If there were no references to the New Covenant in the Gospels and the book of Hebrews, what the New Covenant is would be clear and obvious. While the new covenant appears by that name only once in the Tanakh (Jer 31:31-34), it occurs under the title an everlasting covenant five times—twice in Isaiah (55:3; 61:8), once in Jeremiah (32:40), and twice in Ezekiel (16:60; 37:26).
Jeremiah 31:31 clearly indicates (1) that the new covenant is future (“…I will make…”) and (2) that it is made “… with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.”
The NT refers to the New Covenant nine times. It is found three times in the Synoptic Gospels (Matt 26:28; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20) and once in 1 Corinthians (11:25), where the Lord Jesus is quoted as saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood.” In 2 Cor 3:6, Paul wrote that he was one of the “ministers of the new covenant.” The expression also appears four times in Hebrews (8:8, 13; 9:15; 12:24).
All the references in Hebrews point to a future covenant that God will make with Israel.
Some say Jesus inaugurated the New Covenant when He shed His blood on the cross. Some prefer to say He ratified the New Covenant with His blood. Either expression is acceptable if one realizes that Jesus’ blood is the basis of the New Covenant, which is not yet in effect. It can be ratified without being enacted. The apostles and all church-age believers minister in light of the coming New Covenant. The blood of Christ accomplished much, including removing the sin barrier to everlasting life (John 1:29), making ongoing fellowship with God possible (1 John 1:7), and making the New Covenant with Israel possible.
Recognizing that the New Covenant is not with the Church is vital to maintaining the distinction between Israel and the Church. God has a future for Israel (cf. Romans 9–11). One day soon, Israel will be the world power and Jerusalem the world capital.
Keep grace in focus, and you will know the importance of the New Covenant in God’s eternal program.
