Jeremiah 31:34 gives, as the basis of its promise of a new covenant with the house of Israel and
house of Judah, this pledge, For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no
more. But one must inquire how Israel`s sin will be removed forever and for all of God`s
people. Anticipating the argument from Hebrews, that the sacrifice of bulls and goats cannot
actually and efficaciously take away sin, how then would God lead his people to think that this
forgiveness, in such full and final way, can occur? Surely, the answer is found in the Suffering
Servant Isaiah presents, who would bear our griefs and sorrows and have laid on him the iniquity
of us all (Isa 53:4-6). But clearly, this One who will make an offering for sin (53:10) and bear
the sin of many (53:12) is none other than man of sorrows who is despised and rejected by
others (53:3). The One who will provide the basis for the realization of new covenant
forgiveness is this man.
Luke`s account of the last supper of Jesus with his disciples confirms this understanding.
and handed it to his disciples, saying, This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in
my blood (Luke 22:21; cf. 1 Cor. 11:25). And so we see, this man Jesus, by his broken body
and shed blood, is the One through whom the new covenant is inaugurated and its promised
forgiveness realized. Our Savior, then, must be this man of sorrows.
Sixth, the Savior who would come must come as prophet like unto Moses, as predicted
you shall listen. Clearly, then, this One who comes as a prophet like Moses must be male.
Even though some of Israel`s prophetic voices were female, most were male, yet this prophet, the
One like unto Moses, must be a man.
The apostle Peter understands this promise from the Lord through Moses to be fulfilled in
accounts for this miracle by appeal to the power of Christ, experienced by faith in him. And
Christ, says Peter, is the One spoken of by the mouth of the holy prophets, for Moses said,
explains Peter, The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You
shall listen to him in whatever he tells you` (Acts 3:22). The prophet like unto Moses, then,
promised by Moses himself and fulfilled in Christ, must have been a man.
Seventh, our new and permanent High Priest, whose office is secured as sins are atoned
some prophetesses (i.e., female prophets) in Israel, there simply were no female priests. Aaron
and his sons, not daughters, were the priests of Israel. And so, one would expect that the final
and permanent High Priest, who makes atonement once for all, would be a man. And so it is.
The High Priest, Jesus, however, comes not in the Aaronic or Levitical line of priests but
it is made explicit that this Priest is the Son spoken of in chapter one. Concerning Christ, we
read: He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and