A New Covenant

[themuzicman]

Jeremiah prophesies:

"Behold, days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah,

Is it the understanding of Israel that when the new covenant comes, that the old will be either completed or that Israel will need to come into this new covenant from the old?

Michael

[Goose]

Jeremiah prophesies:

"Behold, days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah,

Is it the understanding of Israel that when the new covenant comes, that the old will be either completed or that Israel will need to come into this new covenant from the old?

MichaelA covenant is a contract. If the contract is broken, then a new one needs to be made or renewed. But one must remember the terms of the contract. In this case, the terms have always been to follow Torah. Certain mitzvot(commandments) are for certain people, as there are certain contracts, with their various terms for certain peoples. i.e. - a contract for all of humanity(a rainbow), a contract for just Jews, etc.

[themuzicman]

So, what is this new covenant with the house of Israel, then?

[Goose]

So, what is this new covenant with the house of Israel, then?
Well, keep reading past the verse Jeremiah 31:30 and it will tell you.

[Timothy Leary]

I'll get to this after my move is finished. See ya then.

[themuzicman]

Thanks.

[Timothy Leary]

Sorry bout the delay in the post musicman. i'll try to get it tonight when i'm home (i'm @ campus right now)

[Timothy Leary]

Jeremiah prophesies:
Is it the understanding of Israel that when the new covenant comes, that the old will be either completed or that Israel will need to come into this new covenant from the old?

I hope i'm not stating the obvious, but I'd like to start a few verses earlier.

In verses 16 & 17 we have a poetic description of mourning as a result of the exiles, and a promise that God will bring Israel from the exile. This continues until 21 when Israel is told to remember the paths back to Israel as it is being exiled. Verse 22 prophecies of when Israel will seek after God again. Verses 23-29 are continued promises of redemption from the exile, and that no one would seek to blame a child for his parent's sins anymore. I see no reason to believe that the following verses are about an event different than the one just discussed.

Now, we come to the parts in question, where it talks about a new - or renewed - covenant. (depending on the translation you use). Then it goes onto say that the covenant will be different in the following ways:

1) No one will break this covenant
2) The law will be internalized by it's adherants
3) Teachers of God will no longer be needed

As a result of the above, all former sins will be forgiven. It is the same covenant, the difference being that it will never be broken. It is worthwhile to note that, with the exception of the part about not having teachers, the other conditions are expected of torah-observant individuals. The language used about internalizing the torah in Jeremiah 31 is the same type of language used in the "tefillin" passages (see http://tinyurl.com/43eor )