To explain this, we need to start with Jeremiah 31:31

“Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a NEW covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:”

The Hebrew word here for “new” in new covenant means refreshed, renewed as an abstract concept, but as a noun it is the same word used for the new moon which is sighted every month to determine the start of the Jewish calendar and when feast days occur.

When we look at Hebrews 8:13 in the NIV “By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.”

Unfortunately, this is not the same message that the original writer of Hebrews was trying to convey. The English word “obsolete” does not truly fit the narrative in this context.

Funk & Wagnall’s definition of obsolete is: Something that has gone out of use, as a word of phase, or a fashion – like a discarded type or fashion.

But is this truly the case? Let’s investigate as Bereans should.

A more literal translation of this we find in the King James Version.

“In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.”

Obsolete vs Waxeth Old

In the KJV we see the term waxeth old. It is very interesting that the verb tense is one of continuing action, not accomplished action.

Take for example the words looketh and looked. In modern day English looketh would be “looks” as in “one who looks upon a woman” that is continuing action. Looked as in “Looked upon a woman” would be accomplished action.

So why use waxeth old?

In Hebrews 8:8 the writer of Hebrews is quoting Jeremiah 31:31, so in this context, the writer is continuing the use of the waning and waxing of the moon as a metaphor in referring to new and old. The same as Jeremiah did by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in Jeremiah 31:31.

We know the moon does not go away and is no more. It is always there. Likewise, the Law does not go away and is no more. Only our relationship to the Law has changed.

In the old covenant, the one that is waxeth old and is getting ready to disappear, there we had to obey the Law by obligation against our sinful fleshly nature.

In the new covenant we delight to obey God and His Law according to our spiritual nature, because the Law has now been written on the tablets of our hearts. This is what happens when we are transformed by the new birth. Being born again unto Christ.

The old covenant is not obsolete. Obsolete is the incorrect term to use in this context.

Jesus says in Matthew 5:17-18 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Then, verse 19 comes with a stern warning, especially to pastors and teachers of the modern day, who only preach on grace and that we are free to do as we please, but never teaches anything about sanctification.

19Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Now we can rejoice with the psalmist in Psalms 40:8 “I delight to do thy will, O my God: Yea, thy law is within my heart.”