Common Misconceptions about Christianity.

[SoS]

Testament [N]

occurs twelve times in the New Testament ( Hebrews 9:15 , etc.) as the rendering of the Gr. diatheke, which is twenty times rendered "covenant" in the Authorized Version, and always so in the Revised Version. The Vulgate translates incorrectly by testamentum, whence the names "Old" and "New Testament," by which we now designate the two sections into which the Bible is divided. (See BIBLE .)

Testament

A covenant; an agreement.

For where a TESTAMENT is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a TESTAMENT is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. Whereupon neither the first TESTAMENT was dedicated without blood. ( Hebrews 9:16-18 )

Jesus did give us a new commandment and covenant. The new commandment doesn't necessarily negate all the old commandments, but it is the "higher law". An example of the higher law is "let him who is without sin cast the first stone". Rather than the 3016 laws of the Talmud, Jesus said "be perfect like god". Of course, perfection is not possible. The perfection he meant was a better than human nature. It's widely believed the first (smashed) tablet given to Moses was something like the higher law. But, the people weren't worthy of it, so they were given laws worthy of children. The implication is that the higher law can render the lower law unnecessary.