Bible 101: Lesson 3: The Law and the Prophets – Understanding the Covenants

Friday Bible Study Class 6-27-2025
The Law and the Prophets – Understanding the Covenants
A journey through God's agreements with humanity and how they point to Yeshua the Messiah
ME
by Marvo El
 
The Law and the Prophets – Understanding the Covenants
The Old Covenant and The New Covenant in Yeshua
Explore God's progressive revelation
Discover how God's promises unfold throughout Scripture
Understand covenant relationships
Learn how covenants define God's interaction with humanity
See Yeshua as the fulfillment
Recognize how the Messiah perfectly fulfills God's covenantal promises
What is a Covenant?
A covenant is a binding agreement between God and humanity, where promises are made and responsibilities are given. Unlike casual agreements, biblical covenants are sacred bonds that define the relationship between God and His people.
Covenants typically involve:
Promises from God
Responsibilities for the people
Signs or seals of the covenant
Consequences for breaking the agreement
Types of Covenants in the Bible
Conditional Covenants
Agreements dependent on human obedience
Blessings come through obedience
Example: The Mosaic (Old) Covenant
"If you obey... then I will bless"
Unconditional Covenants
Agreements based solely on God's promises
Blessings guaranteed by God's faithfulness
Examples: Abrahamic, Davidic Covenants
"I will bless... I will establish..."
The Old Covenant – The Law
"Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples." (Exodus 19:5-6)
The Ten Commandments
Moral foundations for God's people, written on tablets of stone
The Torah
Detailed laws in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy
The Sacrificial System
Animal sacrifices required for the atonement of sin
Key Aspects of the Old Covenant
The Law (Torah)
Commandments governing moral, civil, and ceremonial life for Israel
Blessings and Curses
Conditional promises based on obedience or disobedience (Deuteronomy 28)
Sacrificial System
Required sacrifices for atonement, foreshadowing Yeshua's ultimate sacrifice
The Old Covenant established Israel as a nation set apart for God's purposes and provided a framework for approaching a holy God.
The New Covenant – Fulfilled in Yeshua
"This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you." (Luke 22:20)
The New Covenant is the covenant of grace, established through Yeshua the Messiah. Unlike the Old Covenant based on external obedience, the New Covenant offers forgiveness of sins and internal transformation by the Holy Spirit through faith in Yeshua.
Prophesied in Jeremiah 31:31-34, this covenant represents God's ultimate solution to humanity's inability to keep the law through their own efforts.
Key Aspects of the New Covenant
Forgiveness of Sins
Offered freely through Yeshua's once-for-all sacrifice on the cross
Law Written on Hearts
Internal transformation through the indwelling Holy Spirit
Eternal Life
Promise of resurrection and eternal fellowship with God
Universal Access
Available to all people, not just Israel (Gentiles included)
The Role of the Prophets
The prophets served as covenant enforcers, warning Israel about breaking the covenant while simultaneously pointing to the coming Messiah and a new covenant.
They called Israel back to covenant faithfulness
They warned of consequences for covenant breaking
They foretold the coming Messiah who would establish a new covenant
"The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah." (Jeremiah 31:31)
Key prophetic passages about the New Covenant:
Jeremiah 31:31-34 – New Covenant promise
Ezekiel 36:26-27 – New heart and spirit
Isaiah 53 – Suffering servant
Covenant Comparison Chart
Reflection: The Impact of the Covenants
How does understanding the Old and New Covenants deepen your faith in Yeshua?
Consider how the covenants reveal God's character
What do both covenants tell us about God's faithfulness, holiness, and love?
Reflect on your position in the New Covenant
How does being under the New Covenant change your relationship with God?
Examine your heart's response
How should gratitude for Yeshua's fulfillment of the law affect your daily life?
Homework Assignment
Using the book of Jeremiah from the Old Testament, and the book of Hebrews from the New Testament. For each book, answer:
1
Genre
What genre does this book fit into? (Examples: Torah, Historical Books, Prophecy, Epistles, etc.)
2
Purpose
What is the overall theme or reason for the writing of this book? (For example, to warn of judgment, to offer hope for restoration, etc.)
3
Biblical Context
How does this book fit into the overall structure of the Bible? Is it connected to a particular covenant? Does it come before or after a significant biblical event?
Hebrew Word of the Week: Berith (בְּרִית)
Definition & Usage
Berith (בְּרִית) literally means "covenant" or "binding agreement" in Hebrew
Appears over 280 times in the Tanakh (Old Testament)
Root meaning connects to "cutting" - referencing the ancient practice of cutting animals during covenant ceremonies
Divine Initiative
God initiates covenants with His people as expressions of His grace and faithfulness
Binding Relationship
Creates a sacred bond stronger than a contract - a family relationship with mutual responsibilities
Sealed in Blood
Points to Yeshua's ultimate sacrifice that established the New Covenant through His blood
"This cup is the new covenant (berith) in my blood, which is poured out for you." - Luke 22:20
Conclusion & What's Next
What We've Learned
The nature and types of biblical covenants
Key aspects of the Old Covenant (Law)
How the New Covenant fulfills and transforms the Old
The prophets' role in announcing the New Covenant
Coming Up Next
In our next lesson, we'll explore:
The Role of Yeshua in Fulfilling the Law
How Yeshua perfectly kept the Law
What "fulfillment" of the Law means
The believer's relationship to the Law today
6-27-2025 Home Work Assignment:
www.israelministries.org
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