10 For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels.
Verses 10 and 11 show that the New Covenant completely eclipsed the splendor of the Old Covenant. The greater glory of the permanent New Covenant rendered inoperative the temporary glory of the Old Covenant of Law. The ministry of the Messiah replaced the ministry of Moses.
10 For
The “for” here explains why the ministry of righteousness is superior to the ministry of condemnation.
even what was made glorious
“What was made glorious” here is the Mosaic Law.
had no glory in this respect,
Moses’ Law and ministry had no glory in one respect: It had no glory in comparison to New Covenant ministry.
because of the glory that excels [surpasses].
What was glorified by the Law has not been gloried in one particular. The glory of the Law to define sin is dim now that the glory of grace has arrived. Grace is a super-glory concept (Ro 5:20). The Law served its fundamental purpose to define sin, but now there is stark clarity of God’s grace in Christ. The New Covenant minimizes the Old Covenant in this respect.
PRINCIPLE:
The super-glory of grace transcends the attempt to live the Christian life by legalism.
APPLICATION:
Moses’ veil hid not the meaning of Law but rather obscured the effective application of it to experience (1 Co 2:14). Once the veil was lifted, personal transformation occurred by beholding the glory of the Lord (2 Co 3:18). Legalism misapplies the Bible by emphasizing human merit rather than the provision of God. Legalism leaves the Bible as a “letter” bereft of the Holy Spirit’s power. The Mosaic Law had a diminished glory in comparison with the New Covenant and the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Note how God did away with the Law as a means of salvation or sanctification: Jn 1:17; 7:19; Ac 13:38-39; Ro 3:20; 7:4, 6, 7; 8:3; 10:4; Ga 2:16, 19, 21; 3:10, 21; Eph 2:15; Co 2:14; He 7:11-12, 18-19; 8:7; 9:9-10; 10:1. There is nothing wrong with the Law; the problem lies in those who cannot comply with the Law.
