“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “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
The Story
Jeremiah was a prophet that predicted the fall of Israel. Because of their continual disobedience to God, King Zedekiah would be destroyed, Babylon would take Israel, and they would be in exile for 70 years. While they were in exile, he prophesied that the people would survive the exile and come home. [1]
Following this, Jeremiah reveals God’s new covenant. This covenant would be unlike any convent that came before. God would write the law on their hearts, they would have a personal relationship with God, and it would be for all people. The prophet Ezekiel described it as being given a new heart. A heart of flesh in place of a heart of stone. [2]
The Significance
All the things that Jeremiah predicted came true. Babylon marched against Jerusalem and overtook it. They tore down the walls of Jerusalem, destroyed the king’s house, and destroyed the temple of God. Zedekiah’s family was killed, and he was captured and blinded. Then the people of Judah were taken into captivity. [3]
All of this happened because the people of Israel had broken the prior covenants with God. This new covenant and all the prior covenants were fulfilled for us by Jesus. [4]
[1] Jeremiah 24:8-10, 25:8-11, 29:10-14; [2] Jeremiah 31:31-35; Ezekiel 36:26-27 [3] Jeremiah 39:1-10, 2 Kings 25:1-12 [4] Luke 22:20, Matthew 5:17