Many false prophets have lied to us by trying to convince us that the Old Covenant represents the Ten Commandments, and that it is therefore done away. This is the same type of lie they give us when they try to convince us by the way scripture sounds that the Seal of God is the Holy Spirit, and not the Sabbath, the compliance of which is the completion of the acknowledgement of the commandments in the believer, resulting in holiness. Here is an example of how, by the way scripture sounds, false prophets can buffalo you:

Deuteronomy 4:13 And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.

Most every apostate we know of uses this scripture which sounds conclusively that the Old Covenant given at Sinai is the Ten Commandments. This however, when studied, is not true.

A covenant is not a law. When a refugee wants to seek refuge in the United States, he is not confronted with the Immigration Covenant of the United States. He is faced with the immigration laws of the United States. A covenant is not a law, but is an agreement or like a contract. Something of value is being exchanged where typically one hand washes the other.

In the covenants God made with man, He offered Himself at infinite sacrifice to save man. The covenants referred to for salvation were typically statements of that salvation and thence what man must do, or what is his part in order to receive that salvation to be or already purchased in his behalf. If God did not provide the infinite sacrifice, it would not matter how perfectly a man can keep the commandments thereafter. Salvation can never be his. He has sinned and has become a debtor to the universe. Christ then offered Himself a sacrifice. From that time Christ has made statements of the fact that the keys of heaven and hell are now His and in His power. He can thence choose who would be saved or lost by applying His sacrifice to the account of whomsoever He wills. Christ can save Al Capone and Adolf Hitler if He chooses.

Christ however has delineated in the covenants the kinds of individuals He will apply His salvation to. He shows through the scriptures, that He has an obligation to the universe to make sure that sin does not return the second time. He therefore lays out for man what is his duties to perform--not that these duties will save him, but that Christ delineates who He will accept in His kingdom. He wants it to be a kingdom where people will not fall into trouble again that would jeopardize the happiness of the universe once more, and that required the sacrifice of a Saviour.

A covenant is therefore not a law, but part of it is usually based upon principles or conditions: precepts that are laid down and agreed to. Based upon the compliance or rejection of those principles, as with any contract, the benefits of it can be forfeited. Christ has shown mankind how to attain those benefits, and has bound Himself so that if man does his part, Christ will definitely provide the benefits He has won for the human race. The covenants are therefore not the law although they can be based on the law. The scripture says:

Exodus 34:27 And the LORD said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel.

The words, "after the tenor of these words" helps to show that a covenant is not a law, but a law can be part of what a covenant is based upon. There are two parties in the agreement: God, and man. God has offered Himself, and thence in the covenants, God shows man what he is to do to please the Lord and receive the benefits of salvation under God's discretion and judgment. Man is the underdog, for man is the one in trouble. Man therefore must not seek for loopholes. He therefore listens intently to please the one who makes infinite sacrifice for his recovery.

Here is another scripture that gives some conclusiveness to the fact that a covenant is not a law. Many who attack the law quote Hebrews 8:6, 7 to us in order to tell us that the Old Covenant, given by Mt. Sinai is faulty and done away with. That portion of scripture says:

6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. -- Hebrews 8:6, 7

According to what most are saying, the Covenant mentioned here is the Ten Commandments.  Hebrews here then claims that the covenant was faulty.  Yet if the Ten Commandments are the covenant, how come Psalms 19:7, 8 says:

7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. -- Psalm 19:7, 8

Here we are getting to see that we are talking about different things.

Judaism is often castigated by Christians who don't know what they're talking about.  Paul, in showing the people that the new Christian religion encompassing the Gentiles was a means whereby all actually receive the benefits of Judaism today, says regarding the Jews:

Rom. 9:3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises.

Notice the elements presented here. The scripture says, "to whom pertaineth:

1. the adoption,

2. and the glory,

3. and the covenants,

4. AND THE GIVING OF THE LAW,

5. and the service of God,

6. and the promises.

These entities are distinctly separated in Paul's numeration of the benefits of Judaism Christ had already told the world is salvation. Christ already told us that salvation is of the Jews to the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:22). Just this declaration is contrary to the false gospel so many false prophets among us are determined that we must submit to.