Sarah Mitchell
The Bible is divided into two parts: the Old Covenant (or Testament) and the New Covenant (or Testament). The New Covenant is a renewed and more perfect form of Israel's longstanding relationship with God. It is available to all, not restricted to any one group of people. The Old Covenant was made between God and Moses, whereas the New Covenant is between God and humankind, with Jesus as the personification and pledge of the new covenant.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | A solemn promise, fortified by an oath, concerning future action |
| Difference from Old Covenant | Available to all, not restricted to any one group of people; internal law, not external |
| Jesus' Role | Jesus is the Lamb of God, the Bread of Life, offering His flesh and blood in atonement for sins |
| The Last Supper | Jesus' blood at the Last Supper is considered the "blood of the covenant" |
| Rituals | Jesus fulfilled the Old Covenant rituals and established new rites, especially the Eucharist |
| Salvation | Salvation is available to all, regardless of identity or background |
| God's Interaction | The Holy Spirit comes to live within us and enables us to live out God's calling |
| Knowledge of God | All will know God and God's will directly, without needing to be taught |
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What You'll Learn
The Last Supper as the new Passover meal
The Last Supper, as described in the Gospels, is the final meal Jesus shared with his apostles in Jerusalem before his crucifixion. It is commemorated by Christians, especially on Holy Thursday. The Last Supper is also the scriptural basis for the Eucharist or Holy Communion.
The Last Supper is understood as a Passover meal in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). In these accounts, Jesus and his disciples are said to have eaten lamb, unleavened bread, and wine—all elements of the Seder feast celebrated on the first night of the Jewish Passover festival. The Gospel of John, however, presents the seven-day Passover festival as beginning only after Jesus' crucifixion, implying that the Last Supper was not a Passover meal.
Some scholars argue that the Last Supper was not a Passover meal but an ordinary Jewish meal the day before Passover. This interpretation is based on the Johannine chronology, which suggests that Jesus was crucified on the day of preparation for Passover, implying that the Last Supper took place the day before.
There are several proposed explanations for this discrepancy. One suggestion is that there were disputes about the calendar in first-century Judaism, and Jesus may have used a different calendar than the temple authorities, celebrating the Passover meal a day earlier. Another possibility is that Jesus intentionally celebrated the Passover early because he knew he was going to die, and during this meal, he instituted the Eucharist. It has also been argued that the Gospel of John has been misunderstood and that there are indications that the Last Supper was indeed a Passover meal, such as the fact that it was held in Jerusalem.
The Last Supper is significant in the Catholic tradition as it marks the inauguration of the New Covenant, in which Jesus offers his Body and Blood to his disciples and commands them to "do this in remembrance of me." This is in contrast to the Passover of the old covenant, which focused on the flesh and blood of the lamb and the Exodus event. The new Passover is a sharing of the Body and Blood of Jesus, who is now the sacrificial lamb.
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Jesus as the unblemished sacrifice
The Bible is divided into two parts: the Old Covenant (or Testament) and the New Covenant (or Testament). The Old Covenant refers to the covenant made between God and Moses, as well as a series of covenants between Yahweh and the Hebrew people. One such covenant was made during their captivity in Egypt, where a family sacrificed an unblemished lamb, sprinkling and eating it, while burning the leftovers as an offering.
The New Covenant, on the other hand, began with the Last Supper, a Passover meal where Jesus became the unblemished sacrifice, offering nourishment and shedding his blood to fulfil the Old Covenant's requirement for animal sacrifices. This sacrifice, according to Hebrews 9:11-22, is what makes Jesus the perfect mediator between Christians and God, paying the price for their freedom from sin.
Jesus is described as "unblemished" and "without fault", which alludes to the Old Testament law requiring worshippers to sacrifice an unblemished lamb, representing the best member of their flock. Jesus, being sinless and blameless, fulfilled the requirement for a perfect sacrifice, making his blood the "blood of the covenant". This idea of Jesus as the unblemished sacrifice is central to the New Covenant, as it signifies that his sacrifice was sufficient for salvation of Christians and the forgiveness of their sins.
The New Covenant is also characterised by its inclusivity, being available to all people regardless of background. This is in contrast to the Old Covenant, which was based on an external code of conduct that was difficult to follow. The New Covenant, instead, focuses on an internal law of charity, where God's law is written on people's hearts, transforming them from within. This transformation is enabled by the Holy Spirit, who dwells within Christians, guiding them towards truth and a deeper knowledge of God.
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The blood of the new covenant
The New Covenant is established at the Last Supper, a Passover meal, where Jesus becomes the unblemished sacrifice, providing nourishment and spilling his blood. This new covenant is different from the Old Covenant as it is not restricted to any one group of people, but is open to all. It is also an internal law, written upon people's hearts, rather than an external code. The Old Covenant, made between God and Moses, was a difficult-to-obey law that people could not live up to.
The New Covenant is a fulfilment of the hope of the prophet Jeremiah, who foretold the fall of Jerusalem and Judah to the Babylonians due to the sinfulness of God's people. Jeremiah hoped for a renewed and more perfect form of Israel's relationship with God, which Christians believe was fulfilled through Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.
The Eucharist, or Holy Mass, is a covenant renewal and a sacrifice of thanksgiving for God's continued presence. It is a memorial of Jesus' sacrifice, where his followers can commune with God and be divinized as his children. Through the blood of the New Covenant, people are offered freedom, salvation, and transformation.
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The covenant as a promise of salvation
The New Covenant is a promise of salvation for all people, not just a select group. It is a promise of transformation and freedom, bought with the price of Christ's blood. This covenant is different from the Old Covenant, or the covenant with Moses and the people of Israel at Mount Sinai, which was an externally prescribed and difficult-to-obey law.
The Old Covenant, as outlined in the Catholic Encyclopedia, can be understood as a series of covenants between Yahweh and the Hebrew people. One example is when Yahweh promised to spare the Hebrew people from the worst of the plagues during their captivity in Egypt. In contrast, the New Covenant is an internal law, what the Catechism calls the "interior law of charity" (CCC1965). Jeremiah prophesied this new covenant, saying, "I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts" (Jer. 31:33 RSV).
The New Covenant is also characterized by its inclusivity, as St. Paul writes in Galatians, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:28 RSV). This means that salvation is now available to all, regardless of their background or identity.
The New Covenant was inaugurated by Jesus at the Last Supper, where he offered himself as the unblemished sacrifice and spilled his blood so that no longer would it be necessary for animals to be sacrificed to renew the covenant. This is often referred to as the "blood of the covenant," and it symbolizes Jesus' redemptive sacrifice. Through his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus fulfilled the Old Covenant and established a new and more perfect form of Israel's longstanding relationship with God.
The Eucharist, or the Holy Mass, is a sacrament that renews this covenant and serves as a sacrifice of thanksgiving for God's continued presence among his people. It is a true communion where believers abide in God and are divinized as God's children.
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The covenant as a promise available to all
The New Covenant is available to all, not restricted to any one group of people. It is a promise that God will transform us from within, offering freedom, salvation, and the ability to know God's will. Unlike the Old Covenant, which was an externally prescribed law that was difficult to obey, the New Covenant is an internal law of charity, written upon our hearts.
The Old Covenant, or the Mosaic Covenant, was made between God and Moses on Mount Sinai. It was a series of covenants between Yahweh and the Hebrew people, represented by the blood of sacrificed lambs. The New Covenant, on the other hand, began at a Passover meal, specifically the Last Supper, where Jesus became the unblemished sacrifice, shedding his blood so that no longer would it be necessary for animals to be sacrificed to renew the covenant.
Jesus did not abolish the rituals and liturgy of the Old Covenant but instead fulfilled and transformed them. The Eucharist, or Holy Mass, is a memorial meal where Jesus is the Lamb of God and the Bread of Life, offering his flesh and blood in atonement for sins. It is both a covenant renewal and a sacrifice of thanksgiving for God's continued presence among us. Through the Eucharist, we commune with God and are divinized as His children.
The New Covenant is a promise of a renewed and more perfect form of Israel's longstanding relationship with God. It is a fulfilment of the prophet Jeremiah's hope for a new covenant, which would be established after the people of Jerusalem and Judah fell to the Babylonian invaders due to their sinfulness. Jeremiah envisioned a covenant that would be internal and not need to be written down, with God's law imprinted on the hearts of all His people.
Through Jesus, the New Covenant is available to all who are willing to open their hearts to Him. It is a promise of transformation, salvation, and a direct relationship with God, made possible by Jesus' sacrifice and mediated through the Eucharist.
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Frequently asked questions
The New Covenant is a promise between God and his people that is available to all, not restricted to any one group. It is a new law of love, where the Holy Spirit comes to live within us and enables us to live out God's calling.
The Old Covenant, or the covenant with Moses and the people of Israel, was an externally prescribed, difficult-to-obey law. The New Covenant, on the other hand, is an internal law, also known as the "interior law of charity".
Jesus is the personification and pledge of the New Covenant. He is the Lamb of God and the Bread of Life, offering his flesh and blood in atonement for sins. He is the high priest who performs his ministry in a sanctuary, entering into a Holy Place to offer the blood of sacrifices.
The Eucharist is a covenant renewal and a sacrifice of thanksgiving for God's continued presence among his people. It is a memorial meal where Jesus is the sacrifice, providing nourishment and spilling his blood so that animal sacrifices are no longer necessary.
