Hebrews 8:9, within the context of the New Testament, is part of a larger argument about the new covenant that God has established through Jesus Christ, contrasting it with the old covenant made with the ancestors of the Israelites when He led them out of Egypt. The verse says: “Not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not continue in my covenant, and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord.”

It is important to understand that this passage, and the book of Hebrews as a whole, seeks to explain the transition from the old covenant, which was based on the Law given to Moses, to the new covenant, established by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The mention of God showing “no concern” is a reference to the consequences of the Israelites’ disobedience and unfaithfulness under the old covenant, not a statement of God abandoning His people forever.

The overarching message of the Bible, including both the Old and New Testaments, is one of God’s persistent faithfulness to His people, even when they are unfaithful. The new covenant, as described in Hebrews, is seen as a fulfillment of God’s promise to establish a deeper, more intimate relationship with His people, not just the Jews but all who would come to believe in Jesus Christ. “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” (Hebrews 8:10, quoting Jeremiah 31:33).

Therefore, Hebrews 8:9 should not be interpreted as God abandoning the Jewish people, but rather as highlighting the transition to a new covenant in which the relationship between God and His people is based not on adherence to the letter of the Law, but on the transforming work of the Spirit, made possible through Christ. God’s faithfulness and commitment to His people, including the Jews, remains steadfast throughout the scriptures.

The unity and consistency of God’s message throughout the Scriptures, from the Old Testament to the New Testament, reflect His unchanging nature and eternal truths. The books of Jeremiah and Hebrews, while addressing different audiences and circumstances, both carry the heart of God’s message to His people.

In Jeremiah, God speaks to the Jewish people about their covenant with Him, emphasizing obedience, faithfulness, and the consequences of their actions. Jeremiah 31:33 foretells a new covenant, saying, “But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

Hebrews, while written to a Jewish-Christian audience, reiterates and expands upon the idea of a new covenant through Jesus Christ. Hebrews 8:10, quoting Jeremiah 31:33, reaffirms God’s promise: “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.”

This continuity shows that the heart of God’s message remains the same: a desire for a personal, transformative relationship with His people. The transition from the old covenant, centered on the law and external obedience, to the new covenant, focused on internal transformation and faith in Christ, does not signify a change in God’s character or truth but rather the unfolding of His redemptive plan for humanity. God’s essence and truth are eternal, transcending time and human understanding. Through both Jeremiah and Hebrews, God invites His people into a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him, marked by a law written not on tablets of stone but on the hearts of His people.