2 Corinthians 3:7-13
7 But if the ministry of death, engraved in letters on stones, came with glory so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was,
8 how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory?
9 For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness excel in glory.
10 For indeed what had glory in this case has no glory, because of the glory that surpasses it.
11 For if that which fades away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.
12 Therefore, having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech,
13 and we are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not stare at the end of what was fading away.
The Glory of Serving the New Covenant
The background in the Exodus
In the previous passage, Paul asserted that he was an apostle who served the New Covenant. On that basis, in today’s passage he speaks of the glory of serving the New Covenant. When I read this passage, my heart trembles with overwhelming emotion. In order to understand the content, it is necessary to know the background in the book of Exodus (Paul wrote this passage assuming that the Christians in Corinth were familiar with the content of the Old Testament. Let us remember that without a knowledge of the Old Testament, we cannot fully understand the New Testament). (1) Moses received the Ten Commandments written on tablets of stone at Mount Sinai. (2) When Moses came down from Mount Sinai after receiving the Law, his face was shining (Ex. 34:29-30). (3) However, Moses put a veil over his shining face (Ex. 34:33). This was because he did not want the people to see the radiance fading away.
Three contrasts
Against the background of these events in the book of Exodus, Paul explains how much more glorious the ministry of the New Covenant is compared with the ministry of the Old Covenant. Here, there are three contrasts. (1) The ministry of Moses was one that condemned people as sinners and pronounced death upon them through the provisions of the Law (the Ten Commandments) engraved on stone. In contrast, the ministry of the New Covenant is the ministry of the Spirit, a ministry that justifies people and gives them life. (2) As can be seen from the fact that the radiance on Moses’ face faded away, the glory of the Old Covenant was temporary. In contrast, the glory of the New Covenant is enduring. (3) The ministry of Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the fading glory would not be seen, was passive. In contrast, the disciples of Christ who serve the New Covenant do not do anything passive such as putting a veil over something. The apostles of the New Covenant age serve proactively and boldly in all things. Proclaiming the message of the gospel is such a glorious ministry. Have you joyfully received that glorious calling? Let us meditate on this.
Today's prayer
Father God of Jesus Christ, proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ is a glorious ministry. Please strengthen me so that I may continue in a ministry that has eternal value. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.