Hebrews 8:7-13
Jeremiah’s prophecy (vv. 8-12) was made sometime around 600 BC. Now Jesus comes along some six centuries later, fulfilling a number of Old Testament messianic prophecies. Although Jeremiah’s prophecy was not fully messianic, it was probably something that Jewish leaders were following in conjunction with the coming of their Messiah. So with all the other confusions that Jesus brought to the Jewish leaders, they can now add this “new covenant” idea, wondering when and how that would occur. I feel sorry for them! With all that, the author of Hebrews clarifies it completely in today’s reading. The “old covenant” is discarded; the “new covenant” is here (v. 13)!!
I’ve always been confused by Jeremiah’s prophecy. I can understand verse 10b, I will put My laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts…, if I see these words as the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. But verse 11 confuses me: 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. When will we all know Him? Now? End times? Confusing…
Slava Bohu!