(Jer 31:31-34)
1. Jesus is the Yhwh of the OT (and OC).
(Luk 22:20 w/v31 “LORD” [Yhwh]; hence Jud 1:5; 1Co 10:1-4)
2. Salvation is a marriage to Jesus.
(32, “I was a Husband to them” [34b, “for I will forgive their sin”] = God’s covenants for salvation are marital in nature - i.e., they are marriage covenants; NC: Mat 9:15; 2Co 11:2; Eph 5:25; Rev 19:7; Because the salvific covenant we enter with Jesus is a marriage covenant, it operates according to the principles of a marriage - gain & maintain: we gain Jesus as our Husband and Savior through formal vows of lifelong love and loyalty [in baptism] and maintain our marriage with Jesus by fulfilling those vows in faithfulness to His commands; 1Pe 3:21 “appeal” = Pledge/vow of love and loyalty = Faith [Grk., pistus = Pledge of faithfulness – 1Ti 5:12]; Rev 19:8; Jam 2:24; Mat 28:19-20; Consider also, Abe: Gen 17:1-2, 9-11, 18:19 [Gen 15:6 w/9-10 w/18]; OC: Exo 24:7-8 [1Pe 1:1-2] w/Deu 28:1-2; Deu 7:9; Psa 25:10).
3. Jesus only saves Israelites/Jews.
(31, “house of Israel…house of Judah” = Divided kingdom which is Israel/the Israelites or Jewish people [hence, v33, “This is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel]; Jer 31:1 w/35-37w/30:1-3 w/8-9, 32:37-41, 33:14-15 w/23-26; Eze 36:22-28, 37:16-23, 39:25 w/29; Rom 9:4-5; Jesus became human to seek and save Israelites/Jews alone [Mat 1:18 w/Heb 2:14-16 “Abraham”] = The father of – and first, Jew [Gen 14:12 “Abram the Hebrew”] – i.e., Jew [anachronistic – a member of God’s Jewish covenant people starting w/Abraham] = Jesus only saves Jews; Mat 15:24 [10:6] “lost sheep of the house of Israel” = Jesus refused to go to anyone other than the Jews during His earthly ministry; Psa 121:3-4, 130:7-8).
“The new covenant is explicitly, emphatically, and unavoidably national, promising restoration and righteousness to ‘Israel and Judah’ and saying nothing about those outside those national boundaries.” – Jason A. Staples (Paul and the Resurrection of Israel: Jews, Former Gentiles, Israelites)
4. Jesus’ Jewish new covenant is Judaism 2.0 not a new religion.
(33, “I will put My Law within them…”) = “My Law” refers to the Old Testament Scriptures or the religion of Judaism. Jesus established a new covenant - not a new religion. Calling it a new covenant assumes an existing covenant it replaces/modifies in the same religion. IOW: It is still Judaism – just Judaism modified and upgraded [Judaism 2.0 or New Covenant Judaism]. Jesus would be a false prophet if He came to establish a new religion (Deu 12:28-13:1). Hence why He says what He does in (Mat 5:17-18 and Joh 4:22; Consider also: Phi 3:2 “we are the true circumcision” = We are the true Jews – those who convert to – and are faithful to, Judaism 2.0. – including Gentiles [who are grafted in as the lost tribe/sheep of Israel] – Rom 9:1-8 w/22-26 [Isa 7:8]).
“Paul’s gospel was by no means a rejection of Judaism in favor of a different system… Paul finds nothing at all wrong in Judaism…[He] did not abandon covenantal nomism [gain & maintain] for another ‘pattern of religion’…Paul [instead] continues to preach God’s special election of Israel, the lasting value of Israel’s covenant, the restoration and ultimate salvation of Israel, and the need for total obedience…Gentiles must be grafted into Israel to share in Israel’s salvation.” – Staples (ibid)
5. Jesus only saves Jews who also become disciples.
5.1. (Luk 14:26 “cannot become My disciple”) = Jesus’ words are only relevant if becoming a disciple is necessary to possess Him as Savior (i.e., to be saved by Him). Jesus’ demand for disciples also confirms that He viewed Himself as a rabbi since in the Jewish context of the first century, only rabbis had disciples.
5.2. How the Jews understood the term, “disciple” = A student of a recognized rabbi, who made the sacrificial and life-long commitment to the study and understanding of God’s Law, according to their rabbi’s interpretation, and trained to imitate his way and life. The Talmud states that a disciple must be more loyal to their rabbi than their family (Talmud Bava Metzia 33a). Hence the reason for Jesus’ juxtaposition in relation to family. Consider also: (Mat 10:24-25 “teacher” = Rabbi [Joh 1:49]; Act 13:1 “teachers” = rabbis [Joh 1:38 “rabbi” = “teacher”] and also Mat 23:8-10 “Rabbi” = Head/Grand Rabbi whose interpretation and life was taught to His disciples by His junior rabbis [Act 2:42]).
5.3. PNTM: In the New Testament, the term “disciple” does not refer to someone who is a casual follower – especially in the case of Christ. Being a disciple (the requirement for receiving Jesus as Savior – Luk 14) requires serious dedication to the study and understanding of Jesus’ interpretation of the Law (truth), way and life (Joh 14:6).1
5.4. Promising to study/understand God’s Law (i.e., becoming a disciple) was not a requirement for entering the OC:
1) Only those appointed to the anointed office of priest or king functioned this way – or were called to such dedication (Mal 2:6-7; Deu 17:18-20). As a result, only two passages in the OT use the word “disciple” (Isa 8:16 and 50:4).
2) The role of king and priest w/respect to the Law was passive not active. They functioned more as judges than teachers (rabbis). As a result, the purpose of the Law became more about enforcement than education.
3) The focus in worship was the temple and the sacrifices made by the priests (sacerdotalism). As a result, teaching was not emphasized.
5.5. Discipleship is (then) the thing that makes the new covenant different from the old covenant and keeps us from breaking the way our ancestors broke their covenant (32, “not like the [former] covenant…which they broke”) = OC Israel was plagued with apostasy at the highest levels: her kings, priests and prophets. As a result, her sacred infrastructure (courts for justice, sanctuary for atonement and revelation/law for guidance) was severely comprised – leading not only to large-scale apostasy among the population, but divorce from God and forfeiture of His kingdom and presence among them. Discipleship (i.e., dedicated study and understanding of Jesus’ truth, way and life through the Scriptures) is the divine preventative to apostasy and promise of love and loyalty to God and His Law (Exo 33:13; Deu 17:19-20; Psa 25:10; Psa 119:1-3, 11, 31-32, 33-34, 97, 165 [implied – Deu 8:3/Mat 4:4 – how Jesus triumphs over the value of His temptation]).2
5.6. (That being said) where do we find this promise of becoming a disciple in Jeremiah 31?
Verse (34) = The requirement for every person (from the “least to the greatest” [i.e. not just the priests and king but all of Israel]) entering the new covenant will be their commitment to “know the LORD” – i.e., to study and understand His Law. IOW: everyone must become a disciple. Hence the reason, “They will not teach again, each man his neighbor…for they will all know [the LORD].” All those in the new covenant will be disciples (once more, “know the LORD”) since this is the requirement to entrance (Luk 14:26).
5.7. The evidence supporting this (i.e., everyone entering the NC must become a disciple) as the meaning of v34:
1) From a requirement perspective, discipleship (as already stated), is the biggest change from the OC to the NC.
2) Jeremiah highlights the people’s lack of discipleship (i.e., refusal to get understanding – or ignorance of God’ laws) as the dominant reason for their apostasy (Jer 2:4-5 w/8 = Those tasked w/knowing and understanding God [His laws] refused leading to theirs and the people’s apostasy – Jer 4:22, 8:5-9, 9:12-13).
3) God promises to bless those who “know the LORD” with the same love and loyalty produced in those who study and understand His Law (33a w/Jer 24:7 [Eze 11:19-20, 36:26-27]; Rom 2:14-15 “the Law written in their hearts” = They are inclined to obey God and His laws; Law is “near and dear to their heart”; they love and are loyal to it [they live by it – Deu 8:3]).3
4) By placing the Bundesformel – or marriage formula (33b “I will be their God and they shall be My people”) between the two promises (33a and 34), God is indicating that one (or the first) represents His vow/promise/obligation to the marriage (providing us w/the inclination of love/loyalty/obedience to him and His laws) and the other (or second), ours (our vow/promise/obligation to be disciples of him and His Law) (See also Jer 24:7; 2Co 6:16-17).4
5) One of God’s intended outcomes for His people’s time in exile (the historical context of both Jeremiah and Ezekiel – the books most explicit about the new covenant) was this change in worship from sacerdotalism (focus on sacrifice) to discipleship (focus on study). God used Judah’s deportation into Babylon – along with the loss of the temple and ark of the covenant (586 BC) to make Him – i.e., His Law (Torah) Israel’s new focus in worship. This led to the creation of the synagogue – or sanctuaries of study while in exile (what is meant in Eze 11:16 “I was a sanctuary for them for a little while”) and people becoming dedicated teachers (rabbis) and students of Scripture (disciples) beyond simply those existing in the anointed offices of priests or kings., (e.g., Ezra, the Pharisees).
CONCLUSION:
1) Any baptized member of the new covenant community (i.e., the church) not living as a dedicated student of Jesus – His Word, way and life, is a person operating in rebellion that will eventually lead to covenant breaking – even apostasy – just like it did under the OC. We are therefore to make sure that the culture of this church is the culture of a disciple. IOW: no bible slackers allowed.
2) In addition to our commitment to robust Bible reading plan, every able-bodied/minded member of CCC will journal two chapters from the assigned Bible-book and be ready to share at Sabbath fellowship on Saturday in preparation for its discussion during Sabbath teaching on Sunday. This new plan will begin immediately after the church camping trip (June 7th) and the first book will be John (chapters 1 and 2) which every member will need to be ready to discuss at their Sabbath fellowship on (June 13th) and then learn from rab during worship on (June 14th).
3) The new plan will not only help every member to be faithful in their commitment as a disciple, but also husbands and parents in their oversight of covenant family (i.e., husbands are making sure their wives are being faithful in their efforts to understand Scripture by reviewing their journal entries; parents are doing the same in relation to their children).
FOOTNOTES:
1 Whenever the Bible speaks about individuals following Jesus – or Jesus inviting others to follow Him, it is likewise communicating this sacrificial and life-long commitment of becoming His disciple (e.g., Mat 16:24). Hence the reason Jesus cautions people to count (“calculate”) the cost (Luk 14:28-30)
2 The importance of studying and understanding God’s Word is therefore also key to a life that delivers from death (i.e., salvation) as communicated not only through the life lessons taught to the Exodus Israelites (e.g., Deu 8:1-3 = Concern over understanding God’s Law is more important to preserving life than concern over bread and water), but also Jesus’ wilderness temptation (Mat 4) and lengthy allusion to such things in (Matthew 14-16) = Being concerned about correctly understanding God’s Law [being a disciple of Jesus] versus concern over bread and water is the real key to a life delivered from the dangers of death (e.g., temptation); to saving life versus losing it.
3 Replacing the inclination toward sin (yetzer hara) w/an inclination toward obedience to God and His laws is how Jewish Tradition has commonly understood the promises of Ezekiel 11 and 36. Important also to note, scholars have always viewed God’s heart promises in Ezekiel as referring to same thing as those found in Jeremiah (See Staples, Paul and the Resurrection of Israel, p. 78ff).
4 The Bundesformel’s unique placement between the statements of verses 33 and 34 also explains what would otherwise be anachronistic given that God’s promise is predicated on our commitment to discipleship.
1. Jesus is the Yhwh of the OT (and OC).
(Luk 22:20 w/v31 “LORD” [Yhwh]; hence Jud 1:5; 1Co 10:1-4)
2. Salvation is a marriage to Jesus.
(32, “I was a Husband to them” [34b, “for I will forgive their sin”] = God’s covenants for salvation are marital in nature - i.e., they are marriage covenants; NC: Mat 9:15; 2Co 11:2; Eph 5:25; Rev 19:7; Because the salvific covenant we enter with Jesus is a marriage covenant, it operates according to the principles of a marriage - gain & maintain: we gain Jesus as our Husband and Savior through formal vows of lifelong love and loyalty [in baptism] and maintain our marriage with Jesus by fulfilling those vows in faithfulness to His commands; 1Pe 3:21 “appeal” = Pledge/vow of love and loyalty = Faith [Grk., pistus = Pledge of faithfulness – 1Ti 5:12]; Rev 19:8; Jam 2:24; Mat 28:19-20; Consider also, Abe: Gen 17:1-2, 9-11, 18:19 [Gen 15:6 w/9-10 w/18]; OC: Exo 24:7-8 [1Pe 1:1-2] w/Deu 28:1-2; Deu 7:9; Psa 25:10).
3. Jesus only saves Israelites/Jews.
(31, “house of Israel…house of Judah” = Divided kingdom which is Israel/the Israelites or Jewish people [hence, v33, “This is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel]; Jer 31:1 w/35-37w/30:1-3 w/8-9, 32:37-41, 33:14-15 w/23-26; Eze 36:22-28, 37:16-23, 39:25 w/29; Rom 9:4-5; Jesus became human to seek and save Israelites/Jews alone [Mat 1:18 w/Heb 2:14-16 “Abraham”] = The father of – and first, Jew [Gen 14:12 “Abram the Hebrew”] – i.e., Jew [anachronistic – a member of God’s Jewish covenant people starting w/Abraham] = Jesus only saves Jews; Mat 15:24 [10:6] “lost sheep of the house of Israel” = Jesus refused to go to anyone other than the Jews during His earthly ministry; Psa 121:3-4, 130:7-8).
“The new covenant is explicitly, emphatically, and unavoidably national, promising restoration and righteousness to ‘Israel and Judah’ and saying nothing about those outside those national boundaries.” – Jason A. Staples (Paul and the Resurrection of Israel: Jews, Former Gentiles, Israelites)
4. Jesus’ Jewish new covenant is Judaism 2.0 not a new religion.
(33, “I will put My Law within them…”) = “My Law” refers to the Old Testament Scriptures or the religion of Judaism. Jesus established a new covenant - not a new religion. Calling it a new covenant assumes an existing covenant it replaces/modifies in the same religion. IOW: It is still Judaism – just Judaism modified and upgraded [Judaism 2.0 or New Covenant Judaism]. Jesus would be a false prophet if He came to establish a new religion (Deu 12:28-13:1). Hence why He says what He does in (Mat 5:17-18 and Joh 4:22; Consider also: Phi 3:2 “we are the true circumcision” = We are the true Jews – those who convert to – and are faithful to, Judaism 2.0. – including Gentiles [who are grafted in as the lost tribe/sheep of Israel] – Rom 9:1-8 w/22-26 [Isa 7:8]).
“Paul’s gospel was by no means a rejection of Judaism in favor of a different system… Paul finds nothing at all wrong in Judaism…[He] did not abandon covenantal nomism [gain & maintain] for another ‘pattern of religion’…Paul [instead] continues to preach God’s special election of Israel, the lasting value of Israel’s covenant, the restoration and ultimate salvation of Israel, and the need for total obedience…Gentiles must be grafted into Israel to share in Israel’s salvation.” – Staples (ibid)
5. Jesus only saves Jews who also become disciples.
5.1. (Luk 14:26 “cannot become My disciple”) = Jesus’ words are only relevant if becoming a disciple is necessary to possess Him as Savior (i.e., to be saved by Him). Jesus’ demand for disciples also confirms that He viewed Himself as a rabbi since in the Jewish context of the first century, only rabbis had disciples.
5.2. How the Jews understood the term, “disciple” = A student of a recognized rabbi, who made the sacrificial and life-long commitment to the study and understanding of God’s Law, according to their rabbi’s interpretation, and trained to imitate his way and life. The Talmud states that a disciple must be more loyal to their rabbi than their family (Talmud Bava Metzia 33a). Hence the reason for Jesus’ juxtaposition in relation to family. Consider also: (Mat 10:24-25 “teacher” = Rabbi [Joh 1:49]; Act 13:1 “teachers” = rabbis [Joh 1:38 “rabbi” = “teacher”] and also Mat 23:8-10 “Rabbi” = Head/Grand Rabbi whose interpretation and life was taught to His disciples by His junior rabbis [Act 2:42]).
5.3. PNTM: In the New Testament, the term “disciple” does not refer to someone who is a casual follower – especially in the case of Christ. Being a disciple (the requirement for receiving Jesus as Savior – Luk 14) requires serious dedication to the study and understanding of Jesus’ interpretation of the Law (truth), way and life (Joh 14:6).1
5.4. Promising to study/understand God’s Law (i.e., becoming a disciple) was not a requirement for entering the OC:
1) Only those appointed to the anointed office of priest or king functioned this way – or were called to such dedication (Mal 2:6-7; Deu 17:18-20). As a result, only two passages in the OT use the word “disciple” (Isa 8:16 and 50:4).
2) The role of king and priest w/respect to the Law was passive not active. They functioned more as judges than teachers (rabbis). As a result, the purpose of the Law became more about enforcement than education.
3) The focus in worship was the temple and the sacrifices made by the priests (sacerdotalism). As a result, teaching was not emphasized.
5.5. Discipleship is (then) the thing that makes the new covenant different from the old covenant and keeps us from breaking the way our ancestors broke their covenant (32, “not like the [former] covenant…which they broke”) = OC Israel was plagued with apostasy at the highest levels: her kings, priests and prophets. As a result, her sacred infrastructure (courts for justice, sanctuary for atonement and revelation/law for guidance) was severely comprised – leading not only to large-scale apostasy among the population, but divorce from God and forfeiture of His kingdom and presence among them. Discipleship (i.e., dedicated study and understanding of Jesus’ truth, way and life through the Scriptures) is the divine preventative to apostasy and promise of love and loyalty to God and His Law (Exo 33:13; Deu 17:19-20; Psa 25:10; Psa 119:1-3, 11, 31-32, 33-34, 97, 165 [implied – Deu 8:3/Mat 4:4 – how Jesus triumphs over the value of His temptation]).2
5.6. (That being said) where do we find this promise of becoming a disciple in Jeremiah 31?
Verse (34) = The requirement for every person (from the “least to the greatest” [i.e. not just the priests and king but all of Israel]) entering the new covenant will be their commitment to “know the LORD” – i.e., to study and understand His Law. IOW: everyone must become a disciple. Hence the reason, “They will not teach again, each man his neighbor…for they will all know [the LORD].” All those in the new covenant will be disciples (once more, “know the LORD”) since this is the requirement to entrance (Luk 14:26).
5.7. The evidence supporting this (i.e., everyone entering the NC must become a disciple) as the meaning of v34:
1) From a requirement perspective, discipleship (as already stated), is the biggest change from the OC to the NC.
2) Jeremiah highlights the people’s lack of discipleship (i.e., refusal to get understanding – or ignorance of God’ laws) as the dominant reason for their apostasy (Jer 2:4-5 w/8 = Those tasked w/knowing and understanding God [His laws] refused leading to theirs and the people’s apostasy – Jer 4:22, 8:5-9, 9:12-13).
3) God promises to bless those who “know the LORD” with the same love and loyalty produced in those who study and understand His Law (33a w/Jer 24:7 [Eze 11:19-20, 36:26-27]; Rom 2:14-15 “the Law written in their hearts” = They are inclined to obey God and His laws; Law is “near and dear to their heart”; they love and are loyal to it [they live by it – Deu 8:3]).3
4) By placing the Bundesformel – or marriage formula (33b “I will be their God and they shall be My people”) between the two promises (33a and 34), God is indicating that one (or the first) represents His vow/promise/obligation to the marriage (providing us w/the inclination of love/loyalty/obedience to him and His laws) and the other (or second), ours (our vow/promise/obligation to be disciples of him and His Law) (See also Jer 24:7; 2Co 6:16-17).4
5) One of God’s intended outcomes for His people’s time in exile (the historical context of both Jeremiah and Ezekiel – the books most explicit about the new covenant) was this change in worship from sacerdotalism (focus on sacrifice) to discipleship (focus on study). God used Judah’s deportation into Babylon – along with the loss of the temple and ark of the covenant (586 BC) to make Him – i.e., His Law (Torah) Israel’s new focus in worship. This led to the creation of the synagogue – or sanctuaries of study while in exile (what is meant in Eze 11:16 “I was a sanctuary for them for a little while”) and people becoming dedicated teachers (rabbis) and students of Scripture (disciples) beyond simply those existing in the anointed offices of priests or kings., (e.g., Ezra, the Pharisees).
CONCLUSION:
1) Any baptized member of the new covenant community (i.e., the church) not living as a dedicated student of Jesus – His Word, way and life, is a person operating in rebellion that will eventually lead to covenant breaking – even apostasy – just like it did under the OC. We are therefore to make sure that the culture of this church is the culture of a disciple. IOW: no bible slackers allowed.
2) In addition to our commitment to robust Bible reading plan, every able-bodied/minded member of CCC will journal two chapters from the assigned Bible-book and be ready to share at Sabbath fellowship on Saturday in preparation for its discussion during Sabbath teaching on Sunday. This new plan will begin immediately after the church camping trip (June 7th) and the first book will be John (chapters 1 and 2) which every member will need to be ready to discuss at their Sabbath fellowship on (June 13th) and then learn from rab during worship on (June 14th).
3) The new plan will not only help every member to be faithful in their commitment as a disciple, but also husbands and parents in their oversight of covenant family (i.e., husbands are making sure their wives are being faithful in their efforts to understand Scripture by reviewing their journal entries; parents are doing the same in relation to their children).
FOOTNOTES:
1 Whenever the Bible speaks about individuals following Jesus – or Jesus inviting others to follow Him, it is likewise communicating this sacrificial and life-long commitment of becoming His disciple (e.g., Mat 16:24). Hence the reason Jesus cautions people to count (“calculate”) the cost (Luk 14:28-30)
2 The importance of studying and understanding God’s Word is therefore also key to a life that delivers from death (i.e., salvation) as communicated not only through the life lessons taught to the Exodus Israelites (e.g., Deu 8:1-3 = Concern over understanding God’s Law is more important to preserving life than concern over bread and water), but also Jesus’ wilderness temptation (Mat 4) and lengthy allusion to such things in (Matthew 14-16) = Being concerned about correctly understanding God’s Law [being a disciple of Jesus] versus concern over bread and water is the real key to a life delivered from the dangers of death (e.g., temptation); to saving life versus losing it.
3 Replacing the inclination toward sin (yetzer hara) w/an inclination toward obedience to God and His laws is how Jewish Tradition has commonly understood the promises of Ezekiel 11 and 36. Important also to note, scholars have always viewed God’s heart promises in Ezekiel as referring to same thing as those found in Jeremiah (See Staples, Paul and the Resurrection of Israel, p. 78ff).
4 The Bundesformel’s unique placement between the statements of verses 33 and 34 also explains what would otherwise be anachronistic given that God’s promise is predicated on our commitment to discipleship.