The New Testament often contrasts the visible and the invisible, the earthly and the heavenly, things below and things above (Colossians 3:1-2; 2 Corinthians 4:18). Within those broader categories, there are sharp contrasts between the Old Covenant’s earthly “shadow” and the New Covenant’s spiritual “substance,” also translated “reality.”
Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. (Colossians 2:16-17)
In one way or another, fleshly and physical features of the Old Covenant find their
true spiritual meaning in relation to Christ. Think about these parallels:
Old (Shadow) New (Reality)
| High Priest – son of Aaron (Exodus 29:1-9; 40:15) | High Priest – Son of God (Hebrews 4:14 -5:6; 7:1-28) |
| Priests – limited to the tribe of Levi (Exodus 27:21; 28:41; Numbers 18:6-7) | Priests – all Christians (1 Peter 2:5, 9; Revelation 1:6, 5:10) |
| Temple (formerly the sacred tent or tabernacle) – a physical building (Exodus 25:8-9; 2 Kings 6:11-16) | Temple – God’s people (1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:21; 1 Peter 2:5) |
| Jerusalem – the earthly center for formal worship (Deuteronomy 12:5-14; 16:2, 5, 16; 1 Kings 11:32, 36) | Jerusalem – spiritual and heavenly (John 4:20-24; Galatians 4:26; Hebrews 12:22; Revelation 3:12; 21:2) |
| Sacrifices for sin – animals (Leviticus 4, 16, 17) | Sacrifice for sin – Christ on the cross (John 1:29; Hebrews 9:28; 10:1-14; 1 Peter 2:24) |
| Devotional offerings – grain, drink and animals (Leviticus 2; 7:15-16; Numbers 15:1-10) | Devotional offerings – our bodies, gifts, service (Romans 12:1; 15:16; Philippians 2:17; 4:14-18; Hebrews 13:15-16) |
| Incense – physical ingredients and ceremonies (Exodus 30:7-9, 34-38; 37:25, 29; Leviticus 2:2; 10:1-2) | Incense – offerings like prayer and support (Revelation 5:8; 8:3-4; Philippians 4:18) |
| Musical instruments – tambourines, trumpets, harps, etc. (Exodus 15:20; Numbers 10:10; 2 Chronicles 5:13; Psalm 150) | Musical instruments – hearts of Christians (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16) |
| Clothing – special uniform for priests (Exodus 28; 29; Leviticus 8:13) | Clothing – clothed with Christ, righteousness (Galatians 3:4, 18; 7:14; 19:8) |
| Sabbath – physical day of rest (Exodus 16:20-22; 20:8-11) | Sabbath – rest with Christ, ultimately heaven (Matthew 11:28; Hebrews 4:1-11; Revelation 14:13) |
| Passover – lamb sacrificed (Exodus 11) | Passover – Christ’s death (I Corinthians 5:7; 1 Peter 1:19) |
| Birth – of flesh, from Abraham’s line (Genesis 17:7; Exodus 2:24-25; 34:27) | Birth – of God; water and the Spirit (John 1:13; 3:3-5; 1 Peter 1:3, 23) |
| God’s covenant people – fleshly Israelites (Genesis 17:7; Deuteronomy 7:6; 10:15; 14:2; 28:1; Psalm 135:4) | God’s covenant people – spiritual Israel, Christians (Romans 2:28-29; 9:6-8; Galatians 3:29; 6:16; 1 Peter 2:9-10) |
| Circumcision – a physical operation (Genesis 17; Leviticus 12:1-4; Joshua 5:1-9) | Circumcision – a spiritual operation, removal of sin (Romans 2:8-29; Colossians 2:11-12) |
| Mediator – Moses, angels (Exodus 34; Malachi 4:4; Galatians 3:19) | Mediator – Christ (John 1:17; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 8:6; 9:15; 12:24) |