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The Two Covenants Compared

The Bible is divided into two great parts – the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament, commonly called “The Law” (2 Kings 17:13; Jeremiah 2:8; Lamentations 2:9; Ephesians 3:4; Zechariah 7:12; Matthew 7:13; John 1:45; Acts 24:14; Acts 28:23) was written to guide and direct God’s people before the coming of Christ (Gal. 3:23-24; cf. Romans 10:4). When our Lord died upon the cross, He fulfilled that law (Matthew 5:17; Luke 24:44; Acts 3:18) and therefore the Old Testament was abolished (Ephesians 2:15). In its place, He gave mankind the New Testament, the system of faith (Acts 6:7; Acts 14:22; Acts 16:5; Acts 24:24; Romans 1:5; Philippians 1:27; Colossians 1:23; Colossians 2:7,12), to guide and direct His people until the end of the world (or the age) when He comes again (Matthew 24:30; Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 2 Thessalonians 1:10; Rev. 1:7). In this article, let us compare the two covenants and see how they differ:

Old Covenant – The letter killed (2 Corinthians 3:6).
New Covenant – The Spirit gives life (Romans 8:2).

Old Covenant – Was given by Moses (John 1:17).
New Covenant – Was given by Christ (John 1:17).

Old Covenant – Was a ministration of death (2 Corinthians 3:7; cf. Romans 7:10).
New Covenant – Is a ministration of the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:8; cf. Gal. 3:5).

Old Covenant – Was a ministration of condemnation (2 Corinthians 3:9).
New Covenant – Is a ministration of righteousness (2 Corinthians 3:9).

Old Covenant – Written and engraven in stones (2 Corinthians 3:7).
New Covenant – Is written in the heart of man (2 Corinthians 3:3).

Old Covenant – Fading glory – was done away (2 Corinthians 3:11).
New Covenant – More glorious – remaineth (2 Corinthians 3:11).

Old Covenant – Veil upon the heart (2 Corinthians 3:14).
New Covenant – Veil done away with in Christ (2 Corinthians 3:14).

Old Covenant – Spoken unto the fathers by the prophets (Hebrews 1:1-2; Hebrews 8:8-9).
New Covenant – Spoken to us by His Son (Hebrews 1:1-2).

Old Covenant – Changeable priesthood resulted in a change of the law (Hebrews 7:12-13).
New Covenant – Unchangeable priesthood resulting in an unchangeable law (Hebrews 6:20; Hebrews 7:14-17, 24; Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 10:9-10; 1 Peter 1:25).

Old Covenant – Imperfect priesthood (Hebrews 7:12).
New Covenant – Perfect high priest (Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews 7:26).

Old Covenant – Priests of the tribe of Levi (Hebrews 7:11-13).
New Covenant – Christ of the tribe of Judah (Hebrews 7:14).

Old Covenant – Priest without an oath during the law (Hebrews 7:21).
New Covenant – Christ a priest by an oath since the law (Hebrews 7:28).

Old Covenant – Was a “shadow” of heavenly things (Hebrews 8:5; cf. Colossians 2:17).
New Covenant – “Heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices” (Hebrews 9:23).

Old Covenant – Law of Moses was imperfect (Hebrews 7:19; Hebrews 10:1; cf. Acts 13:39; Romans 3:20).
New Covenant – Law of Christ is perfect (James 1:25).

Old Covenant – Blood of animals (multiple sacrifices) could not take away sin (Hebrews 10:4,11).
New Covenant – Blood of Christ (Hebrews 9:14) resulted in one sacrifice for sins (Hebrews 10:12).

Old Covenant – No complete forgiveness of sins – “a remembrance” (Hebrews 10:3).
New Covenant – Complete forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 8:12; Hebrews 10:17).

Old Covenant – Gives us a description of the “old way” (Hebrews 9:19-22).
New Covenant – Gives us a description of “a new and living way” (Hebrews 10:19-20).

Old Covenant – Tabernacle made with hands (Hebrews 9:24).
New Covenant – Tabernacle made without hands (Hebrews 9:11).

Old Covenant – For Jews only (Genesis 17:13; Deuteronomy 5:1-5).
New Covenant – For every creature (Mark 16:15-16; Romans 9:25-26; Ephesians 2:19; 1 Peter 2:10).

Old Covenant – Christ took away the first (Hebrews 10:9).
New Covenant – Christ established the second (Hebrews 10:9; cf. Hebrews 8:13).

Old Covenant – We are dead to the of Moses (Romans 7:4).
New Covenant – We are now married to another (Christ – Romans 7:4).

Old Covenant – No man was justified by the law of Moses (Gal. 2:16; Gal. 3:11).
New Covenant – Man now justified by the faith (law of Christ – Acts 13:38-39; cf. Isaiah 53:11; Gal. 2:16; Gal. 3:24).

Old Covenant – Believers were considered servants (Gal. 4:7).
New Covenant – Believers are now considered “sons” (Gal. 4:5-7) and “heirs” (Romans 8:17).

Old Covenant – Jews were under bondage (Gal. 4:24-25,31).
New Covenant – Christians find freedom in Christ (Gal. 4:26, 31; cf. John 8:36).

Old Covenant – Gentiles were without Christ; had no hope, and without God in the world (Ephesians 2:12).
New Covenant – Gentiles were made nigh by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:13; cf. Hebrews 9:14; 1 John 1:7; Rev. 1:5).

Conclusion

We need to thank our heavenly Father that we “which are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1) are no longer living under the law of condemnation (Mosaical system) but are now living under “the perfect law of liberty” (James 1:25). With this great blessing, let us be those who “continue” in that perfect law “being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work” so that we may be blessed in our doing.