The Imperfection of the First Covenant
W. Burkitt, M. A. Hebrews 8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. Observe here — 1. What is charged on the first covenant, and that is faultiness, by which we are not to understand any sinful faultiness, but defectiveness and imperfection only; for it was not faulty in the matter and substance of it, as it was instituted and ordained by God, but therefore called faulty because it was obscure, was not so surely ratified, and not attended with that virtue, power, and efficacy which the new covenant is accompanied with. 2. Wherein consisteth that defectiveness and imperfection of the first covenant which is here complained of. (1) In its ability to justify and save us, because of our inability, through the weakness of the flesh, to answer the demands of it (Romans 8:3). The law was not properly weak to us, bat we were weak to that. (2) The legal covenant required exact obedience, but afforded no spiritual assistance for the performance of what is required: but the covenant of grace, the new covenant, is called a ministration of the Spirit; and under the gospel we are said not to serve in the oldness of the letter, but in the newness of the Spirit. Now, says the apostle (ver. 8), Almighty God finding fault with the Jews for the breach of the former covenant, declared by the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 31:31), that the covenant He would make with all true Israelites for time to come should vet be like that which He made with their fathers in Egypt, which they continued not in the observation of (wanting those assistances from the Holy Spirit to enable them thereunto, which are procured for us by Christ); accordingly "I regarded them not, saith the Lord," but gave them up for their sins into the hands of their enemies. 3. How Almighty God makes the imperfection of the old covenant, and the Israelites' instability therein, the reason of His making a new covenant with us, in which grace and assistance is offered to enable us to obey and persevere in obedience.From the whole note — 1. That the grace and glory of the new covenant are much set off and manifested by comparing it with the old. 2. That nothing but effectual grace from Christ will secure our covenant obedience one moment: what greater motives or stronger outward obligations to obedience could any people under heaven have than the Israelites had? But they quickly turned out of the way; therefore, in the new covenant, is this grace promised in a peculiar manner. (W. Burkitt, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. WEB: For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.