#37 Excerpt from New Covenant Israel Ch. IV

Jun 30

8 min read

Blood Covenants

And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people. Zechariah 11:10

It is my opinion that the proper understanding of Biblical covenants is key to unlocking the mysteries of the people of God and other primary doctrines, which is why there is a necessity for transparent descriptions. There are many covenants mentioned in the Bible (Noahic Covenant, Davidic Covenant, etc..), as well as different kinds of covenants, I.e. covenants of salt, with diverse ratifications and tokens. Our focus, however, will be on three particular covenantsthat are directly linked with God’s people. They are the Abrahamic Covenant, the Mosaic/Old Covenant, and the New Covenant. These covenants are unique in that they are explicitly disclosed as blood covenants.

Covenant Defined

Vine’s Expository Dictionary of OT Words under Covenant states…

(Berı̂yth (בְּרִית, Strong's #1285), “covenant; league; confederacy.” This word is most probably derived from an Akkadian root meaning “to fetter”; it has parallels in Hittite, Egyptian, Assyrian, and Aramaic. Berı̂yth is used over 280 times and in all parts of the Old Testament. The first occurrence of the word is in Gen. 6:18: “But with thee [Noah] will I establish my covenant.”)

Many times, Covenant is used in Scripture with the verb Make (make a covenant), which Vine’s says…

(One of the best known uses of this verb is “to make” a covenant. The process by which God made a covenant with Abraham is called “cutting”: “In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram …” (Gen. 15:18). The word “covenant” appears nine times before this in Genesis, but it is not connected with kârath. A synonym to this verb appears in this immediate context (Gen. 15:10) and is directly related to the process of making the covenant. Furthermore, hereafter in Genesis and throughout the Bible kârath is frequently associated with making a covenant. This verb, therefore, constitutes a rather technical term for making a covenant. In Genesis it often alludes to an act by which animals were cut in two and the party taking the oath passed between the pieces. This act was not created by God especially to deal with Abraham but was a well-known practice at that time among many men.)

Easton’s Bible Dictionary gives the definition of Covenant as…

(a contract or agreement between two parties. In the Old Testament the Hebrew word berith is always thus translated. Berith is derived from a root which means "to cut," and hence a covenant is a "cutting," with reference to the cutting or dividing of animals into two parts, and the contracting parties passing between them, in making a covenant.)

Hebrews 9:16-22, when referring to the Testament/Covenant, says “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”

Covenant Details

We will consider five aspects of the covenants:

1. Parties Involved in this Covenant

2. Recipients/Heirs of Covenant promises

3. Beginning/End of the Covenant

4. Confirmation of the Covenant

5. Conditions of the Covenant

Abrahamic Covenant

1. Parties Involved in this Covenant: The Biblical data from Genesis chapters 12, 13, 15, 17, and 22 in the Torah indicates that those present are God and Abraham, though Abraham’s seed is mentioned in connection to the covenant.

Conclusion: God and Abraham.

2. Recipients/Heirs of Covenant promises. At first glance it may seem as if every single descendent of Abraham are included as his seed, but as the revelation progresses, the Covenant is established through Isaac instead of Ishmael, Jacob instead of Esau, etc., though restipulations are made to include others outside of the direct seed.⁵ Galatians 3 informs us that Christ is the Seed to which the promises were made, and if one be In Christ, they are of the seed of Abraham and joint-heirs with Christ.

Conclusion: Christ and all believers.

3. Beginning/End of the Covenant: The first promises made to Abraham are found in Genesis 12:1-3. The Cutting of the Covenant is found in Genesis 15. This is the Beginning. The Covenant is stated to be everlasting (Genesis 17:7) so we can determine that this covenant has no end. Conclusion: Began with Abram’s call and is everlasting.

4. Ratified with Blood (Psalm 50:5): Genesis 15:9-10.

Conclusion: Blood of an heifer, she goat, and a ram.

5. Confirmation of the Covenant: The Covenant is first confirmed in Genesis 22:15-18 (see Hebrews 6:13-17) after Abraham obeyed God.

Conclusion: Genesis 22 (see also Psalm 105:9-10).

6. Conditions of the covenant: Examining the details of the ceremony in Genesis 15, along with the information provided in Jeremiah 34:18-19, it is apparent that this is an unconditional covenant.

Conclusion: Unconditional.

Mosaic Covenant

*Note: The Old Covenant (from which we get the name of the Old Testament Scriptures), the Mosaic Covenant, and the Sinai Covenant are all synonymous for the same Covenant made with the Children of Israel/Jacob at Mount Sinai.

1. Parties Involved in this Covenant: As Exodus 19:3-8 shows us, this Covenant is made between God and the children of Israel/offspring of Jacob, as well as circumcised foreigners/gentiles (see Exodus 12:48 and Leviticus 19:34) through the mediator Moses.

Conclusion: God and the covenant-keeping children of Israel, along with covenant-keeping strangers.

2. Recipients/Heirs of the Covenant promises: The covenant keepers, consisting mostly of natural descendants of Jacob, but also covenant-keeping strangers. Covenant/law breakers are to be cut off (see Exodus chapters 19-34, Exodus 31:14, Leviticus 18:29, etc..).

Conclusion: Covenant-keeping Hebrews and Proselytes.

3. Beginning/End of the Covenant: Began - Exodus 19:5,8. Ended - Hebrews 8:13 and Hebrews 10:9.

Conclusion: Began at Mt. Sinai, End at the establishing of the New Covenant.

4. Ratified with Blood (Psalm 50:5): Exodus 24:3-8 and Hebrews 9:16-22.

Conclusion: Blood of calves and goats (Hebrews 9:18-19).

5. Confirmation of the Covenant: Conditional covenants are not confirmed.

Conclusion: This Covenant was not confirmed.

6. Conditions of the Covenant: The nature of this Covenant is conditional. The conditions given can be seen in passages such as Deuteronomy 11:13-23 and Leviticus 26:3-21. Israel violated the conditions and broke this Covenant. (See Psalm 78:10-22, Psalm 89:39, Jeremiah 11:10, Jeremiah 22:9, Jeremiah 31:32, Hebrews 8:8-9.)

Conclusion: Conditional, broken by Israel.

New Covenant

1. Parties involved in this Covenant: God and The Called (“And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.” Hebrews 9:15) through the Mediator Jesus.

Conclusion: God and the Elect through Jesus.

2. Recipients/Heirs of the Covenant promises: Those for whom Jesus shed His blood. “Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” Luke 22:20. Abraham’s Seed (see Romans 4:12-18 and Galatians 3:7,16,28-29.)

Conclusion: Spiritual Israel. (See Jeremiah 31:31-34, Hebrews 8:8-12; 10:15-17, Ezekiel 16:60).

3. Beginning/End of the Covenant: Began - at the death of the Testator (see Hebrews 9:16-17; 12:24). End - has no end (see Hebrews 13:20 and Jeremiah 32:40.)

Conclusion: Began at the death of Christ and is Everlasting.

4. Ratified with Blood (Psalm 50:5): 1 Peter 1:19, John 19:34, and Matthew 26:28.

Conclusion: The Blood of Christ.

5. Confirmation of the Covenant: In Himself (Jesus) were all the promises confirmed, by His Conception, Birth, Life, Ministry, Miracles, Doctrine, Death, Burial, Resurrection, Ascension, etc... (See Daniel 9:27).

Conclusion: In Christ.

6. Conditions of the Covenant: See Below.

Conclusion: Unconditional.

The Unconditional State of the New Covenant

(A Better Covenant)

“By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.” Hebrews 7:22

“…by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.” Hebrews 8:6

This book could not contain the reasons why the New Covenant is a better covenant, but I will attempt to name a few…

• It is God who both reserves and the pardons. “In those days, and in that time, saith the Lord, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve.” Jeremiah 50:20.

• It is God that circumcises our heart. “And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.” Deuteronomy 30:6.

• It is God who gives us a new heart. “And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.” Ezekiel 11:19:20. “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.: Ezekiel 36:26-27.

• It is God who quickens His people. “Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.” “Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. Thereforeprophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.” “Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Ezekiel 37:5-6, 11-12, 26-27. “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;” “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)” Ephesians 2:1, 5.

• It is God who saves us to the Uttermost because He intercedes for us continually. “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25.

• It is God who shows mercy. “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” Hebrews 8:12.

• It is God that gives us an eternal inheritance. “And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.” Hebrews 9:15.

• It is God that perfects us forever with one Sacrifice. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.Hebrews 10:14.

• It is God that seals us with the Holy Spirit. “Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” 2 Corinthians 1:21-22. “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealedwith that holy Spirit of promise,” Ephesians 1:13.