Treasures From God’s Word for the week of August 31 to September 6, 2026

Theme: “I Will Make a New Covenant”

When two people make a covenant, they commit themselves to fulfilling certain conditions. But what would happen if one of the parties repeatedly failed to keep the agreement? That is exactly what happened with the Law covenant. Jehovah had faithfully kept his part, but the Israelites showed again and again that, because of their imperfection, they could not obey the Law perfectly.

Now, that did not mean that the Law covenant had failed. It had served a very important purpose: it made clear that humans needed something better, a means that would make it possible to obtain true and lasting forgiveness of sins.

And Jehovah promised exactly that. Through Jeremiah he announced that the time would come to establish “a new covenant,” a covenant with far broader and more lasting benefits.

The first point is that Jehovah promised that he would replace the Mosaic Law covenant with “a new covenant.”

Jeremiah 31:31, 32

“‘Look! The days are coming,’ declares Jehovah, ‘when I will make with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah a new covenant. It will not be like the covenant that I made with their forefathers on the day I took hold of their hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, “my covenant that they broke, although I was their true master,” declares Jehovah.’”

Jehovah himself highlights a difference: the new covenant “will not be like” the covenant that he made with the Israelites when he brought them out of Egypt.

That old covenant had given Israel great privileges. By accepting it, the nation became Jehovah’s “special property.” In addition, the tribe of Levi provided the priests, and the sacrifices allowed the people to maintain an approved relationship with God.

But the Law also brought a problem to light. The Israelites were imperfect and could not obey it perfectly. Time and again they sinned and needed to offer new sacrifices. The blood of animals could not permanently remove sin.

It was like having a debt that was temporarily covered but that never disappeared completely. Each sacrifice was a reminder that a definitive solution was still needed.

That is why something better was needed: a perfect sacrifice that would not have to be repeated and that could provide lasting forgiveness.

So Jeremiah’s announcement was extraordinary. Jehovah was foretelling that a new arrangement would come that would make it possible to accomplish something the Law covenant could not achieve on its own.

This also helps us to appreciate the way Jehovah acts. He does not change his standards to accommodate human imperfection. Rather, he lovingly provides the means needed so that imperfect humans can have a good relationship with him without compromising his justice.

The second point explains what that new covenant would involve: it would be between Jehovah and spiritual Israel, and it would lay the legal basis for the forgiveness of sins.

Jeremiah 31:33, 34

“‘For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,’ declares Jehovah. ‘I will put my law within them, and in their heart I will write it. And I will become their God, and they will become my people.’ ‘And they will no longer teach each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, “Know Jehovah!” for they will all know me, from the least to the greatest of them,’ declares Jehovah. ‘For I will forgive their error, and I will no longer remember their sin.’”

Let us note two beautiful ideas in these verses.

First, Jehovah said: “I will put my law within them, and in their heart I will write it.” It would not be merely a matter of knowing some written rules. Those who became part of the new covenant would have to love Jehovah’s laws and allow them to influence their thoughts, motives, and decisions deeply.

Second, Jehovah promised: “I will forgive their error, and I will no longer remember their sin.”

How could Jehovah do this and, at the same time, perfectly uphold his own justice?

He could not simply overlook sin. His standard required that there be a legal basis for forgiveness. And that basis would not be the blood of bulls or of goats. The new covenant was validated by means of something far more valuable: the perfect blood of Jesus Christ.

Jesus’ sacrifice provided the ransom that was needed. Unlike the animal sacrifices that had to be repeated constantly, his perfect sacrifice could provide lasting forgiveness.

Therefore, when Jehovah says that he “will no longer remember” the sin, it does not mean that he literally forgets it. It means that, once he forgives on the basis of Christ’s sacrifice, he does not keep holding those sins against the person.

Who are directly part of this new covenant?

It is not the nation of natural Israel. Jesus explained that the privilege that nation had enjoyed would be granted to another nation. This turned out to be “the Israel of God,” made up of Christians anointed with holy spirit.

So the old covenant was made between Jehovah and natural Israel, whereas the new covenant is made between Jehovah and spiritual Israel, with Jesus Christ as Mediator.

This shows how much Jehovah has done to solve the problem of sin. He did not lower his standard of justice. He paid the highest possible price by providing his own Son as a ransom.

But someone may wonder: “If the new covenant is made with anointed Christians, what about the Christians who hope to live forever on the earth?”

That brings us to the third point: Christians who are not part of spiritual Israel also benefit from the new covenant.

Isaiah had prophesied that people who did not belong directly to Israel could join themselves to Jehovah and benefit from his arrangements.

Isaiah 56:6, 7

“And the foreigners who join themselves to Jehovah to minister to him and to love the name of Jehovah, in order to become his servants, all who keep the Sabbath so as not to profane it and who hold fast to my covenant, I will also bring them to my holy mountain and make them rejoice inside my house of prayer. […] For my house will be called […] a house of prayer for all the peoples.”

Christians with an earthly hope are not participants in the new covenant. However, they are beneficiaries of it. They hold fast to this arrangement and submit to it.

Thanks to the new covenant and to Jesus’ sacrifice, they too can enjoy a good relationship with Jehovah, receive forgiveness of their sins, and have the hope of living forever under God’s Kingdom.

That is why the new covenant does not benefit only a small group. Its effects reach an enormous number of people who love Jehovah and exercise faith in Christ’s sacrifice.

And here we find a very personal lesson for all of us.

Jehovah said: “I will no longer remember their sin.” Once he forgives a repentant person, he does not keep bringing up again and again what the person did.

Do we imitate that way of acting?

Perhaps someone offended us and later sincerely apologized. We told the person: “I forgive you.” But months later, during an argument, we bring up what happened again. If we do that, we are really not fully imitating Jehovah.

This can apply to small mistakes between friends or brothers and sisters, but also to far more painful situations. Forgiving does not always mean that the emotions disappear immediately or that we have to pretend that nothing happened. Some wounds need time to heal.

However, if we have decided to forgive a repentant person, we should not constantly use his mistake as a weapon against him.

Think of how reassuring it is to know that Jehovah does not do that with us. We all make mistakes. Perhaps there are even sins from the past that still make us feel ashamed. But if we have sincerely repented and Jehovah has forgiven us on the basis of Christ’s sacrifice, we do not have to think that he keeps constantly reminding us of that mistake.

The new covenant therefore teaches us a great deal about Jehovah. It shows us his justice, because he did not overlook sin. It shows us his love, because he provided the sacrifice of his Son. And it shows us his mercy, because he is willing to forgive in a true and lasting way.

The Law covenant fulfilled its purpose, but something better was needed. Jehovah promised that “new covenant,” he made it possible by means of Jesus’ blood, and he allowed both anointed Christians and those with an earthly hope to receive great benefits.

So let us deeply appreciate this arrangement. And each time we think of Jehovah’s words, “I will no longer remember their sin,” let us make an effort to imitate his mercy and to forgive from the heart those who sincerely repent.

In that way we will show how grateful we are that Jehovah has fulfilled this wonderful promise: “I will make a new covenant.”