The New Law Written on the Heart

… concerning his own coming, which took place in this world with flesh: “In that time, says the Lord, I will put my laws into their mind, and I will write them on their hearts” (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10). The all-wise Paul rightly understood this too, and writes, saying to those who had received it, “You are our letter, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God” (2 Corinthians 3:2-3).

So, “Hear me,” he says, that is, receive my words, and do not become unruly as Israel did, clinging to the oldness of the letter of the Law and seeing nothing beyond the types. The commandment given through Moses was laid down “until the time of reformation,” he says (Hebrews 9:10). But since the time of the incarnation is no longer awaited, but is already here, let the shadow give way to the truth.

“Hear me, then, my people” (Isaiah 51:4). In saying “my people,” he holds out to them the spiritual kinship granted to them in due time. By this too, I think, he puts them to shame, and makes them more eager to accept the word that comes from him.

He calls not only those who belong among the peoples, but kings along with them, so that you may understand the rulers, that is, the leaders of the peoples. For many were brought to this rank from the multitude of believers, and the divine disciples were their firstfruits. Then those who followed after them in their footsteps were given the name of kingship, since they were rich in the name of kingship and were also appointed to lead the peoples.

And so, as if from very great joy, they lift up songs of thanksgiving to God, saying, “He subjected peoples to us, and nations under our feet” (Psalm 47:3). The divine Psalmist also sings of them: “The rulers of the peoples were gathered together with the God of Abraham” (Psalm 47:9).

“O peoples and kings,” he says, “hear me and give ear,” and learn what is promised for the time to come. “A law will go out from me, and my judgment for a light of the nations” (Isaiah 51:4).

Here he calls the divine Gospel proclamation a law. For the new and saving decree is of another kind, as it were; yet it is, as it were, a change of the old law for the better, and a passing over of the types, which have run their course, into the truth. So Christ said, “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For I tell you, not one iota or one stroke will pass from the Law until all things take place” (Matthew 5:17-18).

But the law in letters was given through Moses, while the saving proclamation, that is, the Gospel, went out through Christ (compare John 1:17). For it was fitting that Moses should become the minister of the shadow and the type, as it seems, of knowledge and of true worship …