Judaism’s own literature states that there are Two Covenants, for example in the Sepher Yetzirah (Book of Creation) it states:

“The Two Covenants, by the Word or Spirit, and by the Flesh, made by Jehovah with Abraham, Genesis xvii. The Covenant of Circumcision was to be an outward and visible sign of the Divine promise made to Abraham and his offspring.” Although, Judaism subscribes both of these Covenants to Abraham, it is clear from Jeremiah that the second Covenant was futuristic and manifested long after Abraham was dead.

If the Abrahamic Covenant is the outward Covenant of circumcision. What is the Covenant of the Word the Spiritual Covenant this very important Jewish text is talking about?

A few points to note from the Sepher Yetzirah according to the authors:

1. Both the Jerusalem Talmud and the Babylonian Talmud mention the Sepher Yetzirah.

2. Abraham was the original author of the Sepher Yetzirah.

3. “This book may be considered to be an Allegorical Parallel between the Idealism of Numbers and Letters and the various parts of the Universe, and it sheds much light on many mystic forms and ceremonies yet extant, notably upon Freemasonry, the Tarot, and the later Kabbalah, and is a great aid to the comprehension of the Astro-Theosophic schemes of the Rosicrucians. To obtain the full value of this Treatise, it should be studied hand in hand with Hermetic attributions, the “Isiac Tablet,” and with a complete set of the designs, symbols and allocation of the Trump cards of the Tarot pack, for which see my translation of The Sanctum Regnum of the Tarot, by Eliphas Levi.”

4. The Sepher Yetzirah is one of the most famous Cabalistic texts dating back to 200 C.E.

Westcott, W. (1893). Sepher Yetzirah. London: Theosophical Pub. Society.

Now let’s look at what the Bible says about The Two Covenants:

If Jeremiah is correct then in order to have a New Covenant there must be an Old Covenant. Note, it does not say a ‘Renewed Covenant’ or any such thing, it says Old and New, that’s it.

The New Covenant which Jeremiah prophesied about was futuristic…He also says, the Old Covenant which was made at Sinai was BROKEN, “Which they Broke.” The New Covenant is a spiritual Covenant and involves circumcision of the Heart and not the Penis.

The people who have God’s Law written in their hearts and in their minds belong to this New Covenant.

The other question which needs answering is…Is this New Covenant only for Jews or for all peoples of the earth?

“I will be their God and they shall be My People.” Only those people who have entered into this New Covenant and allowed God to write His Laws on their hearts and in their minds are His People.

Jeremiah 31:31

“Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a NEW COVENANT with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—

“not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My COVENANT WHICH THEY BROKE, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD.

“But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people (also see 2 Corinthians 3:3). NKJV

My People!

“Many NATIONS shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you.

“Many Nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and they shall become My people.”

Zachariah Ch.2:10;11 NKJV

This cannot be interpreted as Noachide for all Nations. The Sanhedrin for example who seek to introduce Noachide Laws DO NOT accept that the Lord of Hosts sent Jesus of Nazareth. Instead they would interpret Zachariah Ch.2:10;11 as being the Jewish people sent to the world. Because in Jewish literature the Suffering Servant is the Jewish people and not Jesus Christ.

The Apostle John emphasises twenty-four times in his Gospel that the Father was the SENDER and that Jesus was the SENT-ONE.

Unless the People who are part of this New Covenant believe that “Jesus was SENT.” Then they are not part of the New Covenant. Zachariah is very clear where the line is drawn in the sand. The line is drawn at Messiah, Jesus Christ. He is the dividing line between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant.

Can it be any clearer that THE SINAI COVENANT was BROKEN?

In his book The Revelation Of Jesus Christ, Alfred.J. Chompff (pages 334 and 335) writes about the Two Covenants; that “Hagar and Sarah are metaphoric to us in that each represented a different Covenant. One earthly and the other Heavenly. Hagar was the earthly, The Mount Sinai Covenant that was temporal and Sarah represented the heavenly, eternal Covenant that God made with all Nations through Jesus Christ. One is in bondage the other one is free. “For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds

to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children—

but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.” Only a small portion of the world’s population belong to Hagar and her earthly Jerusalem Covenant. Sarah is the mother of all those who belong to the Heavenly Jerusalem Covenant.

The children of Abraham are those who have received the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ, they are the true SEED of Abraham and heirs according to the promise, just like Isaac.”

Alfred.J.Chompff is quoting Paul in explaining the Two Covenants to us, the ones living in the New Covenant were prophesied by Jeremiah. Of course Paul would’ve understood the Two Covenants PERFECTLY, because Paul was on his way to becoming Sanhedrin when he had the Damascus Road experience.

The Apostle Paul in Hebrews Ch.8: 6-10 quoting from Jeremiah’s New Covenant Prophesy.

A New Covenant.

“But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.

For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.

Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—

“not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the LORD.

“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” NKJV

Even though the book of Zachariah is full of hope and promise for the return and rebuilding of the Second Temple. It is also a book full of Messianic expectations for the entire world, united as “My People”, under the New Covenant.

Galatians 4: 21-26

“Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?

For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a free-woman.

But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the free-woman through promise,

which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar—

for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children—

but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.” NKJV

God is no respecter of persons under this New Covenant:

Galatians 3: 28;29.

“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.

And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” NKJV

Romans 4:16;17.

“Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all

(as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did.” NKJV

Zachariah Ch.2:10;11.

“Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,” says the LORD.

“Many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you.

“Many Nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and they shall become My people.” NKJV

The Babylonian Exile which was punishment for sin and disobedience brought about an end to the Sinai Covenant. From then on the Prophets prophesied about the return, restoration and a rebuilding of the Second Temple. The majority of these prophesies were embedded with Messianic expectations. Once in the land and the Temple rebuilt, the Messiah would come and that He did. Most of Zachariah’s prophesies were fulfilled 2000 years ago, others are very futuristic and will occur during the millennial reign of Christ.

As for the Broken Covenant, we saw that there were Two Covenants, and now I will show you that in Lamentations Rabbah XXIV.11.3 it says that when the Temple was destroyed that Abraham was weeping and lamenting before God. The Angels joined in his lamentations and the Angels said to Abraham. “You have broken the Covenant.” Lamentations Rabbah then recites a whole list of Patriarchs and even their wives who lamented before God because of the Broken Covenant. Outside of the Old Testament there is confirmation then that Judaism does teach that the Babylonian Exile was a braking of the Covenant with the Israelites. Yet, most Jews today will not admit to this.

Lamentations Rabbah cited in:

Neusner, J. (2004). The Emergence of Judaism. 1st ed. Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press,pp.13-17.

Neusner, J. (2005). Questions and answers. Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson,p.91-92.

The final point I would like to make is that the ‘Covenant’ according to Judaism is intrinsically linked to both the written and oral laws. Because according to Judaism these were both given to Moses at the same time. This is a very documented fact in Talmud and Zohar. But I will save it for another article. The story goes like this…God was on Sinai (Exodus 19:18-20) He delivered the Laws (written and oral) to Moses and the children of Israel responded with…”And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.” (Exodus 19:8).

Scripture quotations marked “NKJV” are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Cheryl Mason (May, 2019)

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