Many assume that, because Jesus Christ instituted the New Covenant,
God's laws are thereby made obsolete. They lean on this argument to
ignore His commandments. But what does Jesus Himself say?
He answers: "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets.
I did not come to destroy but to fulfill [actually 'fill to the full,'
meaning fully explain or fully express]. For assuredly, I say to you, till
heaven and earth pass away [and they clearly haven't passed away], one
jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
"Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments,
and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but
whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom
of heaven" (Matthew 5:17-19).
Notice how Hebrews 10:16-17 summarizes the New Covenant: "'This is
the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord:
I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them.'
Then He adds, 'Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.'" This
is perfectly consistent with Christ's words. God's laws aren't annulled
under the New Covenant; they are written into our hearts and minds so we
might obey Him better.
A new covenant wasn't needed because the laws included in the Old Covenant
were inadequate or faulty. Rather, the New Covenant was needed because,
as Hebrews 8:8 tells us, "God found fault with the people ..." (NIV).
The fault was in the nature of the people themselves (verses 7-9)-the
fact that human beings are naturally hostile to God's laws rather than
spiritually minded and willing to obey (see Romans 8:5-8).
