They serve as a pattern and foreshadowing of [what has its true existence and reality in] the heavenly things (sanctuary). For when Moses was about to erect the tabernacle, he was warned by God, saying, “SEE THAT YOU MAKE it all [exactly] ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN WHICH WAS SHOWN TO YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN.” [Ex 25:40] But as it is, Christ has acquired a [priestly] ministry which is more excellent [than the old Levitical priestly ministry], for He is the Mediator (Arbiter) of a better covenant [uniting God and man], which has been enacted and rests on better promises.
For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second one or an attempt to institute another one [the new covenant]. However, God finds fault with them [showing its inadequacy] when He says,
“BEHOLD, THE DAYS WILL COME, SAYS THE LORD,
WHEN I WILL MAKE and RATIFY A NEW COVENANT
WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH;
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 ABIDE IN MY COVENANT,
AND SO I WITHDREW MY FAVOR and DISREGARDED THEM, SAYS THE LORD.
“FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL
AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:
I WILL IMPRINT MY LAWS UPON THEIR MINDS [even upon their innermost thoughts and understanding],
AND ENGRAVE THEM UPON THEIR HEARTS [effecting their regeneration].
AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD,
AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
“AND IT WILL NOT BE [necessary] FOR EACH ONE TO TEACH HIS FELLOW CITIZEN,
OR EACH ONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, ‘KNOW [by experience, have knowledge of] THE LORD,’
FOR ALL WILL KNOW [Me by experience and have knowledge of] ME,
FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM.
“FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL and GRACIOUS TOWARD THEIR WICKEDNESS,
AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE.” [Jer 31:31-34]
When God speaks of “A new covenant,” He makes the first one obsolete. And whatever is becoming obsolete (out of use, annulled) and growing old is ready to disappear.