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A Comparison of Old Covenant versus New Covenant
As pertains to Priests and Sacrifices
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Introduction

In your Bible, a more descriptive label for the Old and New Testaments would be the Old and New Covenants.

In the Bible, a "Covenant" is something like a contract between God and the human race.
AFTER you finish reading this page, you can learn more about God's covenants by reading our 2-page study on that subject.
The goal of this study is to list EIGHT differences between the New and Old Covenants, and then to list SEVEN blessings from God to YOU.

Old Testament folks lived under the Old Covenant of laws, human priests, and animal sacrifices.

As a Christian you under a NEW Covenant.
This Covenant is presented to you by virtue of the awesome, amazing, limitless grace of God in Messiah Jesus!
Giving thanks, Jesus broke it (the bread) and said, "Take, eat; this is My body, which is broken for you. This do in remembrance of Me."

In the same way He took the cup also, after supping, saying, "This cup is the New Covenant in My blood. As often as you drink it, do this in remembrance of Me." 1 Cor 11.24-25

Old Covenant
1
New Covenant

Sins were not washed away forever. They had to be atoned for continually. Jesus atoned for sins once for all -- forever!

The law... can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.
For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. Heb 10.1b, 10.4 We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
This Man (Jesus) ...offered one sacrifice for sins forever. Heb 10.10, 10.12a

Old Covenant
2
New Covenant

Priests stood, because they had continually to offer sacrifices for sin, day after day. Jesus sat down, because His atoning work was completed forever.

And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. Heb 10.11 This Man (Jesus), after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God
For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. Heb 10.12-14

Old Covenant
3
New Covenant

Priests offered daily sacrifices in a sanctuary built by human hands, and located on Planet Earth. Jesus brought His one perfect sacrifice into Heaven, the true sanctuary, built by God Himself.

(God said...) Let them make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them (on the earth). Exod 25.8

The first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary... For a tabernacle was prepared (built with human hands): the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary Heb 9.1-2a (Jesus is...) a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man. Heb 8.2

Christ came as High Priest of ...the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.
For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us Heb 9.11, 9.24

Old Covenant
4
New Covenant

Priests offered the blood of animals. Jesus offered His own blood.

He (the priest) shall bring the bull to the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the LORD, lay his hand on the bull's head, and kill the bull before the LORD. Then the anointed priest shall take some of the bull's blood and bring it to the tabernacle of meeting. Lev 4.4-5 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He (Jesus) entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. Heb 9.12

Old Covenant
5
New Covenant

The offering of animals provided no ultimate forgiveness of sins. The offering of Christ's own body made His people perfect forever.

It is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. Heb 10.4 By one offering He (Jesus) has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. Heb 10.14

Old Covenant
6
New Covenant

Priests were themselves sinners who had to offer sacrifices for their own sins as well as the sins of the people. Jesus was tempted as we are, and thus can understand our weaknesses. However, He is absolutely Holy and sinless.

All have sinned Rom 3.23a

Every high priest is ...subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. Heb 5.1a, 5.2b, 5.3 We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one (Jesus) who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-- yet was without sin. Heb 4.15

Old Covenant
7
New Covenant

Priests died, and had to be replaced. Once a priest dies, he is powerless to intercede for the sins of his people. Jesus our Priest lives forever. He will always be alive to intercede for His people.

Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office Heb 7.23 Because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Heb 7.24-25

Old Covenant
8
New Covenant

Human priests were ordained by human hands and rituals, NOT by God. The eternal priesthood of Lord Jesus was ordained by God Himself.

Those priests were made without an oath, but this One (Jesus) was made with an oath by Him (God the Father) who said to Him (Jesus), "The Lord swore and will not repent, You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek," -- by so much was Jesus made a surety of a better covenant. Heb 7.21.22 Those priests were made without an oath, but this One (Jesus) was made with an oath by Him (God) who said to Him (Jesus), "The Lord swore and will not repent, You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek," -- by so much was Jesus made a surety of a better covenant. Heb 7.21.22

Summary and Blessings

Every human is a born sinner. Rom 3.23

The penalty of sin is the second death -- eternal separation from God. Rom 6.23; Rev 21.8
The job of your Priest is to offer intercessory prayers and sacrifices on your behalf, in order to save you from the death penalty of your sins.

With Lord Jesus as your personal Priest, you have eternal security. Here are seven blessed facts about that...

#1 By believing on Jesus, you have received Him as your Eternal High Priest.
Since then we have a great High Priest who has passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. Heb 4.14

#2 Unlike human priests, Lord Jesus has never sinned.
(Jesus) was tempted in every way, just as we are-- yet was without sin. Heb 4.15b

He (God the Father) has made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Cor 5.21

#3 Thus, Jesus has PERFECT standing to minister unto God, in your behalf, in the sanctuary of God's own Heaven.
For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us Heb 9.24

#4 As your personal Priest, Lord Jesus fully understands the weaknesses and temptations that you, as a descendent of Adam, are subjected to.
#5 Thus, when you succumb to the lures of sin, Jesus is fully qualified to offer intercessory prayers on your behalf.
We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one (Jesus) who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-- yet was without sin. Heb 4.15

#6 Jesus your Priest has offered the perfect sacrifice -- His own body and blood -- for YOUR sins, once for all.
Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He (Jesus) entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
Heb 9.12

We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Heb 10.10

#7 Jesus your Priest can and WILL save you to the uttermost!

Halleluyah!
Amen
30

He (Jesus) is able also to save to the uttermost those who come unto God by Him...

He ever lives to make intercession for them.
He is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners and made higher than the heavens.
He does not need, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice daily, first for his own sins and then for the people's sins. For He did this once for all, when He offered up Himself. Heb 7.25-27

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A Comparison of Old Covenant versus New Covenant As pertains to Priests and Sacrifices Navigate
Introduction In your Bible, a more descriptive label for the Old and New Testaments would be the Old and New Covenants. In the Bible, a "Covenant" is something like a contract between God and the human race. AFTER you finish reading this page, you can learn more about God's covenants by reading our 2-page study on that subject. The goal of this study is to list EIGHT differences between the New and Old Covenants, and then to list SEVEN blessings from God to YOU.
Old Testament folks lived under the Old Covenant of laws, human priests, and animal sacrifices. As a Christian you under a NEW Covenant. This Covenant is presented to you by virtue of the awesome, amazing, limitless grace of God in Messiah Jesus!		Giving thanks, Jesus broke it (the bread) and said, "Take, eat; this is My body, which is broken for you. This do in remembrance of Me." In the same way He took the cup also, after supping, saying, "This cup is the New Covenant in My blood. As often as you drink it, do this in remembrance of Me." 1 Cor 11.24-25
Old Covenant	1	New Covenant
Sins were not washed away forever. They had to be atoned for continually.		Jesus atoned for sins once for all -- forever!
The law... can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. Heb 10.1b, 10.4		We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. This Man (Jesus) ...offered one sacrifice for sins forever. Heb 10.10, 10.12a
Old Covenant	2	New Covenant
Priests stood, because they had continually to offer sacrifices for sin, day after day.		Jesus sat down, because His atoning work was completed forever.
And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. Heb 10.11		This Man (Jesus), after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. Heb 10.12-14
Old Covenant	3	New Covenant
Priests offered daily sacrifices in a sanctuary built by human hands, and located on Planet Earth.		Jesus brought His one perfect sacrifice into Heaven, the true sanctuary, built by God Himself.
(God said...) Let them make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them (on the earth). Exod 25.8 The first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary... For a tabernacle was prepared (built with human hands): the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary Heb 9.1-2a		(Jesus is...) a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man. Heb 8.2 Christ came as High Priest of ...the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us Heb 9.11, 9.24
Old Covenant	4	New Covenant
Priests offered the blood of animals.		Jesus offered His own blood.
He (the priest) shall bring the bull to the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the LORD, lay his hand on the bull's head, and kill the bull before the LORD. Then the anointed priest shall take some of the bull's blood and bring it to the tabernacle of meeting. Lev 4.4-5		Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He (Jesus) entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. Heb 9.12
Old Covenant	5	New Covenant
The offering of animals provided no ultimate forgiveness of sins.		The offering of Christ's own body made His people perfect forever.
It is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. Heb 10.4		By one offering He (Jesus) has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. Heb 10.14
Old Covenant	6	New Covenant
Priests were themselves sinners who had to offer sacrifices for their own sins as well as the sins of the people.		Jesus was tempted as we are, and thus can understand our weaknesses. However, He is absolutely Holy and sinless.
All have sinned Rom 3.23a Every high priest is ...subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. Heb 5.1a, 5.2b, 5.3		We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one (Jesus) who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-- yet was without sin. Heb 4.15
Old Covenant	7	New Covenant
Priests died, and had to be replaced. Once a priest dies, he is powerless to intercede for the sins of his people.		Jesus our Priest lives forever. He will always be alive to intercede for His people.
Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office Heb 7.23		Because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Heb 7.24-25
Old Covenant	8	New Covenant
Human priests were ordained by human hands and rituals, NOT by God.		The eternal priesthood of Lord Jesus was ordained by God Himself.
Those priests were made without an oath, but this One (Jesus) was made with an oath by Him (God the Father) who said to Him (Jesus), "The Lord swore and will not repent, You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek," -- by so much was Jesus made a surety of a better covenant. Heb 7.21.22		Those priests were made without an oath, but this One (Jesus) was made with an oath by Him (God) who said to Him (Jesus), "The Lord swore and will not repent, You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek," -- by so much was Jesus made a surety of a better covenant. Heb 7.21.22
Summary and Blessings
Every human is a born sinner. Rom 3.23 The penalty of sin is the second death -- eternal separation from God. Rom 6.23; Rev 21.8 The job of your Priest is to offer intercessory prayers and sacrifices on your behalf, in order to save you from the death penalty of your sins. With Lord Jesus as your personal Priest, you have eternal security. Here are seven blessed facts about that...
#1 By believing on Jesus, you have received Him as your Eternal High Priest.		Since then we have a great High Priest who has passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. Heb 4.14
#2 Unlike human priests, Lord Jesus has never sinned.		(Jesus) was tempted in every way, just as we are-- yet was without sin. Heb 4.15b He (God the Father) has made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Cor 5.21
#3 Thus, Jesus has PERFECT standing to minister unto God, in your behalf, in the sanctuary of God's own Heaven.		For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us Heb 9.24
#4 As your personal Priest, Lord Jesus fully understands the weaknesses and temptations that you, as a descendent of Adam, are subjected to. #5 Thus, when you succumb to the lures of sin, Jesus is fully qualified to offer intercessory prayers on your behalf.		We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one (Jesus) who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-- yet was without sin. Heb 4.15
#6 Jesus your Priest has offered the perfect sacrifice -- His own body and blood -- for YOUR sins, once for all.		Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He (Jesus) entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. Heb 9.12 We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Heb 10.10
#7 Jesus your Priest can and WILL save you to the uttermost! Halleluyah! Amen 30		He (Jesus) is able also to save to the uttermost those who come unto God by Him... He ever lives to make intercession for them. He is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners and made higher than the heavens. He does not need, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice daily, first for his own sins and then for the people's sins. For He did this once for all, when He offered up Himself. Heb 7.25-27