From the least to the greatest, all will know God through His Son and our Savior Christ Jesus the LORD. What a tremendous improvement to the Old Covenant!
Hebrews 8:6 states “But as it is, Christ[b] has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.”
Combining the Old Testament reading with the New Testament reading for today*, I was reminded of the everlasting nature of the New Covenant, emphasizing the breakable nature of the Old.
First, we are reminded as stated in the Bible Hub.com, of a few important take aways from Ezekiel 16:
9. “The Significance of Spiritual Adultery
Ezekiel 16 uses the metaphor of adultery to describe Israel’s unfaithfulness. This highlights the seriousness of spiritual infidelity and the pain it causes God. “You were not satisfied” (Ezekiel 16:28). It’s a call to examine our own lives and ensure our hearts are fully devoted to God.
10. The Assurance of God’s Mercy
Finally, Ezekiel 16 assures us of God’s mercy. Despite Israel’s sins, God’s mercy prevails. “I will establish My covenant with you, and you will know that I am the LORD” (Ezekiel 16:62). This is a comforting reminder that God’s mercy is greater than our failures, and His love endures forever.”
Lastly, we notice the Old becomes obsolete, since Israel was unable to keep their part of the bargain.
The good news is that Christ Jesus upholds the New as the sinless (aka perfect) Son of God. Forever it will stand.
For those struggling to know whether “one way” for all people is possible, consider this linked short from Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell.
Today, if you “hear” His voice (through the Holy Spirit conviction), respond in faith and call out to your Creator and Redeemer. -Teresa #yesLord
Ezekiel 16: 59-63 (ESV) bold added for emphasis
The Lord’s Everlasting Covenant
59 “For thus says the Lord God: I will deal with you as you have done, you who have despised the oath in breaking the covenant,60 yet I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish for you an everlasting covenant. 61 Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you take your sisters, both your elder and your younger, and I give them to you as daughters, but not on account of[b] the covenant with you. 62 I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall know that I am the Lord, 63 that you may remember and be confounded, and never open your mouth again because of your shame, when I atone for you for all that you have done, declares the Lord God.”
b. Ezekiel 16:61 Or not apart from
Hebrews 8:7-13 (ESV)
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.
8 For he finds fault with them when he says:[c]
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord,
when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah,
9 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers
on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt.
For they did not continue in my covenant,
and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord.
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
after those days, declares the Lord:
I will put my laws into their minds,
and write them on their hearts,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
11 And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor
and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’
for they shall all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest.
12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities,
and I will remember their sins no more.”
13 In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
b. Hebrews 8:6 Greek he
c. Hebrews 8:8 Some manuscripts For finding fault with it he says to them
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
*https://www.biblegateway.com
