Old Testament Laws: Comparison of Old and New Covenants
Feature | Old Covenant | New Covenant |
| When established | at Exodus | at crucifixion |
|---|---|---|
| Parties: God and | national Israel (Ex. 19-24) | Christians (Luke 22:20; John 3:16-21) |
| People redeemed from bondage | in Egypt (Ex. 20:2) | in sin (Heb. 9:15) |
| Mediator of the covenant | Moses (Ex. 20:18-19; Heb. 9:19-20) | Jesus Christ (Heb. 8:6; 9:15; 12:24) |
| Ratified by blood of | animals (Ex. 24:8; Heb. 9:19-20) | Jesus Christ (Matt. 26:28; Rom. 3:25) |
| Promises offered | prosperity, national security, become God’s treasured nation (Ex. 19:5; Lev. 26) | eternal life (John 3:16) children of God (Rom. 8:14-17, 29) know God, law in heart, forgiveness (Heb. 8:10-12) with God forever (Rev. 21:3-7) |
| Initiation sign of the covenant | circumcision (Gen. 17:11; Ex. 12:48-49; John 7:22-23) | conversion of the heart (Matt. 5:8; Acts 15:8; Rom. 2:28-29) |
| Continuing sign of the covenant | observance of the Sabbaths (Ex. 31:16-17; Ezek. 20:12) | new life of faith in Christ (Eph. 2:4-10; 4:17; 5:1-2) |
| Obligations | obedience to the law that was given through Moses (Ex. 24:3; Lev. 26; Deut. 28) | be perfect (Matt. 5:48) believe, obey Christ (Gal. 6:2; 1 John 3:23-24; Rom. 12:1; 2 Cor. 10:5) |
| Duration of the covenant | during time of national Israel, temple and Levites (Heb. 8:13) | eternity (John 5:24; 6:54-58; Heb. 9:15; 12:22-28; Rev. 21:3-7) |
| Priesthood | Aaron and sons (Ex. 29:9; Lev. 8) | Jesus Christ (Heb. 4:14-16; 5:5-6) believers (1 Pet. 2:5, 9) |
| High Priest entered presence of God | symbolically once a year on the Day of Atonement after offering the required blood sacrifices (Lev. 16; Heb. 9:7) | sat down at God’s right hand forever, after offering his own blood for all (Heb. 7:20-8:2; 9:11-14) |
| Holy place where God can be worshiped | tabernacle in wilderness (Deut. 12) temple in Jerusalem (1 Kings 8:29-30) | temple of the Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16) wherever believers are (John 4:21-24; Matt. 18:20) |
| Commemorations | weekly Sabbath (Ex. 20:8-11, Deut. 5:12-15) seasonal festivals (Lev. 23) | Lord’s Supper (Luke 22:19-20; Cor. 11:26-28) |
| Sacrifices | continual offering of animals and food offerings (Lev. 1-7; Heb. 10:1) as a reminder of sins (Heb. 10:30) | Christ’s one sacrifice (Heb. 9:26-28; 10:12) forgave sins, perfects the worshipper, clears conscience (Heb. 8:12; 10:1-2, 22) Christian’s life of service is to be a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:1) |
| Law | Ten Commandments (Ex. 20; Deut. 5) 603 additional laws governing moral, civil and religious affairs, fulfilled by adherence to the letter of numerous rules (Ex., Lev., Deut.) | Sermon on the Mount reveals Christian attitude and way of thinking (Matt. 5-7) law of Christ fulfilled by loving God and humans (John 13:34-35; Rom. 3:8-10; Gal. 5:14; 6:2; 1 John 2:3-6; 3:7-10, 21-24) |
| Contrast | the letter kills (Rom. 4:14-15; 2 Cor. 3:6) slavery (Gal. 4:24-25; 5:1) | The Spirit gives life (John 6:63; 2 Cor. 3:6)freedom (Gal. 4:26; 5:1) |
| Main feature | the law was a shadow of the good things to come (Heb. 10:1) | Jesus Christ, God in the flesh (Isa. 42:1-7; 49:5-13; Heb. 1; 9:11-15; 10:5-10) |
| Contact with God | through priesthood (Lev. 1-7) | individual comes to God’s throne (Heb. 4:16) |