Old Covenant vs New Covenant—What Are the Differences?
The Old and New Covenants are the agreements that God made with His people in the Bible. The Old Covenant was the agreement made between God and the Israelites at Mount Sinai after He freed them from slavery in Egypt. It is sometimes referred to as the Mosaic Covenant because Moses was God’s chosen leader of the Israelites. The New Covenant is the agreement made between God and humanity through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. As the names imply, the Old Covenant represents the original agreement between God and His people, while the New Covenant represents the fulfillment of God’s promises through Christ.
Though both covenants were initiated by God, there are several key differences between them that reveal God’s ultimate plan for humanity. Below is an in-depth look at the primary differences between the Old and New Covenants.
The Old Covenant Was Conditional, the New Covenant Is Unconditional
The Old Covenant was a conditional covenant based upon the obedience of the Israelites. God said to the Israelites in Exodus 19:5 (ESV), “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine.” The principles of the law given to Moses at Mount Sinai were meant to set Israel apart from other nations. God promised to make them prosper and be His special people as long as they remained faithful to Him by obeying all of His commands (Deuteronomy 28:1-14).
Unfortunately, the Israelites were unable to remain faithful and broke the covenant when they worshipped the golden calf at the foot of Mount Sinai (Exodus 32). This set the pattern for the history of Israel, as they would frequently break their covenant with God by disobeying His commands. When they rebelled and turned away from God, they would suffer the punishments listed in Deuteronomy 28:15-68. Their status as God’s special people was dependent upon their obedience to the law.
In contrast, the New Covenant is an unconditional covenant that is based upon God’s faithfulness alone. God promised in Jeremiah 31:31-34 (ESV) that He would make a new covenant with His people that was not like the covenant He made with their forefathers. God took it upon Himself to fulfill the New Covenant by sending Jesus Christ to die for the sins of humanity.
Believers in Christ are indwelt by the Holy Spirit and have God’s law written on their hearts (Jeremiah 31:33). While the law exposed sin under the Old Covenant, the Holy Spirit empowers believers to obey God’s laws under the New Covenant. Most importantly, God promises to forgive their wickedness and remember their sins no more. The New Covenant assures believers of salvation and an eternal inheritance through Christ regardless of their works.
The Old Covenant Was Based on Law, the New Covenant Is Based on Faith
The Old Covenant emphasizes external obedience to the law of God. The Ten Commandments and the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy explain the specific laws that the Israelites had to follow. These laws taught them how to live as God’s holy people and maintain the covenant He made with them at Mount Sinai. The law provided instructions for moral behavior, religious rituals, celebrations, social justice, and government. Keeping the law was a matter of life and death for the Israelites. The blessings and curses of the law reminded them that they could enjoy God’s promises only by obeying Him.
The New Covenant moves beyond strict external law and brings the law of God inward. God writes His law on the hearts and minds of believers rather than on tablets of stone (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:8-12). The emphasis is on an internal change wrought by the Holy Spirit rather than mere outward obedience. Faith and love become the primary motivators for obedience under the New Covenant. The law is fulfilled not just by avoiding what is evil but by actively pursuing what is good according to God’s will.
The author of Hebrews explains that the law was only a shadow of the good things to come in Christ. He writes, “For the law made nothing perfect; but on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God” (Hebrews 7:19). Those who believe in Christ have their hearts purified from an evil conscience and can now draw near to God with full assurance of faith (Hebrews 10:19-22). Faith working through love and the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit enable believers to fulfill God’s law in a way the Old Covenant could not.
The Old Covenant Required Ongoing Sacrifices, Christ’s Death Fulfilled the New Covenant
The Old Covenant sacrifices were unable to cleanse believers’ consciences or provide permanent forgiveness of sins. Animal sacrifices had to be offered daily and yearly to atone for the people’s sins. The high priest also had to enter the Most Holy Place once a year on the Day of Atonement to sprinkle blood on the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant to make atonement for the sins of the people (Leviticus 16:34). Because the sacrifices of animals could not truly pay the penalty for sin, they had to be repeated continually.
The writer of Hebrews says the fact that sacrifices had to be continually offered year after year showed that perfect cleansing was not possible through the Old Covenant sacrificial system (Hebrews 10:1-4). If the sacrifices could truly cleanse the conscience of worshipers and provide complete forgiveness, they would have stopped being offered. But mere animals are insufficient to bear the sins of mankind.
Under the New Covenant, Christ’s sacrifice achieved complete atonement for sins once for all. Jesus is the great High Priest who entered the true, perfect tabernacle in heaven to offer Himself as the only sufficient sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 9:11-12). Christ did not have to offer Himself repeatedly like the high priests on earth because His one sacrifice cleansed believers’ consciences and perfected them forever (Hebrews 9:13-14; Hebrews 10:12-18).
Animal sacrifices could only provide temporary cleansing because they pointed forward to the perfect sacrifice of Christ. Now that Christ has made atonement for sins, no more sacrifices are needed. Believers can boldly enter God’s presence, knowing Christ’s blood has redeemed them for all time.
The Old Covenant Was Limited to Israel, the New Covenant Extends to All Nations
Under the Old Covenant, Israel was set apart as God’s holy nation and given the law to follow. Gentiles could only join Israel by becoming converts and receiving circumcision. The physical descendants of Abraham were viewed as the children of God’s covenant. Only those who took the steps to become proselytes to Judaism could share in the covenant blessings.
But Christ came to offer salvation to the entire world, not just the nation of Israel. The New Covenant brings Gentiles into the family of God and gives them equal inheritance with believing Jews. When Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper, He said, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood” (Luke 22:20). His blood sacrifice enables all those who believe to become children of God.
The apostle Paul explains that the law was Israel’s guardian or schoolmaster until Christ came (Galatians 3:24). It protected Israel and prepared the way for the Savior. But now that faith in Christ has come, believers are no longer under the supervision of the law. All God’s promises now belong to all His spiritual children by faith, not physical lineage. Because of Christ’s fulfilling the law, anyone who belongs to Him is an heir of the promises made to Abraham (Galatians 3:29).
In Ephesians 2:11-22, Paul writes that Christ has made both Jews and Gentiles one in Himself. Through His death, Christ broke down the wall of separation that divided Jews from Gentiles. God’s purpose was to create one new man out of the two groups. By reconciling both in one body through the cross, Christ fulfilled the promise to Abraham that he would become the father of many nations (Genesis 17:4-6). Instead of the nation of Israel being uniquely God’s people, now the church made up of all nations belongs to God through faith in Christ.
The Old Covenant Was Written in Stone, the New Covenant Is Written on Hearts
Another key difference between the covenants is where the law of God is written. Under the Old Covenant, God wrote His law on tablets of stone and it was kept in the Ark of the Covenant (Deuteronomy 10:1-5). The Ten Commandments engraved in stone represent the external nature of the Old Covenant. God’s people had to follow the letter of the law obediently in order to maintain relationship with Him. Obedience was a matter of outward behavior rather than inner conviction. The law on stones was also a reminder of the distance between God and the people. God had to communicate His law through Moses because the people could not approach God directly out of fear and reverence.
But God promised in Jeremiah 31:33 that under the New Covenant He would write His law on people’s hearts. Ezekiel 36:26-27 also prophesies that God will give His people new hearts and put His Spirit within them, causing them to walk in His ways and keep His commandments. This represents the internal transformation that happens under the New Covenant. God puts His Spirit in believers to change them from within. The Holy Spirit moves believers to obey God not out of mere outward obligation but because their new natures desire to please the Lord. Through Christ they have direct access to God as their Father rather than a distant authority figure giving commands.
The indwelling Holy Spirit also enables believers to understand God’s will in new ways. While the Old Covenant people were limited by the letter of the written law, the Holy Spirit opens the deeper intentions of God’s law to believers (Romans 7:6). God’s people can now obey His commands in the spirit rather than just the letter of the law.
In 2 Corinthians 3, Paul compares the glory of the Old and New Covenants. He says that the New Covenant far surpasses the Old in glory because it provides life rather than condemnation and righteousness rather than mere written rules (2 Corinthians 3:6-9). Paul writes, “For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory” (2 Corinthians 3:9). The New Covenant’s righteousness comes from God’s Spirit at work in hearts, not just His laws written on stone.
The Old Covenant Had an Earthly Tabernacle, the New Covenant Has a Heavenly Sanctuary
Under the Old Covenant, the Israelites worshipped God at the tabernacle. The book of Exodus records God’s instructions for building the tabernacle and instituting the ceremonies and furnishings associated with it. The tabernacle was a movable tent-like structure that the Israelites carried with them through the wilderness. When they entered the Promised Land under Joshua, the tabernacle resided temporarily in various cities. Later, when David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, the tabernacle was located there. Eventually, King Solomon built a permanent house for God’s dwelling known as the temple. The temple implemented the same rituals and functions as the tabernacle but gave them a permanent location.
The tabernacle/temple system provided the Israelites a divine dwelling place in their midst. It also maintained Israel’s covenant relationship with God. Despite its importance under the Old Covenant, the tabernacle was merely an earthly copy and shadow of the true, heavenly temple. The book of Hebrews explains its supreme importance but also its limitations compared to the superior heavenly sanctuary.
In Hebrews 8:1-5 we read that Christ as our great high priest ministers in the true tabernacle in heaven, which the Lord Himself established. The earthly tabernacle was patterned after this perfect heavenly one, but it was not the final dwelling place of God. Christ entered the perfect heavenly sanctuary once for all by His own blood when He obtained eternal redemption for believers (Hebrews 9:12). While the earthly high priests continually offered sacrifices in a manmade tent, Jesus offered His own blood in the true, holy place in heaven. As a result, New Covenant believers can approach God’s throne with confidence, knowing the penalty for their sins has been paid (Hebrews 4:16).
While the earthly tabernacle/temple illustrated God’s holiness under the Old Covenant, the New Covenant provides access to the true heavenly temple. The Savior who makes this possible resides in heaven as the perfect high priest and sacrifice.
The Old Covenant Required Mediation through Priests, All in the New Covenant Are Priests
The Old Covenant assigned the priesthood to the descendants of Aaron from the tribe of Levi. They were set apart and consecrated to minister before the Lord on behalf of the nation of Israel. The priests acted as mediators between God and the people. They performed the various sacrifices and offerings that enabled God to dwell among the Israelites. The high priest was the leader who interceded for the people and entered the Most Holy Place once a year to make atonement for sins. The priesthood provided a system of worshiping God with sacrifices, prayer, praises, and the reading of the law.
The New Covenant fulfills the purpose of the Old Testament priesthood. Rather than an elite group of priests, now all believers are priests who can offer spiritual sacrifices to God. Peter calls believers a “holy priesthood” and a “royal priesthood” who offer spiritual sacrifices in 1 Peter 2:5,9. The author of Hebrews similarly calls believers a “royal priesthood” in Hebrews 1:9. All believers can now approach God themselves through Christ, their great high priest. They need no human mediator or priest to intercede for them.
Christ’s sacrifice accomplished complete atonement and opened the way for believers to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God. These sacrifices include living holy lives, genuine worship, acts of service, and proclaiming God’s praises (Romans 12:1; Hebrews 13:15-16). While the Old Covenant priesthood approached God on the people’s behalf, the New Covenant sanctifies all believers to serve as a kingdom of priests.
The Old Covenant Was Temporary, the New Covenant Is Eternal
The Old Covenant was meant to be a temporary tutor leading to Christ. Paul states that before faith in Christ came, the law supervised God’s people and imprisoned them until Christ was revealed (Galatians 3:23-24). It was an inferior covenant intended for a limited time in Israel’s history. The author of Hebrews calls it “obsolete” and “aging” now that Christ has provided a superior covenant (Hebrews 8:13). God always planned for the Old Covenant to give way to the definitive, eternal covenant initiated at Christ’s first coming that fulfilled all God’s purposes.
In contrast, the New Covenant will never become obsolete or be replaced by another covenant. Christ’s sacrifice was offered once for all time, never needing repetition like the Old Covenant sacrifices (Hebrews 10:10). His blood brings eternal redemption that cleanses believers’ consciences forever (Hebrews 9:12-14). The New Covenant assures believers of an eternal inheritance in Christ (Hebrews 9:15). It provides complete sanctification, adoption as children of God, and the gift of the eternal Holy Spirit (Hebrews 9:13-14; Romans 8:15-17).
The New Covenant is the climax of God’s plan in history to restore the broken relationship with humanity caused by sin. It provides eternal reconciliation with God through Christ’s sacrifice. No new covenant will ever supersede or annul the promises of the New Covenant sealed by Christ’s blood. Believers have the hope of undefiled, permanent inheritance in Him.
Conclusion
Comparing the Old and New Covenants reveals the unity of God’s plan across history while also showing the superiority of His final revelation in Christ. The Mosaic Covenant prepared Israel for the coming Messiah by revealing God’s laws, instituting a system of sacrifices for sin, and setting Israel apart as His chosen nation. The sacrifices, priesthood, tabernacle, and other Old Covenant rituals foreshadowed the redemption in Christ. But their inferiority shows they were just a temporary copy ministering condemnation until the arrival of grace, truth, and freedom in Christ (John 1:17; Galatians 4:21-31).
At just the right time, God fulfilled His ultimate plan of redemption through His Son Jesus Christ in a New Covenant designed to last forever. By His one perfect sacrifice, Christ succeeded where the Old Covenant failed. He permanently atoned for sin, brought inward transformation by the Holy Spirit, and made God’s presence directly accessible to all who believe. No longer is divine fellowship bound to one nation under the supervision of the law, but now all peoples are united into God’s family and temple. The OldCovenant laid the foundation as God’s gracious preparation for the supreme New Covenant in Christ.