You and I are thinking about the statement, "Jesus has obtained a more excellent ministry, because he is the mediator of a better covenant, which is based on better promises" (Heb 8:6-8). In this lesson we consider the question: Why is the New Covenant Better?

It was Based on Better Promises

Our study theme text calls the new covenant "...a better covenant, based on better promises" (Heb 8:6-8). The main promises made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc, fall into two categories...

• The land promise: The old covenant was enacted with a view to the land promise, that the Israelites would make conquest of the land of Canaan (Gen 12:7, 13:15, 15:18 etc).
• The seed promise: The new covenant was enacted with a view to the seed promise, that the whole world would be blessed in a descendant or seed of Abraham (Gen 22:18).

Paul deals with this in Galatians: "Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He doesn’t say, “To seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “To your seed,” which is Christ. Now I say this: the law, which came four hundred thirty years after, does not annul a covenant confirmed beforehand by God in Christ, so as to make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by promise. (Gal 3:16-18).

You will have no trouble seeing which class of promises is the greater, and it follows that the better covenant is the one based upon the better promises. The seed promise (the blessing of eternal life through Jesus Christ) was not the basis of the old covenant. The old covenant had more to do with the promised land here on earth, albeit a land flowing with milk and honey. The new covenant is far superior as a unique ministry of eternal life in a heavenly kingdom forseen in the blessing of Abraham, and believed in by him.

It was Ratified by Better Blood

Hebrews 12:24 speaks of "Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better things than that of Abel." You will recall that Abel was the one who offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, because Abel made his offering by faith (Heb 11:4). Consequently, the blood of Abel was shed in anger by his brother. Abel therefore symbolises Christ, whose wicked brethren in anger caused the shedding of his blood. But neither the blood of righteous Abel, nor the blood in the animals he sacrificed to God, could atone for sin. Only Christ's blood could do that. Christ's blood is unique. That's why his blood "speaks better things than that of Abel". When Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper, he "took the cup saying, 'This is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins'" (Matt 26:28, Lke 22:20). No other blood can take away the sins of the world (Heb 9:12,15, 10:1-4).

It Came through a Better Mediator

Christ was superior to Moses, the mediator of the old covenant. Christ was the only begotten Son of the living God (Jhn 1:1,14,17). Jesus is the mediator of a better covenant, and it is a better covenant because he is its mediator. It is a unique covenant for humanity, because among humanity its mediator is unique. One most important way in which he was unique (apart from being born of a virgin) was that "he committed no sin" (1Pe 2:21-25) and so could be the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world.

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