Loving God; Loving His Law
But Grace Sets Us Free
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From the beginning of Christianity there's always been this desire to make sure one is totally right with God. Unfortunately there's always been this striving from one's own works to make this happen. Therefore, we have all sorts of dos and don'ts when it comes to man's religions. With that comes the guilt. No wonder so many have walked away from the faith of their families. It's just too much work to be right with God.
Do we keep the 10 commandments? Do we eat fish on Friday? Do we tithe? Do we kneel when instructed to do so? Do you pray a certain way? Do we abstain from certain foods as dictated by the Old Testament scriptures? Do we not work on Sunday? Or Saturdays? On and on it goes. Who is right? How do we know for sure?
This is an argument of law and grace. Do we keep the law or are we completely under grace? Many sincere Christians cannot help but wonder about the relationship between the two. There is much NT scripture that plainly teaches we are free from the law but how far does this freedom go? Are we supposed to keep the law?
So we come to Matthew 5:19 which says:
"Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments and so teaches others, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
Just before Christ issued these words we see in v17 that He pointed out the law's preeminence because it was authored by God, and affirmed by the prophets. In v18 He pointed out the permanence, that is, lasting without the smallest change until heaven and earth pass away. Here in v19 He points out to how important the law is. The Jews were still under the full requirements of the OT law. They were not loosed from this law.
We read here in this context that Jesus declared that he came to fulfill but not diminish the law and those after Him were not to do so either. There are consequences of obeying and disobeying the law. Of course the consequences depend on our response to it. We can either achieve a positive result or a negative result as we respond to the law.
Notice Jesus mentions the negative first. "Whoever annuls one of the least of these commandment and teaches others will be called least in the Kingdom." The word annuls is "luo" and means to break, set loose, release, dissolve or even melt. The idea being that annuling God's law by making it void by loosing ourselves from its requirements and standards isn't a good thing. Jesus asserted that He had not come to "abolish the Law or Prophets."
In Jesus day the Jews had divided the OT laws into two categories. 248 were positive commands and 365 were negative. They debated long and hard, heated at times, about which laws were the most important and not so important. We know that all of God's commands are not of equal importance. We know that Christ gave the two greatest commandments when asked. That is, to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves. So the rest of the commandments must fall lower than these two.
Now Jesus' negative warning isn't just for teachers. Everyone teaches to some degree by example. We show if we are obedient or disobedient by our actions. We also teach by what we say. Do we speak in a postive or negative way about God and His Word or do we totally show contempt and disrespect for Him and His Word?
The consequence of disrespecting any part of God's word or teaching against it is to be called "least in the Kingdom" which shows there is some sort of ranking system going on. There is no loss of salvation mentioned here and is clear that is not an issue. To disdain even the smallest part of God's Word is to disdain all of it because it's inseperable as James says in His book (2:10).
Now for the positive results of keeping God's law is that "whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called Great in the kingdom of heaven. Notice keeping and teaching.
God's law is a reflection of His very character and as we know, he's changeless and eternal. Paul both kept and taught the full Word of God and I'm sure he's one that will be listed in the "greatest in heaven" category. This promise spoken by Jesus is to all believers. Our life and teaching should reflect God's moral character and His law is an important aspect of this.
Now for the paradox in regard to keeping the law. For seasoned Christians it's not easy. On one hand, we are told the law is fulfilled and done away with and on the other, as here, that we are supposed to keep it. Maybe reading Paul will help things a bit.
In Eph 2:14-15 Paul says that Chist is our peace, who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace. When the church was instituted the "dividing wall" of civil, judicial law was crumbled and then disappeared.
At the cross Israel was temporarily set aside as a Nation as a result of her rejection of the one that was sent. In 70 A.D. Israel ceased to be a literal Nation when Titus came in and destroyed Jerusalem including the Temple. Her restoration nationally will be tied to her restoration spiritually (Romans 9-11) in a future time.
While Jesus was still on the Cross the veil of the Temple was torn from top to bottom. Now the Temple worship and the sacrifices were no longer valid. That part of the law was finished, accomplished and done away with by God himself.
Paul speaks of our not being under the law but under grace (Rom 6:14). He immediately asks "What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? May it never be." I've known Christians who totally disregard God's moral law and believe since we are under Grace we can do whatever we wish. That is frustrating the spirit of God. Not only that but is a terrible witness and serves only to glorify oneself.
While we are now in Christ and not under the law we cannot be tried under the law. He paid the penalty. We are no longer under the ultimate penalty of breaking His law but we are far from free of its requirement of righteousness.
Paul wrote "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." (Rom 10:4). He also wrote to the Galatians that they are led by the Spirit even as they are no longer under the law, (5:18). This also is harmonized well with Christ who said that the law and the Prophets were until John. We all know that John the Baptist was a forerunner to Christ. He was the last ditch effort to get the Jew's attention as if he stepped across the pages of the OT and into the new. The Jews accepted Him as they did the one that came after him. Not well.
So how do we harmonize the two? How do we harmonize keeping his commands but also be under Grace as well? I would answer as Paul did. He brought the two together when he described himself as being "without the law of God but under the law of Christ." (1 Cor 9:21).
Christ's law is very different from the Jewish judicial and ceremonal law but is not one iota less holy and righteous as the OT law taught.
From a Christian POV the OT law is a moral guide helping us in revealing our sin. By looking at this law we can see our weakness and our sinful attitudes. It also shows us how far apart from Christ we are on our own. The OT law should drive us to Him. It should bring us to our knees at the foot of His cross time and time again. We need to be reminded that it took a Saviour to take the OT law's penalty from us. He took our condemnation upon Himself. This is why Paul carefully explains to us that the Law is holy and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.
Jesus said this:
"It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means. I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous but sinners." Matt 9:13
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