Jeremiah 31:31-37

Read Jeremiah 31:31-37 

Helpful Background Information: 

• Jeremiah was written during the time when Israel had persistently been rejecting God’s prophets. This rejection of God’s messengers led to the moral and theological downfall of the Jewish people, ultimately leading to the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of God’s people. 

• In the Old Testament there are multiple covenants that God makes with His people. At the time of Jeremiah, the people of Israel were under the Mosaic covenant, meaning that they were under the covenant that was ultimately given in Exodus 19-24. The function of the Mosaic covenant was to demonstrate love and commitment to God, rather than as a path to salvation. This is referred to in Hebrews 11, as it is made clear that those under the Mosaic covenant were still commended for their faith instead of their actions. By God promising a new covenant, God is setting the stage for Jesus to fulfill the law and the prophets completely as referenced in Romans 3:20-27.

• Through the promise of the new covenant, the Israelite people are promised that they would receive the law to be written on their hearts. Hebrews 10:15-17 speaks on how the Holy Spirit fulfills these promises. Through this and 1 John 2:20-21 and 27, it is shown that the Holy Spirit who writes the truth on the hearts of believers. John wrote about this because there were people who wanted to teach that there was separate knowledge of the gospel needed for salvation. 

Reflection Questions: 

• As someone under the new covenant, what role does the Holy Spirit play in living a holy life? What role does He play in sharing your faith?

• Make a list of the promises that God makes to Israel in this passage. How does this apply to the church now? What truth of the new covenant can you live by through Christ?

• This passage shows God’s faithfulness to hold closely to His people, as Jesus does with His sheep. How can you be strengthened in the truth that God is faithful to seal you with the Holy Spirit?