[Hebrews 8] 1 And the sum concerning the things spoken of is: we have such a chief priest, who did sit down at the right hand of the throne of the greatness in the heavens, 2 of the holy places a servant, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord did set up, and not man, 3 for every chief priest to offer both gifts and sacrifices is appointed, whence it is necessary for this one to have also something that he may offer; 4 for if, indeed, he were upon earth, he would not be a priest -- (there being the priests who are offering according to the law, the gifts, 5 who unto an example and shadow do serve of the heavenly things, as Moses hath been divinely warned, being about to construct the tabernacle, for 'See (saith He) thou mayest make all things according to the pattern that was shewn to thee in the mount;') -- 6 and now he hath obtained a more excellent service, how much also of a better covenant is he mediator, which on better promises hath been sanctioned, 7 for if that first were faultless, a place would not have been sought for a second. 8 For finding fault, He saith to them, 'Lo, days come, saith the Lord, and I will complete with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah, a new covenant, 9 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers, in the day of My taking them by their hand, to bring them out of the land of Egypt -- because they did not remain in My covenant, and I did not regard them, saith the Lord, -- 10 because this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel, after those days, saith the Lord, giving My laws into their mind, and upon their hearts I will write them, and I will be to them for a God, and they shall be to Me for a people; 11 and they shall not teach each his neighbour, and each his brother, saying, Know thou the Lord, because they shall all know Me from the small one of them unto the great one of them, 12 because I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawlessnesses I will remember no more;' -- 13 in the saying 'new,' He hath made the first old, and what doth become obsolete and is old is nigh disappearing.
I've underlined your scripture but decided to include the entire chapter so we could see exactly what is was that Paul was referring to....... as the Old Covenant. Especially, since he goes on to define the first Covenant in the next Chapter:
[Hebrews 9:1-10] 1 It had, indeed, then (even the first tabernacle) ordinances of service, also a worldly sanctuary, 2 for a tabernacle was prepared, the first, in which was both the lamp-stand, and the table, and the bread of the presence -- which is called 'Holy;' 3 and after the second vail a tabernacle that is called 'Holy of holies,' 4 having a golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid all round about with gold, in which is the golden pot having the manna, and the rod of Aaron that budded, and the tables of the covenant, 5 and over it cherubim of the glory, overshadowing the mercy-seat, concerning which we are not now to speak particularly. 6 And these things having been thus prepared, into the first tabernacle, indeed, at all times the priests do go in, performing the services, 7 and into the second, once in the year, only the chief priest, not apart from blood, which he doth offer for himself and the errors of the people, 8 the Holy Spirit this evidencing that not yet hath been manifested the way of the holy places, the first tabernacle having yet a standing; 9 which is a simile in regard to the present time, in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered, which are not able, in regard to conscience, to make perfect him who is serving, 10 only in victuals, and drinks, and different baptisms, and fleshly ordinances -- till the time of reformation imposed upon them.
Some teach that the Old Covenant was the Ten Commandments but as we can see here by the words of Paul the Old Covenant had a Tabernacle, ordinances of service and a sanctuary. They would also teach that the Ten Commandments have been done away with, but according to Paul.....the things that were done away with were the ordinances of the Levitical Priesthood, the special washings and the animal sacrifices.
Paul says here: [Hebrews 10:16] This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, giving My laws on their hearts, and upon their minds I will write them.
Now.....what would be the law that would be written on our Hearts and minds?
That law, of course is the same law that was given at Sinai....the Ten Commandments. The law remained the same but the covenant changed.....because: [Hebrews 10:4] for it is impossible for blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
[Hebrews 9:1-10] [...]
Apparently you have not observed, even from the passage that you quoted, that both the Old and the New Testament use the word "covenant" when referring to the Ten Commandments:
Hebrews 9:4To treat the statement that "the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary." (Hebrew 9:1) as if it were a comprehensive, exclusive definition of the old covenant does not even make sense, besides being contrary to Scriptural terminology and usage.
4 having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant.
Some teach that the Old Covenant was the Ten Commandments but as we can see here by the words of Paul the Old Covenant had a Tabernacle, ordinances of service and a sanctuary. They would also teach that the Ten Commandments have been done away with, but according to Paul.....the things that were done away with were the ordinances of the Levitical Priesthood, the special washings and the animal sacrifices.
Paul nowhere limits what was done away with to he ordinances of the Levitical Priesthood, the special washings and the animal sacrifices. This distinction is entirely a figment of your imagination. In fact, he explicitly says otherwise here in Hebrew 9:4 with, "the tablets of the covenant"; and he says in Corinthians that whatever was written on the table of stone was what was done away with. You claim is contradicted by Paul. If the the things that were done away with were the ordinances of the Levitical Priesthood, the special washings and the animal sacrifices then so were the tablets of the covenant.
Moreover, in the same chapter you quote, Hebrews 9, Paul compares the Covenants to a last will and testament:
16In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 17because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. 18This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood. 19When Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. 20He said, "This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep." 21In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. 22In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.Your claims are like that of a person who comes into Probate Court with will that has been subsequently revoked by another codicil, but still insisting that the Court administer the estate under the old codicil. It isn't going to happen, my FRiend. The old will is not in force. It will not be admitted to Probate, and it will not be administered.
You cannot escape or overcome the fact that both the Old and New Testament use the word "covenant" when referring to the Ten Commandments:
Cordially,