‘For if the ministration of condemnation has glory, much rather does the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.'
He compares the two covenants. The one administered condemnation. It pointed man to his sin but could do nothing further for him (although God did provide through the sacrificial system a means of atonement. But even that became trivialised - Isaiah 1:11-15). But the other actually administers righteousness. It firstly makes men righteous in the sight of God (2 Corinthians 5:21) and then it works righteousness within their hearts. But what does ‘righteousness' signify here? We do not have to take either/or. It means righteousness overall. At the moment of conversion righteousness is imputed, we are accounted righteous, and at the same time righteousness is imparted, we are made righteous by the impartation of the Spirit and the transformation of the heart. How much more glorious then is the second covenant rather than the first. It is a covenant that ministers forgiveness and mercy from the start, and which works within men the ability to succeed (Philippians 2:12-13).