Yes ... I call it the Mother of them all, why? Because it is the central doctrinal error around which all other WT errors revolve. It involves slick deception with absolute ramifications. So, let’s unmask it shall we? Here it is:
and I make a covenant with you just as my Father has made a covenant with me, for a kingdom. - Luke 22: 28 according to the New World Translation
When a Jehovah’s Witness uses the term “New Covenant” (they generally refuse to use the term New Testament), in their mind they think they are talking about some sort of contractual agreement between Jesus and his disciples for rulership positions. When an informed Christian uses the term New Covenant he is merely talking about the contractual agreement contained throughout the whole of the New Testament for the forgiveness of sins. How could people use the same language and have totally different meanings attached to their words which are the same?
Well, this of course is very simple to achieve with humans. It was comically played out with the famous Abbott and Costello gig: “Who’s on First”. If people have in mind different definitions using the same words while conversing, then actual communication can be stopped, even while both sides may talk for hours.
First, readers need to know that the NT English biblical words "Testament" and "Covenant" mean the exact same thing – a contract.
Now, some brief background information about the Old Testament (Contract):
God’s response to the problem of evil is to leave
Man’s ability to choose intact but at the same time
punish wrong moral choices (Isaiah 26:21). God has
done this by sometimes allowing the punishment of
morally innocent (animals) in place of the guilty
one, and at other times by punishing the sinner
himself.
…without shedding of blood is no remission. -
Hebrews 9: 22
Under the old Law Covenant mediated by Moses, a
provision was made whereby a person's sins could
be transferred onto a sinless animal, first by the
priest and then by the sinner by laying their hands on
its head:
And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of
the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities
of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions
in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the
goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit
man into the wilderness: - Levet:16:21
And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the
heads of the bullocks: and thou shalt offer the one
for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering,
unto the LORD, to make an atonement for the
Levites. - Numbers 8:12
Then, the animal was slaughtered in place of the
sinner. The sentence of death was still carried out
according to the LAW. However, this process of
animal substitution had to be repeated because the
sinless animal, while suffering the death sentence for
the guilty person, could not thereafter impart
PERFECT LIFE to the sinner, making future sin
inevitable.
So, now that we know what the Covenant regarding Animal Sacrifices was for in the Old Testament (and it wasn't just for a "sweet smelling odor"), it is easy to see what the New Testament or Covenant was for:
Matthew 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
Romans 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Matthew 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Mark 14:24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.
Luke 22:20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
Hebrews 9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
The bible goes on and on about this topic, but the above scriptures should suffice. The evidence that the New Covenant was for the forgiveness of sins is unassailable. Instead of an animal substitue for the offender, God himself in the personage of Jesus took the death sentence in our place.
Who being the .... the express image of his person ... had by himself purged our sins - Hebrews 1:3 KJV
Now, what believer in the God of the bible would want to turn down an invitation to get their sins forgiven? No one would if the choice is plainly pointed out to them like that.
So, the Watchtower changes the meaning of "covenant for remission of sins" to mean a “covenant for a kingdom”. Since, most people don’t really feel like a King fit for a high position, many just go with the Watchtower explanation that the New Covenant isn’t really meant for them since they don't really feel like kingly materia. So, most just go ahead and reject it; thereby forfeiting their opportunity to have their sins forgiven. It is very easy to manipulate people.
But what about that scripture from the New World Translation? Doesn’t the bible plainly say that Jesus was making a covenant with his disciples for a kingdom?
No. It does not. Here is what that scripture actually says before our redactors sliced and diced it:
Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; - Luke 22: 28-29 - KJV
This is a far cry from the WT’s:
and I make a covenant with you just as my Father has made a covenant with me, for a kingdom. – NWT
There is simply no word for covenant there. Once disciples were in a covenant relationship with Jesus for the remission of sins, THEN they receive various appointments as members of God’s family.
When the Watchtower reaches its limit in how far they feel they can change the scriptures, they employ changing the definitions to acheive the same objective..... inducing members to disobey God, even while they try very hard to obey God in other less important matters:
After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye - 1 Corinthians 11:25
The “great crowd” of Jehovah’s Witnesses disobey this command: "this do ye" to their own eternal demise.
Please tell every Jehovah’s Witness you meet about the wonderful contract for the “remission of sins" that Jesus offered and how the "Covenant for a Kingdom" WT doctrine is nothing but a lie from the pits of hell, and the mother of all Watchtower error.
Merry Christmas