The Mosaic Covenant

Unlike the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants, the Mosaic covenant has come to an end. The covenant began at Mount Horeb and ended at Calvary when Jesus died on the cross.

The Purpose of the Covenant

Exodus 2:23-25 God remembered His covenant with Abraham.

Exodus 19:5 and 6 King James says, “…ye shall be a peculiar treasure” unto God above all people, a kingdom of priests, a holy nation. However, Israel’s failure to remain obedient to the covenant made it so that this never happened. It will happen when Christ returns.

A covenant is a solemn, binding agreement between two parties. Each party promises to perform some action.

God Promised to Bless Israel

Exodus 23:20-33 The promises pertained to physical and material blessings: land, bread, water, no sickness, no miscarriages, and no barrenness. The promises were not regarding salvation, righteousness, or eternal life. The second major promise of the Mosaic covenant was that God would provide a sacrifice for man’s reconciliation. This understanding is set forth in the tabernacle service which was centered in animal sacrifice.

Israel’s Responsibility to the Covenant

1) They were to obey His voice – Exodus 23:21 and 22; obey God’s statutes and commandments – Deuteronomy 4:39 and 40; observe and do – Deuteronomy 6:1-3.

2) They were to carry out the sacrificial services including the tabernacle, high priest, Levitical service, animal sacrifice, etc. Great detail was provided in the book of Leviticus. The sacrificial service provided a temporary atonement for sins and a shadowy type for the final and eternal atonement of Jesus Christ.

The Covenant Initiated and Ratified by Blood

Exodus 19:16-20 God’s awesome presence

Exodus 20:1-17 Ten Commandments spoken directly to all Israel

Verses 18-23 People, afraid; Moses, mediator

(Exodus 20:24-23:33) Details provided to Moses. Moses becomes the mediator of the covenant between God and Israel.

Exodus 24:3-8 People agreed to obey, and the blood covenant was cut.

Mosaic Covenant

• Two parties: God and Israel

• Moses was the mediator

• The Law given at Horeb were the commandments they were to obey

• God promised material blessing

• Ratified by blood

Exodus 24:12-31:18 God gave Moses the blueprint for the tabernacle and Levitical service.

Exodus 32:1-35 With the golden calf, Israel breaks the covenant before they even heard all of it!

God Was Faithful to Fulfill the Covenant

The book of Joshua records God’s fulfillment of giving Israel the promised land.

God fulfilled the promised redemption and forgiveness when Christ died on Calvary, thus ending the Mosaic covenant.

Schoolmaster Until Christ

Galatians 3:16-29 The Mosaic covenant is often referred to as the Law. (Context determines the meaning of the word “Law.”) The Law brought mankind to Christ. It was never intended to be a substitute for Christ, but rather it pointed to Christ. It was never intended to be a means to salvation, but rather a teacher or type leading to salvation which is made available in Christ.

Verse 24 “Schoolmaster” – pedagogue – an instructor or teacher of children. Synagogue – a place to teach; while a tutor or pedagogue is a guardian and guide of boys. Among the Greeks and the Romans, the name was applied to trustworthy slaves who were charged with the duty of supervising the lives and morals of boys belonging to the better class. The boys were not allowed so much as to step out of the house without them before arriving at the age of manhood.

Galatians 4:1-7 The Law was our pedagogue until Christ. School is now out because Christ is here.

Luke 24:27, 44; John 1:45; 5:45 and 46; Acts 3:21-26 Moses (Genesis through Deuteronomy) and all the prophets wrote about the Messiah.

Hebrews 10:1 The words “shadow,” “example,” “figure,” “type,” and “pattern” are all used to describe the relationship the old has to the new, especially regarding Jesus the Christ.

The Tabernacle, a Pattern for Christ

Hebrews 8:5 God’s initial communication having to do with the tabernacle explains one primary purpose for it: “…that I may dwell among them” (Exodus 25:8). Israel apparently needed a visible object representing God. The tabernacle served as a place for God to dwell among His people and a place where His people could commune with Him. Although the tabernacle made God accessible to the people, it also emphatically communicated that He was only approachable in holiness. The structure and service of the tabernacle showed a sinful people how they could come before a holy God in worship and service. It also provided a place to offer sacrifice for sin (Leviticus chapters 1, 7, 16, and 17). Therefore, it was a graphic portrayal of God’s redemptive plan.

Another primary purpose for the tabernacle, its ordinances and service was to be a figure that looked toward Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death as well as man’s ultimate redemption and reconciliation to God.

The entire tabernacle with all of its implements was a shadowy type for the true tabernacle in heaven where Christ is now serving as the High Priest.

The Brazen Altar (Exodus 27:1-8)

– was used for the practice of sacrificing animals which was a type for Jesus Christ, the final and complete sacrifice. 2 Corinthians 5:21

The Laver of Brass (Exodus 30:17-28; 40:7-30) – was for the priests to wash. It was a type for the cleansing accomplished by our Lord Jesus Christ. Revelation 1:5

The Golden Lampstand (Exodus 25:31-40; 37:17-24)

– provided the only light within the tabernacle. Jesus called himself the light of life. John 8:12; 9:5

The Table of Shewbread (Exodus 25:23-30; Leviticus 24:5-9)

– held 12 new cakes of bread which were the meat offering from the children of Israel. Jesus is the bread of life. John 6:31-35, 48-51

The Altar of Incense (Exodus 30:1-10, 34-38)

– is where the incense burned, filling the tabernacle with a unique, sweet-smelling fragrance. The offering of Christ is to God a sweet-smelling savor. Ephesians 5:2; Romans 8:34; Revelation 8:3 and 4

The Veil (vail) (Exodus 26:31-33; 36:35-38)

– hung beautifully between the holy place and the holy of holies. It was multicolored and embroidered with images of cherubim. The veil separated the priests from God’s glorious presence. As much as the tabernacle represented the presence of God among His people, it also clearly declared their separation from Him.

None of the people except the priests was allowed in the holy place. The holy of holies represents the exact place God communed with the high priest. Only the high priest was allowed to pass through the veil and then only once a year on the Day of Atonement.

When Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s command, they were driven out of the Garden of Eden. God placed cherubim at the east of the Garden of Eden to keep them from the tree of life (Genesis 3:24). Likewise, the cherubim woven on the veil symbolically kept Israel from God’s presence. Only one man once a year had access into God’s presence.

Simultaneously with the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross, the veil was rent in two. In a simple yet profound act, God tore away the barrier that separated Him from sinful humanity. Matthew 27:51; Hebrews 6:19 and 20

The Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:10-16; 37:1-5) was symbolic of God’s throne and presence. Three items in the ark:

1. Manna was called the bread from heaven (Exodus 16:4). Jesus Christ is the true bread from heaven that gives life unto the world (John 6:31-35).

2. Aaron’s Rod that budded which signified that Aaron was God’s chosen high priest. Aaron was a type for Jesus Christ, our High Priest (Hebrews 5:1-8:13).

3. The Tablets of Law (Exodus 20:1-17; 32:15; Deuteronomy 10:2) were also in the ark. The tablet contained the Word of God for Israel. Jesus Christ is the living Word of God (John 1:14).

The Mercy Seat (Exodus 25:17-22; 37:6-9) was the cover for the ark made of pure gold. On top of the ark, at each end, stood two cherubim of gold facing each other but looking down toward the mercy seat. Between the cherubim on the mercy seat, God dwelled (Psalms 80:1; 99:1). Jesus Christ is also called the mercy seat (Hebrews 9:5; Romans 3:25). The mercy seat on the ark was the place where mercy was manifested and reconciliation appropriated and, as such, is a type for Jesus Christ.

High Priest (Exodus 28:1-29:46; Leviticus 8:1-9:24) was also a type for Christ. Aaron and his descendants served as high priests until God’s Son became the final High Priest. Their service was a type for what Jesus would eventually do. The high priesthood was a shadowy type just like everything else relating to the tabernacle. It was shadowy not only in type but also in effectiveness. The high priest went into the holy of holies; Jesus Christ ascended into heaven (Hebrews 8:1-28).

Day of Atonement was the one day the high priest could enter the holy of holies. Christ has entered into the holy of holies and remains there until he returns. Today is the day of atonement for man, but when he returns, it will be the day of judgment.

All these things and much more were types for that which Christ would do and accomplish for the reconciliation of mankind. Since Christ has come and has already been offered as man’s sacrifice for sin, the type is no longer needed. When the actual has come, the type’s purpose and effectiveness have ended. When Christ died on the cross, the old covenant was fulfilled. God indeed gave Israel the land He promised and provided the perfect sacrifice for their sins. Therefore, the Mosaic Covenant has ended, and a new covenant has begun.

Jesus Christ Fulfilled the Law

Matthew 5:17 and 18 He came not destroy but to fulfill. He did everything the Law required and was everything the Law said he would be. The Law (books of Moses) has been fulfilled; however, much of what the prophets said has not, because it related to his second coming.

Romans 3:19 and 20 The camp of Israel was twelve square miles. The tabernacle was right in the center.

Romans 3:19 The Law showed that, before God, all are guilty—ungodly, unholy, needing a sacrifice. It was a symbolic representation of what was necessary for them to be saved.

The Law pointed to Christ and salvation by grace. The Law should have said to them that they were separated from God and needed a Messiah.

Verses 21-31 The irony of the Law is that it should have pointed people to grace, but because of their sinfulness, pointed to legalism (Galatians 2:16-21).

(Romans 7:1-7) We are dead to the Law because of Christ. The Law was the old covenant commands which Israel agreed to obey. The new covenant commands are the things our Lord taught that are recorded in the New Testament. The Law has ended, even though many of the same things are part of the new covenant. Many things are also not a part of the new: sacrifices, tabernacle, Sabbath day, marriage, etc. The old is done. Yet, it still serves as a teacher. Many things in the new are not explained, rather only stated because they are detailed in the old. For example, fornication is explained in detail in the old and never in the new.

Galatians 2:16-21 The Law was never intended to make man justified. If righteousness came by the Law, then Christ died in vain.

Purpose of the Law

The old covenant was a type for the new covenant and provided a shadowy pattern and example

Hebrews 9:18-10:1

ABRAHAMIC COVENANT — the Law until — CHRIST MESSIANIC COVENANT

Gentiles Now Included

Galatians 3:6-9 “Heathens,” “nations,” and “Gentiles” are all one (Greek, ethnos).

Verses 14-18 The Law did not change the promises to Abraham.

Ephesians 2:11-18 Jesus rendered the Law inactive, idle, useless, ineffective. He destroyed it, so now it is done away with.

Colossians 2:10-14 Gentiles along with Israelite believers are complete because the Law of ordinances was nailed to the cross.