Lesson #1 The Old and New Covenant

This lesson was so interesting to me because it was the bridge between the Old and New Testaments.  I really liked going from the study of one book to the other and am looking forward to greater insights because of what I've learned and come to love in the Old Testament.

Here are some interesting things to know about during the 400 years between the Old and New Testaments:

• The "true Jews" have been dwindled down to a smaller group since many Jews stayed in Babylon to maintain their established jobs and integrated families.  Also, the Jewish dispersion during the Syrian and Babylonian conquests have spread out the Jews father than just Jerusalem.  Both of these things contribute to changes is doctrine and lifestyle.
• Malachi was the last prophet we know of, so the people on earth were without a prophet for 400 years.
• Greek influence became strong as Alexander the Great came into power over much of the land.  The traditional Jewish/Middle-Eastern way of life was scorned as "old-fashioned" and there was a movement to Westernize the people with obtaining and worshiping knowledge, worshipping the body through art and physical strength (gymnasium), which put spiritual leaning on the back burner. 
• Ironically, when the prophets died, the people began to mourn the loss of guidance, so gentile political leaders stepped up to either command obedience to Mosaic law or to abolish it.  Also, religious groups formed and took it upon themselves to uphold the Mosaic law especially to combat Westernization and loss of tradition. 
• One group formed from the the Scribes that had been originated by Ezra.  His intent was to make copies of and interpret scripture. The Scribes became known as scriptural authorities and held in high esteem.  During the 400 years between testaments, a group called the Sadducees formed from the Scribes.  This group was made up of aristocrats, priests and merchants - wealthy men.  They had dominion over the temple and followed the literal interpretation of the law.
• Another group called the Pharisees formed.  Members of this group came from the common people and they took a more symbolic or allegorical interpretation of the law.  They tried to take ownership of the temple ceremonies by bringing the rites in to homes.
• During the 400 years, the temple was plundered again, and rededicated some time later, which began the celebration of Hanukah as is still celebrated today.  Temple worship during this time proceeded normally with priests and Levites, though in general temple worship became more of a representation of outward rites than individual meaning.
• Writings of the prophets were translated from Hebrew to Greek, since many Israelites began to speak that language in order to operate with the convergence of civilizations. In fact, Paul uses the Greek translation to teach many of the Christians after Christ's death.
• Samaritans adopt the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament) and make their own version which contributes to the Dead Sea Scrolls of Qumran which has an influence in teaching Christians.
• Essentially, those who wish to remain true to the teaching of the prophets focus on three things: Worship in the temple (rites and sacrifices), circumcision (signifying those of Abrahamic lineage), and foods (a clear indication of belief).

I think it is good to know all this because we are moving from the Lord's Old Covenant (Testament) to his New Covenant (Testament). Jeremiah explains this change over in Jer 31:31-34:

31¶Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a ^anew^bcovenant with the house of ^cIsrael, and with the house of Judah:

32Not according to the ^acovenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:

33But this shall be the ^acovenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my ^blaw in their inward parts, and write it in their ^chearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

34And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all^aknow me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their ^biniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Paul also explains this in the context of animal sacrifice in Hebrews 9 .  I recommend reading the whole chapter, it's very enlightening, but I will mention a few verses here:

12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own ^abloodhe entered in once into the ^bholy place, having obtained eternal^credemption for us.

13For if the ^ablood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the ^bpurifying of the flesh:

14How much more shall the ^ablood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself ^bwithout ^cspot to God, ^dpurge your^econscience from dead works to serve the living God?

15And for this cause he is the ^amediator of the ^bnew ^ctestament, that by means of ^ddeath, for the redemption of the ^etransgressionsthat were under the first ^ftestament, they which are called might receive the ^gpromise of eternal ^hinheritance.

Essentially, the point of moving from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant is that, there is no more cause for symbolic sacrifice.  While animal sacrifice served it's purpose and hopefully changed the hearts of individuals, it often reverted to just the sacrifice of an animal. Now, the Savior has come, and there is now cause for personal, individual sacrifice and covenants that come with it to help us.  One of my favorite quotes from Elder Maxwell sums the subject up well:

Real, personal sacrifice never was placing an animal on the altar.  Instead, it is a willingness to put the animal in us upon the altar and letting it be consumed.