(2Co 3:12) “Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: (13) And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:”  To hide the glory which accompanied the giving of the Law, is used by the Holy Spirit as a symbol of man’s lack of understanding as to its purpose. What a contrast with the simplicity of the gospel message!

(2Co 3:11) “For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.”  Just as the law was glorious in that it came from the very being, reflection, of God, so is grace and mercy in salvation, for it comes from God the Son. Glory!

 (2Co 3:10) “For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.”  There is no comparison to that which would end (the law – actions of the flesh trying to obey) to that which will endure forever (the perfect completion of that law by Jesus; and through the resurrection its placement upon repentant sinners through faith and grace).

(2Co 3:8) “How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? (9)  For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.”  If that which was used to reveal our sin was glorious (for it was perfect in standard), then certainly righteousness obtained by grace is glorious in comparison, for it comes through the perfect life and blood of Christ! Praise  Him!

 (2Co 3:7) “But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:”  “Which glory was to be done away”, yes, speaks of Moses’ death; but it also speaks of the end of the law to those “in” Christ Jesus. The Lord Jesus fulfilled the law perfectly. He then as our substitute took our judgment (death) for breaking that same law. The saved now live by grace and mercy received from our Holy Lord.

(2Co 3:7) “But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:”  Moses wore for the rest of his life the reflected glory of God, It was the picture of the glory of the law, for its glory is the reflection of holiness, the perfection of the Person Who give it.

(2Co 3:7) “But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:”  “ministration of death”: the standard of which sinful man cannot reach. Therefore death, physical, spiritual, and eternal is the sentence upon each of us. Only repentance of life and faith in Jesus’ blood can save us from such a sentence.

(2Co 3:6) “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.”   The “letter killeth” – period.  It is so important to understand fully that salvation was never, and can never even “in” salvation give or keep it. The standard is not “try”. The standard is “keep without fail” (James 2:10). It is all of God; the blood of the sinless Jesus that covers our sin.

(2Co 3:6) “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.”   The New Testament is the name of the new “will” brought about by the death of the will-maker, the Lord Jesus Christ. He died paying our sin debt of death. The inheritance is eternal life, spiritual life – spirit life, “the spirit giveth life”. By the way, Jesus rose again alive from the dead!

(2Co 3:6) “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.”  The “letter” could be referring to the Old Testament, the Law, of which men stumbled over. You see, instead of seeing the law was meant to reveal to hearts their sinfulness and thus turn to the sacrifice; men instead sought to merit eternal life through their keeping the letter (Rom 3:19-25).