The New Covenant, pt. 2
WEEK 10: Jesus and the Fulfillment of All Covenants
Primary Texts
Luke 24:25–27, 44–49
2 Corinthians 1:20
Hebrews 9:11–28
Galatians 3:15–29
Expositional Outline
I. Jesus Interprets the Scriptures About Himself (Luke 24:25–27, 44–49)
vv.25–27: The risen Christ teaches that all Scripture points to Him — “Moses and all the Prophets.”
vv.44–47: He explicitly ties the Law, Prophets, and Psalms (entire OT canon) to His suffering and resurrection.
v.49: Fulfillment includes the coming of the Spirit — promise of the Father.
II. All God’s Promises Find Their Yes in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20)
v.20: Paul states that every promise — Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic — finds its confirmation and guarantee in Jesus.
III. Jesus as the Final Mediator and Sacrifice (Hebrews 9:11–28)
vv.11–14: Christ enters a greater tabernacle and offers His own blood — once for all.
vv.15–17: He is the mediator of a new covenant — His death enacts the covenantal will.
vv.24–28: Contrast between earthly and heavenly tabernacle; Jesus appears before God on our behalf.
IV. Covenant and Promise Fulfilled in Christ (Galatians 3:15–29)
vv.15–18: Paul distinguishes the promise (to Abraham) from the law (Moses). The law didn’t annul the promise.
v.16: “To your seed” — singular. Paul reads the Abrahamic promise as pointing specifically to Christ.
vv.24–29: The law was a guardian, but now we’re heirs through faith in Christ — Abraham’s children.
Original Language Insights
ἐπαγγελία (epangelia) – “Promise” (2 Cor. 1:20; Gal. 3:16). In Greek, this carries the weight of a royal decree, not a suggestion or invitation. It is binding.
διαθήκη (diathēkē) – “Covenant/Testament” (Heb. 9:15). Also used for a last will. Christ’s death enacts the benefits of the covenant for the heirs.
τετέλεσται (tetelestai) – “It is finished” (John 19:30, not primary but relevant). A declaration that covenantal fulfillment has been achieved.
Cross-References
Genesis 12:3 → Galatians 3:8 – Paul sees the gospel in the Abrahamic promise.
Exodus 24:8 → Luke 22:20 – “Blood of the covenant” reframed in Jesus' death.
2 Samuel 7:12–16 → Luke 1:32–33 – Jesus as the heir to David’s eternal throne.
Jeremiah 31:31–34 → Hebrews 8 – Jesus mediates the New Covenant with internal transformation and lasting forgiveness.
Hermeneutical Analysis
Historical-Grammatical
Luke 24 is a theological key: Jesus validates that the whole Old Testament should be read Christologically. This is not reading backwards, but reading deeply — with Spirit-illumined eyes.
Canonical
Jesus is not one thread in the biblical story — He is the center. Every covenant builds anticipation. Their structures (offspring, land, blessing, kingship, law, presence) are all incomplete until fulfilled in Him.
Redemptive-Historical
Noahic – Jesus brings lasting peace between God and creation (Col. 1:20).
Abrahamic – Jesus is the promised seed and brings blessing to the nations.
Mosaic – Jesus fulfills the law’s demands and enables obedience through the Spirit.
Davidic – Jesus is the eternal King, reigning forever.
New Covenant – Jesus mediates it through His death, bringing internal transformation and permanent forgiveness.
Deep-Dive, Theologically Rich Insights
2 Corinthians 1:20 – “Yes and Amen” in Christ
“Yes” means fulfilled, “Amen” is the community’s response. Christ doesn’t just fulfill the promises — He invites us to respond in faith and worship.
Galatians 3:16 – Paul’s singular reading of “seed”
Paul performs a theological reading of Genesis — not forcing the grammar, but showing that God’s plan always pointed to a single redeemer. This is apostolic hermeneutics at work.
Hebrews 9:15 – The “will” enacted by death
A covenant, in this text, is likened to a testamentary document. Christ’s death not only atones but enacts the inheritance — just as a will only goes into effect when the testator dies.
Jesus as the Better Moses, Better David, Better Sacrifice
He doesn’t discard the previous covenants — He embodies them:
A better Moses who mediates lasting forgiveness (Heb. 3).
A better David whose throne is eternal (Luke 1:32).
A better sacrifice that ends all sacrifices (Heb. 10).
Teaching or Preaching Application
Hook: Ask, “Have you ever followed a story that didn’t make sense until the ending reframed everything?” Then show how Jesus is the lens that clarifies the whole biblical story.
Application Points:
The Bible is not a set of disconnected contracts but a unified covenantal plan fulfilled in Christ.
Faith in Jesus is not an escape from covenant but an entrance into its fulfillment.
Christians live under the better covenant — full access, full assurance, full transformation.
Discussion Questions:
How does seeing Jesus as the fulfillment of every covenant change how you read the Old Testament?
What’s the difference between obeying a law and being empowered by a promise?
What does it mean for the church to live under a better covenant?
