“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 continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.”
'Not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; for they did not continue in my covenant, and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord' — Jeremiah's contrast between the broken Sinai covenant and the coming new covenant becomes the basis for Hebrews' argument for a superior priesthood and sanctuary. The fathers' failure to continue in covenant relationship reveals the law's limitation: external commandments inscribed on stone cannot produce covenant faithfulness.
Church Fathers on Hebrews 8:9
But (as I said) he sets down that which especially cheers them, in the words, “Which was established upon better promises.” Whence does appear? In that this the one was cast out, and the other introduced in its place: for it is therefore of force because it is better. For as he says, “If perfection were by” it, “what further need was there, that another priest should rise, after the order of Melchisedec?” Hebrews 7:11; so also here he used the same syllogism, saying Hebrews…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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