At Mt. Sinai the Lord wrote His laws on tables of stone (Deut. 4:13), and in a book (ch. 31:24, 26). He intended that these laws should also be written on the hearts of the people. But the Israelites were content to regard these statutes simply as an external code and their observance a matter of outward compliance. God did not intend that His laws should be thus regarded. He offered His people the experience of a new heart (see on Eze. 36:26), but they were content with only an external religion.

 Under the new covenant men’s hearts and minds are changed (see on Rom. 12:2; 2 Cor. 5:17). Men do right, not by their own strength, but because Christ dwells in the heart, living out His life in the believer (see on Gal. 2:20). They are born of the Spirit and bear the fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22, 23). The change can be effected only by divine power. Only God can “put” His law in the hearts of His followers, though, of course, not without man’s consent and cooperation (Rev. 22:17; cf. MB 142).

 This is the objective of all God’s covenants (cf. Ex. 6:7). God will have His rightful place, and the people will acknowledge Him as their God.