Shortly after Israel’s great deliverance from Egypt, God made a covenant with the nation of Israel that He would be their God and they would be His people.
You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself. Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. (Exodus 19:4-6)
Notice the if…”if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant…”
Like most covenants, God’s covenant with the nation of Israel had conditions. Covenant conditions may take the form of terms (as in a written contract), vows (as in a marriage) or commandments (as between God and man). The covenant conditions are the basis for the covenant relationship…they define the relationship agreed to in the covenant. If the covenant terms are not kept…if the vows are violated…if the commandments are broken…the covenant is broken…it becomes null and void.
We see an example of this in Jeremiah 3:8 where God said:
And I saw that for all the adulteries of faithless Israel, I had sent her away and given her a writ of divorce, yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear; but she went and was a harlot also.
The Kingdom of Israel (comprised of the ten northern tribes of Israel) had so egregiously violated God’s commandments for so long that God finally divorced them, legally dissolved the covenant, and allowed them to be conquered and cease to exist as a people group. Today, scholars refer to them as “the ten lost tribes of Israel.”
In God’s covenant with Israel, the covenant terms were The Ten Commandments, which God spelled out immediately after saying He would make a covenant with Israel (Exodus 20:1-17). Later, God wrote The Ten Commandments (the covenant vows) in stone and they were placed inside the Ark of the Covenant.
One of the ancient customs associated with covenants was to write the covenant vows on paper, then roll the paper up in a tiny scroll and place it inside a locket worn as jewelry…similar to a charm worn today on a bracelet, necklace, or headband. Similarly, God instructed Israel to build the Ark of the Covenant in which the stone tablets containing The Ten Commandments were to be placed. The covenant vows were placed inside the covenant box.
What about the New Covenant?
We know Jesus fulfilled the Old Covenant (both the Abrahamic Covenant and the Mosaic Covenant) on our behalf. We now reap the benefits of the old covenant when we enter into covenant with Jesus Christ.
But what are the conditions of the New Covenant?
Jesus clearly spelled them out at His last supper with His disciples.
If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. (John 14:15)
He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him. (John 14:21)
If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. (John 15:10)
Do you see how closely His wording parallels the words God said to Israel? “If you keep My commandments…” The commandments are the covenant terms…the covenant vows…the conditions on which the covenant relationship is based.
So what are the commandments Jesus was referring to? God gave Israel The Ten Commandments as their covenant vows. What are Jesus’ commandments for the New Covenant?
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:34-35)
This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:12-13)
Remember, this was the same meal at which Jesus enacted the New Covenant. It was also a Passover Meal…the remembrance meal of the Old Covenant…an annual renewal of Israel’s covenant with God. In the last supper, Jesus simultaneously fulfilled the Old Covenant and enacted the New Covenant.
And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.” (Luke 22:19-20)
At the same covenant meal, Jesus both declared the New Covenant and declared the covenant terms…a new commandment to accompany the new covenant.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
Jesus had previously explained very clearly the difference between those with whom He is in covenant and those with whom He is not in covenant…those whom He knows and those whom He “never knew”…those who keep His commandment and those who do not.
“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.
“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’
“Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25: 31-46)
Israel had ten commandments…ten covenant vows. We have one…love one another as Christ has loved us.
God carved the commandments of the Old Covenant on stone tablets to be placed inside the Ark of the covenant. Where is the commandment of the New Covenant written and kept?
“But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. (Jeremiah 31:33)
The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. (1 John 3:24)
Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge. (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)
The terms of our covenant with Christ…our New Commandment…the covenant vow of the New Covenant…is written in our hearts and sealed with the Holy Spirit who transforms us to His image, enabling us to keep our covenant vow. He gave us the commandment…and He gives us a new heart so we can keep the commandment.
The New Covenant is not, as many claim, an unconditional covenant. It is very much a conditional covenant and the conditions are clearly spelled out. However, it is a covenant in which our covenant partner enables us to keep the vows through His transforming power.
What a wonderful Savior!
Muda mfupi baada ya Israeli kuokolewa kutoka Misri, Mungu alifanya agano na taifa la Israeli kwamba angekuwa Mungu wao na wao wangekuwa watu wake. Ninyi wenyewe mmeona nilivyowatendea Wamisri, jinsi nilivyowachukua juu ya mabawa ya tai, na kuwapeleka kwangu. "11 ""Basi sasa, ikiwa mtasikiliza sauti yangu na kushika agano langu, ndipo mtakuwa mali yangu mwenyewe miongoni mwa mataifa yote, kwa maana dunia yote ni yangu; nanyi mtakuwa kwangu ufalme wa makuhani na taifa takatifu." (Kutoka 19:4-6) Angalia ikiwa... ikiwa kweli utatii sauti yangu na kushika agano langu... Kama agano la wengi, agano la Mungu na taifa la Israeli lilikuwa na masharti. Masharti ya agano yanaweza kuwa katika namna ya masharti (kama ilivyo katika mkataba ulioandikwa), nadhiri (kama ilivyo katika ndoa) au amri (kama ilivyo kati ya Mungu na mwanadamu). Masharti ya agano ni msingi wa uhusiano wa agano...wanafafanua uhusiano uliokubaliwa katika agano. Ikiwa masharti ya agano hayafuatwi... ikiwa nadhiri zinakiukwa... ikiwa amri zinavunjwa... agano linavunjwa... linakuwa tupu na lisilo na maana. "Mfano wa jambo hilo unapatikana katika Yeremia 3:8 ambapo Mungu anasema: ""Niliona kwamba kwa sababu ya uzinzi wote wa Israeli asiyeamini, nilimfukuza na kumpa hati ya talaka; lakini dada yake Yuda, mwongo, hakuacha kuogopa, bali akaenda, naye akawa kahaba.""" Ufalme wa Israeli (kufanyizwa na makabila kumi ya kaskazini ya Israeli) ulikuwa umevunja amri za Mungu kwa ukatili kwa muda mrefu sana hivi kwamba mwishowe Mungu aliwatenganisha, akavunja agano kisheria, na kuruhusu washindi wa Israeli waondolewe na kuacha kuwepo kama kikundi cha watu. "Wanafunzi wa Biblia wanaita makabila hayo ""makabila kumi yaliyopotea ya Israeli"" kwa sababu ya ahadi ya Mungu ya ""Amri Kumi"" ambazo Mungu aliweka mara moja baada ya kusema kwamba atafanya agano na Israeli." Baadaye, Mungu aliandika Amri Kumi (nadhiri za agano) kwenye jiwe na ziliwekwa ndani ya Sanduku la Agano. "Mmoja wa desturi za kale zinazohusiana na mapatano ilikuwa kuandika nadhiri za mapatano kwenye karatasi, kisha kugeuza karatasi hiyo katika kitabu kidogo na kuiweka ndani ya mkufu unaovaliwa kama vito... sawa na charm inayovalwa leo kwenye bangili, mkufu, au kamba ya kichwa.""" Mungu aliwaagiza Waisraeli kujenga Sanduku la Agano, ambalo lilikuwa na mabamba ya mawe yaliyo na Amri Kumi. Nadhiri za agano ziliwekwa ndani ya sanduku la agano. Namna gani kuhusu Agano Jipya? Yesu alitimiza Agano la Kale (Agano la Abrahamu na Agano la Musa) kwa niaba yetu. Sasa tunapata faida za agano la zamani tunapoingia katika agano na Yesu Kristo. Lakini ni nini masharti ya Agano Jipya? Yesu alieleza waziwazi mambo hayo wakati wa mlo wake wa mwisho wa jioni pamoja na wanafunzi wake. Mkinipenda, mtazishika amri zangu. "Yohana 14:15 ""Yule aliye na amri zangu na kuzifanya ndiye ananipenda mimi; na yeye ananipenda atapendwa na Baba yangu, nami nitampenda na kujionyesha kwake.""" "Yohana 14:21 ""Mtakaposhika amri zangu, mtakaa katika upendo wangu, kama vile nilivyoishika amri za Baba yangu na kukaa katika upendo wake.""" (Yohana 15:10) Je, unaona jinsi maneno Yake yanavyolingana na maneno ambayo Mungu aliwaambia Waisraeli? <unk>Ikiwa utaweka amri zangu...<unk> Amri ni masharti ya agano...maadhibu ya agano...hali ambazo uhusiano wa agano unategemea. Kwa hiyo, Yesu alikuwa akirejelea amri gani? Mungu aliwapa Waisraeli Amri Kumi kama nadhiri zao za agano. Amri za Yesu kwa ajili ya Agano Jipya ni zipi? "Ninawapa amri mpya: mpendane kama nilivyokupendeni, mpendane ninyi pia.""" "Kwa hili watu wote watajua kwamba ninyi ni wanafunzi wangu, ikiwa mna upendo kati yenu.""" (Yohana 13:34-35) Hii ndiyo amri yangu, kwamba mpendane kama vile nilivyokupendeni. Hakuna mtu aliye na upendo mkubwa kuliko huu, kwamba mtu atoe uhai wake kwa ajili ya rafiki zake. (Yohana 15:12-13) Kumbuka kwamba Yesu alianzisha Agano Jipya wakati wa mlo huo. Pia ilikuwa Mlo wa Pasaka... mlo wa ukumbusho wa Agano la Kale... upya wa kila mwaka wa agano la Israeli na Mungu. Katika mlo wa jioni wa mwisho, Yesu alitimiza Agano la Kale na kuanzisha Agano Jipya. "Na baada ya kuchukua mkate, na baada ya kutoa shukrani, akauvunja, na kuwapa, akisema, ""Hii ni mwili wangu, ambao unapewa kwa ajili yenu; fanyeni hivi kwa kunikumbuka."" 22 Na vile vile, akachukua kikombe baada ya kula, akisema, ""Kikombe hiki, ambacho kimemwagika kwa ajili yenu, ni agano jipya katika damu yangu."" 23 Katika mlo huo wa agano, Yesu alitangaza Agano Jipya na pia agano la Agano Jipya." "Ninawapa amri mpya: mpendane kama nilivyokupendeni, mpendane ninyi pia.""" Yesu hapo awali alikuwa ameeleza waziwazi tofauti kati ya wale aliofanya nao agano na wale asiofanya nao agano... wale anaowajua na wale ambao "hajawahi kuwajua"... wale wanaoshika amri zake na wale ambao hawazifanyi. "Lakini Mwana wa Mtu atakapokuja katika utukufu wake, na malaika wote pamoja naye, ndipo atakapoketi juu ya kiti chake cha enzi cha utukufu.""" "Mataifa yote yatakusanywa mbele yake, naye atawatenganisha, kama mchungaji anavyowatenganisha kondoo na mbuzi, na atawaweka kondoo upande wake wa kulia na mbuzi upande wake wa kushoto.""" "Kisha Mfalme atawaambia wale walio upande wake wa kulia, ""Njoni, ninyi mliobarikiwa na Baba yangu, urithi ufalme uliotayarishwa kwa ajili yenu tangu kuanzishwa kwa ulimwengu." "Kwa maana nilikuwa na njaa, mkinilisha; nilikuwa na kiu, mkininywesha; nilikuwa mgeni, mkinikaribisha; nilikuwa uchi, mkinivika; nilikuwa mgonjwa, mkinitembelea; nilikuwa gerezani, mkinitembelea.""+ 11 Basi, watu wema watamjibu: ""Bwana, ni lini tulikuona ukiwa na njaa, tukakupa chakula, au ukiwa na kiu, tukakupa kunywa?" "Na ni lini tulikuona ukiwa mgeni tukakukaribisha ndani, au uchi tukakuvalisha?""" "Mfalme atajibu, ""Nawaambia kweli, kila mlichomfanyia mmoja wa ndugu zangu hawa wadogo, mlinitendea mimi."" 13 Kisha atawaambia wale walio upande wake wa kushoto, ""Nendeni mbali na mimi, enyi mliolaaniwa, mkaingie katika moto wa milele ulioandaliwa Ibilisi na malaika zake; kwa maana nilikuwa na njaa, lakini hamkunipa chakula; nilikuwa na kiu, lakini hamkunipa maji; nilikuwa mgeni, lakini hamkunikaribisha; nilikuwa uchi, lakini hamkunivika; nilikuwa mgonjwa, lakini hamkunitembelea."" 14 Kisha watajibu, ""Bwana, tulikuona wewe ukiwa mgeni, au mwenye kiu, au mwenye kiu, au uchi, au mfungwa, lakini hamkunitunza." Tunao kitu kimoja... kupendana kama Kristo alivyotupenda. Mungu aliandika amri za Agano la Kale kwenye mabamba ya mawe ili ziwekwe ndani ya Sanduku la Agano. Amri ya Agano Jipya imeandikwa wapi? "16 ""Lakini hili ndilo agano nitakalofanya na nyumba ya Israeli baada ya siku hizo,"" asema BWANA, ""Nitaweka sheria yangu ndani yao, na katika mioyo yao nitaiandika; nami nitakuwa Mungu wao, nao watakuwa watu wangu." (Yeremia 31:33) Mtu anayeshika amri zake, anakaa ndani yake, naye anakaa ndani yake. Tunajua kwamba yeye anaishi ndani yetu kwa Roho aliyotupa. "Yohana 3: 24 ""Basi yeye ambaye anatutia nguvu pamoja nanyi katika Kristo na kutupaka mafuta ni Mungu, ambaye pia alitutia muhuri na kutupa Roho katika mioyo yetu kama dhamana." "2 Wakorintho 1:21-22 ""Masharti ya agano letu na Kristo, amri yetu mpya, nadhiri ya agano la Agano jipya, yameandikwa katika mioyo yetu na kuandikwa kwa Roho Mtakatifu, ambaye anatubadilisha kuwa mfano wake, akituwezesha kutimiza nadhiri yetu ya agano." Yeye ndiye aliyetupa amri, na yeye ndiye aliyetupa moyo mpya ili tuweze kuitimiza. Agano Jipya si agano lisilo na masharti, kama wengi wanavyodai. Ni agano lenye masharti na masharti hayo yameelezwa waziwazi. Hata hivyo, ni agano ambalo mwenzi wetu wa agano anatusaidia kutimiza nadhiri kupitia nguvu yake ya kubadilisha. Ni Mwokozi wa ajabu kama nini!