“I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
Jeremiah 31:33 NIV
Read Deuteronomy Chapter 29, Jeremiah Chapter 31 and Deuteronomy Chapter 30:1-10.
Today we will be comparing the old covenant made with Israel as they were about the enter the promised land with the New Covenant that was promised in Jeremiah 31:31-34. The book of Jeremiah describes many prophecies proclaiming the judgment and punishment of Israel as a result of abandoning God’s ways and forsaking their covenant. They had fallen under the curses pronounced in Deuteronomy, but in Jeremiah 31:31-34 God promises to restore their relationship with a New Covenant.
“The days are coming . . .” is a sentence that is often used in reference to the Messianic era. The time when David’s successor would establish his throne forever.1
“when I will make a new covenant
with the people of Israel
and with the people of Judah.
32 It will not be like the covenant
I made with their ancestors . . .”
God is specifying this is a new covenant and it will differ from the one before. He is drawing our attention to seek for the differences.
“I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.”
The law will be inscribed in the minds and hearts of the people. This is alluded to in Deuteronomy 30:6 “The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.” (emphasis added) They will be entirely faithful to God.
“No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me . . .”
This is in contrast to the old covenant where Moses said: “But to this day the Lord has not given you a mind that understands or eyes that see or ears that hear.” (Deuteronomy 29:4) No longer will they have to memorize the law, which is the essence of God’s character, because they will know Him in their hearts. This points to future transformation. The Holy Spirit changes our hearts and reveals His will to us (giving us eyes that see and ears that hear) so that we don’t have to depend on an external law.
“For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.”
Importantly, in the new covenant, their sins are forgiven forever. This points to the future atonement that would do away with the daily sacrificial system to atone for sins.
Reflect
What does it mean to “circumcise the heart?”
How will a just God forgive our sins if the penalty for sins is death? (see Hebrews 10:1-18)
Does the new covenant apply to us?
Restored! 
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