The Law or the Lord? 2 Corinthians 3

Covenants

I never really studied deep into the covenants God made with people until about 10 years ago. Even then it took a while to realize that the covenant Christians live under is different than the covenant made with Israel at Mt. Sinai, specifically the 10 commandments written on stone. Some people/groups view the 10 C's as being "eternal" even though they had a beginning point at Mt. Sinai. The 10 C's, written with letters on stone, was the old covenant that God made with Israel. They were carried in the...ark of the covenant. There are many places in scripture that tell us this, but here's one:

“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.” So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did not eat bread or drink water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.” Exodus 34:27-28

This passage alone shows that the old covenant was made between God and Israel and that it specifically was the 10 C's written on the tablets of stone. It did not exist prior as is shown in the 2nd place the 10 C's covenant is recorded, Deuteronomy:

"The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. It was not with our ancestors that the Lord made this covenant, but with us, with all of us who are alive here today." Deuteronomy 5:2-3

New Covenant

While much more time could be spent showing all of the places in scripture that refer to the 10 C's as the old covenant and the temporary nature of it, I want to jump into God's instruction to his church found in Paul's second letter to the church at Corinth starting with verse 6:

"He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." 2 Cor. 3:6

A distinction has already been made, that they are ministers of a new covenant that is different than the one made with letters. The contrast is between the letter, which kills, and the Spirit who gives life. It is a life and death matter.

Death, Condemnation, and Temporary

"Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!" 2 Cor. 3:7-11

The 10 C's came with glory, but they were a "ministry that brought death" and a "ministry that brought condemnation." Notice it is unmistakable what we're talking about here, the 10 C's "engraved in letters on stone." Did they come with glory? Yes! Moses' face was so bright the Israelites couldn't even look at him! But that glory was "transitory," it was temporary! It was going to be outshone by the "ministry of the Spirit" which is even MORE glorious, a "ministry that brings righteousness!" The 10 C's were glorious, but not at all when compared with the glory that surpasses them. And that last sentence again repeats that the letters on stone were transitory, but how much greater is the glory of "that which lasts!" Paul repeats himself regarding the glory and permanence of the Spirit and the fading glory and temporary nature of the letters on stone, which means he's really trying to get a point across.

I know it's difficult for some to even attempt to grasp (let alone accept) what the clear implication of these words mean to those attempting to live under the old covenant or to make the old and new covenants the same thing. But Paul gets to that later on in this same passage.

The Veil

"Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away." 2 Cor. 3:12-13

 Notice the reason Paul gives for Moses putting a veil over his face: to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. Again it is a reference to the 10 C's (ministry of death and condemnation) coming to an "end" and "passing away." I know the tendency to want to justify this by thinking that it is the "death and condemnation" that end and pass away because of Jesus taking the penalty on himself at the cross, but that is not an honest use of this passage. The "letters on stone" themselves are what pass here in order for the Spirit, which lasts, to emerge bringing "life and righteousness." It is tempting to want to have both exist together, but death and life, condemnation and righteousness cannot exist together. What is transitory, fading, temporary and ending cannot coexist with what is permanent and lasting.

But if you're stuck or experiencing some cognitive dissonance, there's a reason for it:

"But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts." 2 Cor. 3:14-

 Those trying to live under the "old covenant," which Paul clearly says is the "letters written on stone," cannot see because a veil covers their hearts. Are you finding yourself disagreeing with what Paul has written here, or trying to come up with some line of reasoning that justifies the living by the letters AND by the Spirit? Can you see it? If you cannot consider that a "veil" is preventing you from seeing the point here. Reflect on what Paul is saying and ask the Holy Spirit (the one that brings life and righteousness) to open your eyes. (It took me about three years to really get this passage and see it!)

Don't miss this: "But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read." Paul does a sort of play on words here. Moses put a veil over his face so Israel wouldn't see the fading glory of the letters on stone, and when we read the letters on stone a veil covers our hearts. Do you spend time reading the old covenant? Does your church or denomination? Are you stuck believing you are under the old covenant (10 C's) calling it "freedom?" If so, there is hope:

Real Freedom

"But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." 2 Cor. 3:16-17

In verse 14 it said that, "only in Christ is it taken away." When you turn to the Lord the veil is taken away. It is interesting because Exodus 34:27-28 (quoted at the top regarding the 10 C's being the old covenant) a few verses later says, "But whenever he entered the Lord ’s presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord." (vs. 34-35) When Moses entered the Lord's presence he took off the veil. When we turn to the Lord the veil is taken away.

This verse also clearly identifies the Spirit as the Lord and tells us where real freedom is - where the Spirit of the Lord is. Are you turning to the law or the Lord? One is death and condemnation and ending glory. The other is life and righteousness and ever-increasing glory and freedom! Your answer is important to your own spiritual growth:

"And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2 Cor. 3:18

Turn to the Lord only, have the veil removed, contemplate the Lord's glory, and experience being transformed into his image more and more.