II. THE GOSPEL IS SUPERIOR IN ITS ENDURANCE
For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious, verse 11. The Mosaic law was never intended to endure. It had a limited appearance. It was a shadow of good things to come. Shadows disappear when the light comes. On the other hand, the gospel is that which remaineth, that is, endureth, abideth. For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect, Hebrews 10:1.
1. The gospel is immutable. It will never be superseded by any other system or economy. God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, Hebrews 1:1-2. No fuller revelation can be made that under the gospel. This message will be preached to the end of all things. This was important for the Judaising elements in the church to know. The gospel, not the Mosaic dispensation was permanent one.
2. The results of the gospel are full. They do not want in anything. They are complete in themselves, not requiring any addition. It is like the miracle of the loaves and fishes, there was an abundant supply. I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly, John 10:10. Moses had to give way to Joshua who led the people into the promised land. Under the gospel we are under the rule of our Joshua, event he Lord Jesus.
III. THE GOSPEL IS SUPERIOR IN GLORY
1. The law was glorious. The glory of the Lord, unseen since the beginning of the world attended its proclamation. And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly, Exodus 19:18. And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off, Exodus 20:18.
The glory of the Lord attended its ministrations. Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle, Exodus 40:34. Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house. And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD’S house, 2 Chronicles 7:1-2.
The glory of the Lord rested upon Moses. The children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance, verse 7.
2. The gospel is more glorious. The glory of the gospel is seen in the fulness of grace it reveals. Eph 1:7, 18. Courting of Rebekah, Gen 24:53.
The glory of the gospel is seen in the transformations it accomplishes. Rom 8:29; Col 3:9-10. The law could never work such glory in the soul. The glory on the face of Moses faded and was short-lived. The glory of the gospel is increasing and eternal.