What did Christ say about the law?

[Hobie]

Now the law is based on God's holy nature and as such scripture states are holy, just, and unchanging, and we see this in the Ten Commandments. But then you also have the ceremonial law which focused the people’s attention on God and gave the people signs that point to the coming Messiah, such as the Passover, and the sacrifices of the unblemished lamb by the priests. One was written with Gods own finger, and the other was from Moses.

Matthew 5:17-19 King James Version (KJV)17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

We see here that Jesus stated "Think not that I am come to destroy the law..but to fulfill", what did He mean? Now, since Jesus knew what laws His death would fulfill, would He be saying this about the Ten Commandments if He were going to fulfill them? So what was He fulfilling, it seems clear it was what pointed to Him, Moses’ ceremonial law which is evident if we see what Jesus said when asked.

Mark 12:28-31 King James Version (KJV)28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

Matthew 22:37-40 King James Version (KJV)37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

The Ten Commandments are arranged in two groups; the first group (commandments 1-4) deal with our relationship to God, the second group (5-10) deal with our relationship to one another. When we read Matthew 22:37-40, it is obvious that it is the Ten Commandments Jesus is talking about. So Jesus did not want to do away with the Ten Commandments but He came to fulfill that which pointed to Him as the Lamb of God, the ceremonial law of Moses.

 

[quietthinker]

The love of righteousness with its beauty cherished will put sin in its true light, that it is the destroyer of every good thing. It will cry out as David did in the Psalms putting God's Law as the most desirable way of seeing and behaving.

Doing it rather than talking about it starts with the desire to do it. No desire = no delivery. Talking about it only has value if ones energies are bent to do it.

Image might have an appearance of piety but it only fools the vision and hearing impaired.

'You say, 'I am rich I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing'. But you do not realise you are wretched, pitiful, poor, bind and naked
I counsel you to buy from me gold tried in the fire so you can become rich...and salve to put on your eyes so you can see' Revelation 3:17-18

 

[justbyfaith]

So what was He fulfilling, it seems clear it was what pointed to Him, Moses’ ceremonial law which is evident if we see what Jesus said when asked.

It should be clear that Jesus was speaking of every moral tenet in the Old Testament when He said He came to fulfill the law.

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

 

[Hobie]

The love of righteousness with its beauty cherished will put sin in its true light, that it is the destroyer of every good thing. It will cry out as David did in the Psalms putting God's Law as the most desirable way of seeing and behaving.

Doing it rather than talking about it starts with the desire to do it. No desire = no delivery. Talking about it only has value if ones energies are bent to do it.

Image might have an appearance of piety but it only fools the vision and hearing impaired.

'You say, 'I am rich I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing'. But you do not realise you are wretched, pitiful, poor, bind and naked
I counsel you to buy from me gold tried in the fire so you can become rich...and salve to put on your eyes so you can see' Revelation 3:17-18

So true, we sometimes must go through much before we understand..

 

[Hobie]

It should be clear that Jesus was speaking of every moral tenet in the Old Testament when He said He came to fulfill the law.

So is the Law gone then, can we steal, kill, and commit adultery, and immerse ourselves in sin and iniquity. Look at what Jesus says..

Matthew 5:19-30 King James Version (KJV)

19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

21 Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.

26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

 

[Episkopos]

Grace fulfills the righteous requirements of the law of God. Otherwise it is not of God and it isn't grace.

 

[Dave L]

Now the law is based on God's holy nature and as such scripture states are holy, just, and unchanging, and we see this in the Ten Commandments. But then you also have the ceremonial law which focused the people’s attention on God and gave the people signs that point to the coming Messiah, such as the Passover, and the sacrifices of the unblemished lamb by the priests. One was written with Gods own finger, and the other was from Moses.

Matthew 5:17-19 King James Version (KJV)17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

We see here that Jesus stated "Think not that I am come to destroy the law..but to fulfill", what did He mean? Now, since Jesus knew what laws His death would fulfill, would He be saying this about the Ten Commandments if He were going to fulfill them? So what was He fulfilling, it seems clear it was what pointed to Him, Moses’ ceremonial law which is evident if we see what Jesus said when asked.

Mark 12:28-31 King James Version (KJV)28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

Matthew 22:37-40 King James Version (KJV)37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

The Ten Commandments are arranged in two groups; the first group (commandments 1-4) deal with our relationship to God, the second group (5-10) deal with our relationship to one another. When we read Matthew 22:37-40, it is obvious that it is the Ten Commandments Jesus is talking about. So Jesus did not want to do away with the Ten Commandments but He came to fulfill that which pointed to Him as the Lamb of God, the ceremonial law of Moses.

Jesus fulfilled the Two Great Commandments of loving God and neighbor (enemies too) as his own-self.

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:37–40) (KJV 1900)

Jesus fulfilled the Two Great Commandments which also fulfilled the Ten. He loved God with all his body, offering it up in sinless perfection on the cross, the worst death any sinner could die. He loved God with all his soul in Gethsemane saying "thy will be done, not mine". And he loved even his enemies as he did himself. He died in their place as they blindly wrenched the last drop of blood from him. While he asked God to forgive them for killing him.

Had he fulfilled only the Ten Commandments, he would not have coveted the soldier's sandals. Or tried to steal Pilot's sword. Or tried to hornswoggle one of the women in the crowd. Indeed, the Ten Commandments, now abolished were for wicked unbelievers, forcing them to act as though they loved God and people under treat of death.

 

[justbyfaith]

So is the Law gone then, can we steal, kill, and commit adultery, and immerse ourselves in sin and iniquity. Look at what Jesus says..

Matthew 5:19-30 King James Version (KJV)

19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

21 Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.

26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

He didn't come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. He sheds abroad His love in our hearts through the Holy Ghost who comes to dwell within us, and this love is the fulfilling of the law. At the same time, His blood brings forgiveness for our violations of the law that we come to Him in contrition over.