Understanding Hebrews on the Old Covenant

Hebrews 7–8 contains some of the boldest statements in the New Testament. It does not simply

say that the covenant of law was fulfilled or improved. Instead, it calls the old

system weak (7:18), unprofitable (7:18), and finally obsolete (8:13). The writer even

declares that it was “ready to vanish away.” This raises an uncomfortable question: If the

covenant truly came from the eternal Father, why would it be described in such

terms? Why would a perfect God author a covenant destined to be abolished? Hebrews does not

describe a flawless Father abolishing His own eternal decree. Instead,

the text suggests a temporary legal system, governed by a subordinate ruler,