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Luke 22:14–20
“Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you’” (Luke 22:20).
Christians frequently assume that the Old and New testaments have little to do with each other and that the covenants of the Old Testament are superceded and set aside by the new covenant. But this is a simplistic view. Yes, there is discontinuity between the testaments, but there is even more continuity, for the new covenant represents the fulfillment of all the earlier covenants of the Bible.
It is important to note that nearly all of the Old Testament covenants were explicitly described as everlasting. This is true of the Abrahamic covenant (Gen. 17:7), the Mosaic covenant (Isa. 24:5), and the Davidic covenant (2 Sam. 7:16). Thus, they are not superceded by any later covenant; rather, the new covenant fulfills them. The Old Testament prophetically points to this fulfillment. The prophet Ezekiel spoke of life under the new covenant, saying David (meaning a descendant of David), would be king, the people would obey the terms of the Mosaic covenant, and they would dwell in the land perpetually (Ezek. 37:24–25). They would be enabled to obey for God would write His law on their hearts (Jer. 31:33); that is, He would renew them inwardly. And above all else, God would forgive their violations of the earlier covenants: “I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more’ ” (Jer. 31:34b).
As with all covenants, God lays down the conditions for the parties to the new covenant: Those who would come unto Him must come through Christ, the final and complete sacrifice for sin. And those who do shall receive blessings far beyond those revealed in any previous covenant: complete redemption from the guilt of their sins and imputation of the righteousness Christ gained through His perfect life under the law, enabling them to stand before God. And they will gain a place in the new heaven and the new earth, where “ ‘God Himself will be with them and be their God’ ” (Rev. 21:3).
This is the new covenant. And each time we participate in the Lord’s Supper, we are participating in a covenant renewal ceremony. Here we remember the work of Christ that established the covenant. Here we are reminded of the obligations of obedience that we bear under the covenant. And here we praise the God who, because of His grace, makes covenants with man.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
Are you a believer? If so, thank God today for including you in His covenant, and reflect seriously on your covenant obligations and blessings. If you are not a believer, you are facing an eternity of curse, not blessing. Come to God on His terms—believing that Jesus Christ was who He said He was and that His work will save you from sin.
For Further Study
- Ephesians 5:2
- 1 Timothy 2:5–6
- Hebrews 12:24
- Hebrews 13:20–21
- Revelation 5:8–10