Read for This Week’s Study: Heb. 7:11–19; Heb. 8:10–12;
Jer. 31:31–34; Heb. 8:1–6; Exod. 24:1–8; Ezek. 36:26, 27.
Memory Text: “But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as
much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better,
since it is enacted on better promises” (Hebrews 8:6, ESV).
B
y living a perfect life, and then by dying in our place, Jesus
mediated a new, better covenant between us and God. Through
His death, Jesus canceled the penalty of death that our tres-
passes demanded and made possible the new covenant.
This truth is explained in Hebrews 10:5–10, which identifies Jesus
as having manifested the perfect obedience required by the covenant. It
references Psalm 40, referring to the Messiah’s desire to render to God
total obedience: “ ‘Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is
written of me: I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within
my heart’ ” (Ps. 40:7, 8, ESV). “In the original context this phrase
[‘to do your will’] described moral obedience to the will of God. The
author of Hebrews uses the phrase to show that the sacrifice of Christ
fulfilled the will of God in providing an acceptable atonement, which
the animal sacrifices had not provided.”—The SDA Bible Commentary,
vol. 7, p. 460.
For Paul, this psalm acquired special significance with the incarna-
tion of Jesus. Jesus embodied the obedience of the new covenant. He
is our Example. We have been saved, not only because of His death but
also because of His perfect obedience.