portrayal of any “New” covenant. The real description is in Jer. 31:30–36 where the prophet describes a covenant that is the same Torah, refreshed and renewed in the hearts and minds of all Jews.

References from the New Testament

Matthew 26:26-28

“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body. For this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many, for the remission of sins.’”

Revelation 13:8

“And all who dwell on the earth will worship him whose name is not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

Revelation 22:3

“And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants shall serve him.”

The Covenant with Moses

Exodus 31:18

“And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.”

Exodus 9:4

“But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.”

Exodus 32:26

“Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, ‘Who is on the Lord’s side? let him come unto me.’ And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.”

Differences and Similarities Between the Two Covenants

References from Isaiah

Isaiah 1:12-15

“When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand to tread my courts? Stand and declare your cause, saith the Lord; yea, let your sins, which ye have committed before me, be your cause. But when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.’”

Isaiah 30:21

“And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, ‘This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand and when ye turn to the left.’”

Prophecy Exposed

Micah 3:2

“Who hate the good, and love evil, who pluck the skin from off them, and their flesh from off them, and they1cleave their bone to them.”

Micah 3:10-11

“They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity. The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet they lean upon the Lord, and say, ‘Is not the Lord among us? none evil can come upon us.’”

Conclusion: Bound Together

Despite the differences outlined, the New Covenant and the Covenant with Moses are bound together by the overarching themes of divine command and the importance of obeying God’s laws.