7 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 10 For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. 11 For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious. 12 Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech—13 unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Commentary
Vs. 7-9 "But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.
The Apostle Paul now draws a demarcation line between the law given through Moses, which Paul calls here the ministry of death, and the ministry of the Spirit, which in practice is our being led by the Spirit of God, and thus living by the fruits of the Spirit of God, against such there is no law (see Gal. 5:16-23). Now the reason the Apostle Paul calls the law "the ministry of death" is that the law cannot justify anyone in the sight of God by their own obedience to it. The law only shows us all what we have not done, or what we have done wrong, and thus the law will only condemn those who seek salvation through it (Gal. 3:10-14; James 2:10). Thus there is no hope found in the law, because the law has no provisions for sinful and imperfect people, other than providing a animal sacrifice by which it's shed blood would temporally cover ones transgressions so that they could remain in the Old Covenant relationship with God through it. Thus there is no hope found in the law, because there is no way to find lasting righteousness or peace with God through it, there is just the letter of the law which condemns us every time we fail to obey it. The law then not only shows us our own sinfulness, it also and most profoundly reveals to us our own helplessness. Now the law has a glory, as the Apostle Paul recalls here, for when Moses received the law written on the stones by the finger of God on Mount Sinai, and afterward he came down from the mountain his face shone so bright that the children of Israel could not look at him. Now this glory of God that Moses so readily revealed to them then, and later revealed when he met with God in the Tabernacle did not remain, for his face shown for a time, and in time it returned to it's normal state (see Exodus 34:29-35). Thus not even that righteous man Moses when exposed to Glory of God could keep that glory in himself, for by it departing from him God was revealing that the covenant that was being entrusted to him would not be the means of our eternal redemption and change. It was temporary, it revealed the Holy Character and Nature and Requirements of God, which both the Law, and Israel's long history reveals, no mere mortal man has, or can fulfill (Rom 3:23), and so Christ came to do and fulfill all, that we could never have done (Matt. 5:17; Luke 24:44; John 19:30; Acts 3:18-26 etc.). And so the glory of God that shone on Moses face was temporary, because no eternal salvation or permanent change comes to us through Moses or the law. Thus the laws glory was temporary, for all that is in the law was a mere foreshadow of the good things to come (Heb. 9:11-15; 10:1-18 etc.). Therefore in light of all these things the Apostle Paul rhetorically asks us all here, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. vs. 8-9
Therefore if that temporary covenant, the Old Covenant, the Law, or the Law of Moses as people often refer to it, which is represented here to us by the Ten Commandments, and which is here called the "ministry of death and condemnation" had glory, how will the ministry of the Spirit not be so much more glorious. For it is the Spirit that brings everlasting life to us all who believe In Christ. And thus brings and effects the regeneration and renewal of our persons and lives by the Spirit of God dwelling inside each and every one of us who believe In Christ. Therefore the ministry of the Spirit is also called the ministry of righteousness, because we are not only being sanctified by His presence inside of us, but we are also led being by Him to live righteous lives by His transforming work in our persons and lives. It's just a whole better deal to have His Person, Presence and Power at work in and through our lives, which we have in our New Covenant relationship with God through Christ, then be left to our own abilities and strengths to try to keep the commandments of God.
Vs. 10-11 10 For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. 11 For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.
And so, though the law was made glorious for a season, it had no glory in the regards to it's permanence, for it's expressed purpose was to expose our sinful condition, and thus reveal to us all are inability to redeem ourselves from our sins and transgressions, and ultimately the death that comes through sin. And so the Old Covenant was given till the Promised Seed would come and do for us all what we could never do for ourselves (Gal 3:19-25). Therefore if the law given though Moses had a glory, how much more will the New Covenant which God's own Son Jesus Christ enacted by His death on the cross, and His Resurrection from the dead, so that all who believe in Him will have the glory of God indwelling them forever.
Vs. 12-14 12 Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech—13 unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ.
Therefore if that temporary covenant, the Old Covenant, the Law, or the Law of Moses as people often refer to it, which is represented here to us by the Ten Commandments, and which is here called the "ministry of death and condemnation" had glory, how will the ministry of the Spirit not be so much more glorious. For it is the Spirit that brings everlasting life to us all who believe In Christ. And thus brings and effects the regeneration and renewal of our persons and lives by the Spirit of God dwelling inside each and every one of us who believe In Christ. Therefore the ministry of the Spirit is also called the ministry of righteousness, because we are not only being sanctified by His presence inside of us, but we are also led being by Him to live righteous lives by His transforming work in our persons and lives. It's just a whole better deal to have His Person, Presence and Power at work in and through our lives, which we have in our New Covenant relationship with God through Christ, then be left to our own abilities and strengths to try to keep the commandments of God.
Vs. 10-11 10 For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. 11 For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.
And so, though the law was made glorious for a season, it had no glory in the regards to it's permanence, for it's expressed purpose was to expose our sinful condition, and thus reveal to us all are inability to redeem ourselves from our sins and transgressions, and ultimately the death that comes through sin. And so the Old Covenant was given till the Promised Seed would come and do for us all what we could never do for ourselves (Gal 3:19-25). Therefore if the law given though Moses had a glory, how much more will the New Covenant which God's own Son Jesus Christ enacted by His death on the cross, and His Resurrection from the dead, so that all who believe in Him will have the glory of God indwelling them forever.
Vs. 12-14 12 Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech—13 unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ.
Therefore like the Apostle Paul (we all who believe in Christ) also have such a surpassing hope because we know that through the blood of Christ we have now been redeemed from all our sins and transgressions, the Old Covenant then can never again be used in such a way so as to condemn us. And so we rest in the promises of God given us through the New Covenant, which again the Lord Jesus Christ enacted with His broken body and shed blood by which He has reconciled us who with God (Matt. 26:26-29; 2 Cor 5:21). And thus we use boldness of speech in our declaring the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, both Jews and Gentiles (see Rom 1:16-17). So unlike Moses, who as the Apostle Paul reveals here, veiled his face so that the glory which shone upon him would not be seen fading away as the Israelites looked on him (vs. 13). The Apostle Paul now states that the Old Covenant Israelites minds were blinded to this reality; that is the temporary nature of the Old Covenant, (something which will remain until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in, see Rom 11:25-27). And so the Apostle Paul takes the veil and uses it again, but this time as a metaphor for this spiritual blindness that currently resides on the Jews, and all who hold fast to Old Covenant; that is the Old Testament as the Covenant through which their redemption will come. And so the Apostle says, "For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ." And that is foundational to not only understanding the Scriptures, but becoming a disciple of Christ, to believe and thus receive the Lord Jesus Christ so that the Spirit and glory of God through Christ might reside with you and be in you forever.
Vs. 15-16 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
And so the Apostle Paul says that even to this day, meaning not just his own time, but our day as well, a veil lies on their heart, because they refuse to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Scriptures reveal Jesus to be: God's Promised Son, Savior, and Messiah of not only the Jews, but also of the Gentiles (Isaiah 42:6; 49:6; Acts 13:47). Nevertheless as the Apostle Paul also makes clear, when anyone turns to the Lord Jesus Christ, and not just the Scriptures (consider John 5:39-47), the veil is taken away.
Vs. 17 "Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."
The fact that the Lord is Spirit indicates that the ministry of the Spirit is indeed the ministry of the Lord, especially as this relates to our receiving and understanding His Word from Him. Now the second half of the passage which states "that where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." Indicates a foundational distinction between the Old and New Covenants. For the Old Covenant strictly regulated seemingly everything, while in the New Covenant which is given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ and ministered to us by the Spirit of God we have great liberty in just about everything. Food, drink, clothing, days, holy days, and all things "religious", you and I are free to observe and not observe these things as we see fit. Same with our jobs, careers, social contacts, hobbies, sports activities, volunteering, and all manner of interests and pursuits, you and I are at liberty to do and pursue these things as we see fit. No believer then is ever to stand as another believers "conscience" in regards to any non-moral activity, for where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty!
Vs. 18 "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."
And so it is we all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ with unveiled face not only see the Lord Jesus Christ in all His glory in the Scriptures, but we ourselves also are being transformed into that glory. And so we see this progressive transformation that is taken place in our persons and lives as we are being transformed from one glory to another. For down here we bear the moral image of God; which is greatly heightened and improved with the Lord Jesus Christ indwelling us and transforming our persons by His Spirit; but there we shall bear the full glory of the Lord as He now is in His glorified state. And so what is being stated here is a descriptive metaphor of the ongoing sanctification and thus transformation of our persons, which finds fulfillment with the complete glorification of us with our Lord and Savior when we are with Him forever in His glorified state.
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.
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