As you walk with Jesus through the Gospel accounts, look for this great change introduced by the New Covenant: “I will put My laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts…. They shall all know Me” (Hebrews 8:10-11).
Fleshly birth placed all Israelites into the covenant, but words written on stone and scroll never touched the hearts of many. Even supposed covenant-keepers could fool themselves. Thus, a Pharisee could boast before God of his religious rule-keeping, yet not be right with God (Luke 18:11-12). A rich man could recite the Ten Commandments and say, “All these I have kept from my youth,” yet reject Jesus (Mark 10:17-22). They complied with the Law on a surface level to claim respect from men and credit with God, while sins festered underneath (Matthew 23:25-28).
The New Covenant would change all that. Every member, great and small, would be in the covenant because he took it to heart. Knowing God—cherishing a close relationship with Him—each member would…
- do more than not murder (surface compliance). Rather, each member would guard his heart against anger, name-calling and hatred (true and heart-felt compliances, Matthew 5:21-22).
- do more than not commit adultery. Rather, each member would guard his heart against lustful thoughts (Matthew 5:27-28).
These examples come from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount which reveals God’s kingdom values. Note that the New Covenant has laws (Hebrews 8:10-11; 1 Corinthians 9:21; James 1:25). They start with the Scriptures, but they don’t end there; they reach to the depths of the committed heart, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
You are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. (2 Corinthians 3:3)