Thread: Jesus fulfilled "The Law AND the Prophets".
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Jesus fulfilled "The Law AND the Prophets".
Posted : 4 Sep, 2009 08:36 AM
Hi Daniel,
Here is a post I did before on this a while back. This should address the questions you have regarding this matter.
Mat 5:17 "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.
First it is important to notice that Jesus did not say just "the Law". He also mentioned "the Prophets". Why do you think that is? Do you think He was talking exclusively about the Mosaic Law or was there something else intended? If Jesus was coming just to "fulfill The LAW" then no mention of the Prophets would have been necessary.
When we deal with "Prophets" we normally are dealing with "Prophesies". What prophesies?"
Jesus was talking about coming to fulfill all the Prophesies that are contained in the Mosaic Law and the Prophets concerning His First Coming. Is there any other passage of scripture in the New Testament that could help us confirm this? Yes.
After the Resurrection Jesus met up with two Disciples on the road to Emmaus and had an interesting conversation with them. In fact Jesus taught them many things. What things?
Luke 24:25 Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?"
27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. NKJV
Luke 24:44 Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me."
45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.
46 Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,
47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
So we see that Jesus explained to them about all the Prophesies concerning Himself from Moses onward including all the Prophets.
Now let's continue with the rest of this passage and look at other misinterpretations.
18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
It is very important to get the Grammar correctly here. Notice above that Jesus is NOT saying that the law will not pass away until heaven and earth passes away. He is saying that it will not pass away UNTIL ALL IS FULFILLED. Did Jesus fulfill all the Prophesies concerning His First Coming? Of course He did. Then since He fulfilled these prophesies then the Law can in fact pass away and did. That is what Jesus is talking about and if it is not then we have a huge contradiction with other NEW Testament passages that clearly shows the Mosaic Law....ALL of it, including the Ten Commandments, was completely replaced, done away with, made obsolete. Before I address the scriptures dealing with the Mosaic Law, let me finish this passage.
Now in verse 19 we have another statement that has many confused. Grammar again is so important.
19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of... THESE commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. NKJV
The key here is to understand what Jesus is saying when He says "these commandments". There are two possibilities in the Greek grammar regarding "these commandments".
First off Jesus didn't mention any Commandments yet. We cannot make any arbitrary statement and say He was talking about Moses as He simply did not say which ones. We could include the commandments to Noah as well if we go down that path.
The word "these" is a demonstrative pronoun and can either be an "Antecedent" or "Postcedent".
Jesus is either referring to the Antecedent...previous verses of Mat 5:3 -16 or Postcedent....the following verses after His statement which would be the rest of the entire Sermon on The Mount. Considering the extensiveness of the rest of the Sermon on the Mount compared to just a few verses previously taught, it would be a more weighty conclusion that Jesus was referring to the rest of His sermon. [postcedent.]
Additionally we have a statement from Jesus at the end of this discourse that solidifies my position.
Mat 7:24 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:
What sayings? All the teachings He just gave us in Matthew chapters 5,6 & 7.
Now let's deal with a particular Prophesy that Jesus fulfilled and this one is one of the most important I believe. I am going to use the Hebrews quote of Paul because he quotes Jeremiah 31:31 and applies it to US as a fulfilled prophecy given to Israel and in which we have access to it through Christ.
Heb 8:6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.
Heb 8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.
Heb 8:8 Because finding fault with them, He says: "BEHOLD, THE DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD, WHEN I WILL MAKE A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH�
Heb 8:9 NOT ACCORDING TO THE COVENANT THAT I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERS IN THE DAY WHEN I TOOK THEM BY THE HAND TO LEAD THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT; BECAUSE THEY DID NOT CONTINUE IN MY COVENANT, AND I DISREGARDED THEM, SAYS THE LORD.
Heb 8:10 FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS IN THEIR MIND AND WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
Heb 8:11 NONE OF THEM SHALL TEACH HIS NEIGHBOR, AND NONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, 'KNOW THE LORD,' FOR ALL SHALL KNOW ME, FROM THE LEAST OF THEM TO THE GREATEST OF THEM.
Heb 8:12 FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE."
Heb 8:13 In that He says, "A NEW COVENANT," He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
Paul clearly said that God has made (past tense) the OLD Covenant OBSOLETE and it was ready to vanish away. Paul is speaking about the Mosaic Law...ALL of it, not just part of it. That is all 613 Commandments including the original Ten. Notice that the Prophesy says clearly that the NEW Covenant was NOT going to be based upon anything of the OLD Covenant but be something entirely different. If this is not true then this is one reason why the statement of Jesus in Matthew 5 would be a direct contradiction to Hebrews 8 above as well as others.
The question we must ask is this. Are the Ten Commandments separate from the Mosaic Law or are they it's centerpiece?
Exod 34:28
28 And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.
(KJV)
Deut 4:13
13 And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.
(KJV)
There is no question and it is irrefutable that the Ten Commandments are the Mosaic Covenant. Since that is clearly the fact of scriptures and the scriptures state with absolute certainty that they were replaced, done away with, made obsolete, then there is no reason for them to continue. Now don't make the mistake many have made and assume that God's Moral PRINCIPLES have been done away with as Christ re-instituted God's Moral Principles in the NEW Covenant beginning at the Sermon on the Mount.
Heb 10:8-10
8 Above when he said, "Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law";
9 Then said he, "Lo, I come to do thy will, O God." He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (KJV)
Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
Jesus fulfilled the "prophesies" concerning His First Coming and was not talking about the Mosaic law in and of itself in Matt 5:17. If He was then we have a clear contradiction in scriptures listed above as they demonstrate that the Mosaic Law was indeed completely replaced or else God lied to us in Jeremiah 31:31. The only way to reconcile this is to have the proper interpretation of all these passages by maintaining the principles of Hermeneutics, which I believe I have done.
First I did not say there is no new covenant, read my reply carefully, I said that Moses law still applies and Jesus interpreted it correctly. What was considered sin still be considered now.
Now in Heb 8:8 "Because finding fault with them..."
What fault, does it means Moses law is incomplete or some sin then is not consider sin now? The fault here clearly points to the salvation. No one can be save by observing the Law. So God had provide an easier way for cleansing from sin, that is Jesus rather than the sacrifice of lamb.
You should have also noted that in Heb 8:11" ...I WILL PUT MY LAWS IN THEIR MIND..." again emphasizing that Mosaic law still applies today!
I cannot agree with your interpretation of Matt 5:17-19
1. At Jesus time, everyone knows that Jesus was referring to the commandments in the Mosaic law. As read till Matt 5:20, it is clear that the commandments is the one in the law, that is what the Pharisees are proud about.
2. " Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. " Mark 13:31
"And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail." Luke 16:17
This show the true nature of our God. The same yesterday, today and forevermore. Now you are saying, that what he said earlier no longer count and He can change something that is sinful into not sinful?
Example of divorce. Have you ever study on the Law of Moses?
Clearly, the Pharisees misinterpret the law.
"When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some uncleanness in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house, ..." Deuteronomy 24:1
Clearly stated that only reason for divorce is uncleanness. What is uncleanness here? Jesus told them it is adultery. And even in the OT said that God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16).
Moses law still applies as it point out sin. And as Christians, we should strife to avoid those sins mentioned in the Law. WE are not saved by observing the law but salvation and grace of God drove us to observe the law.
The problem with following the law is, it does not let you focus on what is important.
Many of us are still standing under the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, instead of eating from the tree of life. We stand there and throw away the bad, while trying to eat only the good. The problem with that is, that tree only produces death, even the good fruit. Remember, Jesus said, many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord.......
We are not under the law, but under grace. Now, many will tell you that you still have to do all these things to be forgiven, but they are wrong. Jesus died for ALL sin. Past, present, and future. Nothing you can do will take away from what Christ did on that cross. If it could, man would have blown it a long time ago. We are just not important enough to ruin the grace of God. Enjoy it.
Another thing about forcing yourself to obey the law is, it is still you trying to earn salvation. Until you give that up and trust Christ, you are not saved.
We don't forced ourselves to obey the law. By the teachings of the Holy Spirit, we will want to follow the law because we will want to live a holy live. Paul ask us to follow example of Christ (1 Chorinthians 11:1). How do we know what is holy and what is not? The law pointed it out. So if you love Christ, you will follow the law (as much as possible as we are still weak and not perfect, but we will able to know what is sin and what is not).
The law is the ultimate standard for a holy life. But no one can followed and that's why we mourn. We mourn as we realize our sin (Ps 38:5-7). . This mourning will lead to comfort (Matt 5:4). That's why the Holy Spirit is also known as the Comforter.
WE are justified through faith. We are save by grace. And yes, no amount of work can lead us to heaven. Why? because all have sinned and the wages of sin is death. So we cannot work our way to God! So we mourned, we need help, and God bring us a Good News, Jesus have died for our sin!
The urge to follow the law comes after salvation not before it.
You said: DANIEL "First I did not say there is no new covenant, read my reply carefully, I said that Moses law still applies and Jesus interpreted it correctly. What was considered sin still be considered now."
WALTER: If the Law of Moses, aka the Mosaic Covenant still applies then ALL the Law still "applies" as there is no separation among the 613 Laws, then we must keep ALL of them including animal sacrifices and go to Jerusalem 3 times each year and sacrifice an animal. There is no getting around that. Either the Mosaic Covenant, "The Law", is fully in force and applicable or it is not and then we are under a different Covenant.
Which Covenant are you under as it cannot be both?
DANIEL:Now in Heb 8:8 "Because finding fault with them..."
What fault, does it means Moses law is incomplete or some sin then is not consider sin now? The fault here clearly points to the salvation. No one can be save by observing the Law. So God had provide an easier way for cleansing from sin, that is Jesus rather than the sacrifice of lamb.
WALTER: Let's examine this passage more completely. Yes you are correct in that we are cleansed from our Sins because of Jesus but remember that salvation was never obtained by keeping the Law as neither was sacrificing animals as they were merely a foreshadow of things to come.
Heb 8:6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.
8 Because finding fault with them, He says: "BEHOLD, THE DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD, WHEN I WILL MAKE A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH�
9 NOT ACCORDING TO THE COVENANT THAT I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERS IN THE DAY WHEN I TOOK THEM BY THE HAND TO LEAD THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT; BECAUSE THEY DID NOT CONTINUE IN MY COVENANT, AND I DISREGARDED THEM, SAYS THE LORD.
10 FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS IN THEIR MIND AND WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
11 NONE OF THEM SHALL TEACH HIS NEIGHBOR, AND NONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, 'KNOW THE LORD,' FOR ALL SHALL KNOW ME, FROM THE LEAST OF THEM TO THE GREATEST OF THEM.
12 FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE."
Now look what Paul says next about the New and Old Covenants.
13 In that He says, "A NEW COVENANT," He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
Paul said that the first Covenant, the Mosaic Covenant, has been made "obsolete" and that it was ready to "vanish away". Why is that? Because The New Covenant that was promised by God has now come into being. God fulfilled His promise to Israel that He made in Jeremiah 31:31. He was going to make a New Covenant and it was not going to based upon the Old Mosaic Covenant. It was going to be something entirely new.
Heb 10:8-10
8 Above when he said, "Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law";
9 Then said he, "Lo, I come to do thy will, O God." He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (KJV)
In verse 9 above we have clear language that demonstrates that God took away the Mosaic Covenant so that He may establish the Second Covenant.
Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
Above in Ephesians 2:14 we see that Jesus Christ "abolished" the Law of commandments contained in ordinances. What are those? Those are all the Laws contained in the Mosaic Covenant. All 613 of them which includes the original Ten Commandments. Does this mean that we can now murder and commit adultery? Of course not. Jesus implemented God's "Moral Principles" in the New Covenant which is also known as "The Law of Christ".
It is important to distinguish between God's "Moral Principles" and the laws themselves.
Let's examine the situation that the Early Church was having regarding the Gentiles and how the leaders of the Church came to the theological conclusion that the Gentile Christians were never under "the Mosaic Law" and were never bound to any of it's requirements.
(Acts 15:23-24) �The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings,
Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, �You must be circumcised and keep the law� � to whom we gave no such commandment � it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth.
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.� .
Act 21:18 On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.
19 When he had greeted them, he told in detail those things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, "You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law;
21 but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs.
22 What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come.
23 Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow.
24 Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law.
25 But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and decided that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality."
DANIEL: You should have also noted that in Heb 8:11" ...I WILL PUT MY LAWS IN THEIR MIND..." again emphasizing that Mosaic law still applies today!
WALTER: Yes Daniel but God did not specify which laws He was referring to as the text does not give us any clue on this and we cannot make an assumption here that it was the Mosaic Laws.Why? Because God said that the NEW Covenant was not going to be based upon anything of the OLD Covenant so it cannot be the Mosaic Covenant, aka the Law of Moses.
DANIEL: I cannot agree with your interpretation of Matt 5:17-19
WALTER: The grammar of the Greek allows for no other interpretation then the one I presented. You will have to show me in the Greek where I erred if at all. Even the English grammar supports me in this.
DANIEL: 1. At Jesus time, everyone knows that Jesus was referring to the commandments in the Mosaic law. As read till Matt 5:20, it is clear that the commandments is the one in the law, that is what the Pharisees are proud about.
2. " Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. " Mark 13:31
"And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail." Luke 16:17
WALTER: In Luke above you seem to be selecting a passage that does not contain pertinent information and not as complete as Mat 5. It would be better to stick with passages that are more complete.
WALTER: Mat 5: 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law....... till all is fulfilled.NKJV
Jesus is not saying what you think He is. Look carefully at the Grammar. Notice that for "THE LAW" to pass away, it is not Heaven and Earth passing away that is the criterion but the fact that "all things being fulfilled" is the criterion.
Did Jesus fulfill all things concerning His first coming? Of course He did. Then since He did fulfilled all prophesies concerning His first coming which are contained in "the Law and the Prophets", then the Law was fulfilled...."brought to it's proper conclusion".
DANIEL: This show the true nature of our God. The same yesterday, today and forevermore. Now you are saying, that what he said earlier no longer count and He can change something that is sinful into not sinful?
WALTER: Daniel you are jumping to wrong conclusions about what I am saying.
Let's do this. Were Gentiles ever obligated to keep the Mosaic Covenant or was that Covenant exclusively for the Jews?
Exod 31:16-18
16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.
17 It is a sign between me AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
18 And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.(KJV)
Deut 5:1-3
1 And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them.
2 The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb.
3 The LORD made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day.
(KJV) [Moses them recounted the 10 Commandments in the following verses].
We see clearly from these statements that the Old Covenant, and particularly the 10 Commandments, were NOT universal laws binding on all mankind since creation, but were specific to Israel, from the days of Moses onward. So are the Ten Commandments part of the Mosaic Covenant?
Exod 34:28
28 And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.
(KJV)
Deut 4:13
13 And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.
(KJV)
So we see from the above scriptures that the Ten Commandments are in fact "The Covenant" or let's say the centerpiece of the Mosaic Covenant and only Israel was commanded to keep that Covenant.
As Gentiles we were never commanded to keep the Mosaic Covenant.
As Gentiles we are grafted into the NEW and BETTER Covenant which has it's own commandments given to us by Christ.
I did not read anything on divorce in your reply, so I guess you agreed that the teaching on divorce is the same in the OT and the NT then.
I am going to address the issue of law and covenant first. First of all, law is different from covenant.
Look at 2 Chronicles 21:7
"Nevertheless, because of the covenant the LORD had made with David, the LORD was not willing to destroy the house of David. He had promised to maintain a lamp for him and his descendants forever."
LORD make a covenant with David, does it mean that He gave David a new law? No! From this verse, it is clear that law and covenant is different. In NT, there is a new covenant, but the law remains, and even Paul write in Ephesians 6:2, "Honor your father and mother"�which is the first commandment with a promise�", an urge to obey the law.
Furthermore, in Romans 3:31 "Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law."
The law is not make void. Even in the presence of of new covenant.
1 Chronicles 16: "15 Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thousand generations;
16 Even of the covenant which he made with Abraham, and of his oath unto Isaac;
17 And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant, "
And God ask us not to forget the covenant! and instead be mindful! Which is commanded to a thousand generations!
1 John 3:4: "Whoever commits sin transgresses also the law, for sin is the transgression of the law."
Romans 6: �1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? "
Again urges to obey the law and live a holy live.
Now you are saying the law can refer to any law. But in the Bible when it is not mentioned, the law often refers to the Moses law (I cannot find any exception in NT):
1 Corinthians 9
"8 Do I say this merely from a human point of view? Doesn't the Law say the same thing?
9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.""
...
20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law."
1 Corinthians 14
21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
Others verses which indicate the Law is the Law of Moses
Romans 2:12-16, etc.
One should also notice, the Law mentioned in Matthew is in Capital letter, which always refers to Moses Law. So, on what basis that the Law does not refer to the Moses Law?
This brings us to the second issue:
Walter: We see clearly from these statements that the Old Covenant, and particularly the 10 Commandments, were NOT universal laws binding on all mankind since creation, but were specific to Israel, from the days of Moses onward. So are the Ten Commandments part of the Mosaic Covenant?
Daniel: First of all, there is no mentioned that the Law is only for the Jews, it is said that the covenant of the Lord with the Jews. Pls differentiate covenant and Law. Law is forever, the same from the beginning to forever more, covenant can be renewed, and new covenant can be made.
Romans 2: �13For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.)�
So Paul points out that the law is for everyone, even for those did not have the law. Why? For law points out sin. You want to live a righteous life, you follow the law.
WALTER: In Luke above you seem to be selecting a passage that does not contain pertinent information and not as complete as Mat 5. It would be better to stick with passages that are more complete.
Mat 5: 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law....... till all is fulfilled.NKJV
Daniel: I am picking Luke to say that "not one tittle of the law shall fail". Jesus said this on different settings, which support my interpretation on Matt. On Matthew, you should have continued to read on. Matthew 5:20, it clearly point to the Mosaic Law, and it will refute your argument on words and grammar. Because the only thing the Pharisee is proud of is they obeying of the law! Which is Moses law! Plus the argument in the beginning of this reply, it is shown the Law is Moses law.
Walter: If the Law of Moses, aka the Mosaic Covenant still applies then ALL the Law still "applies" as there is no separation among the 613 Laws, then we must keep ALL of them including animal sacrifices and go to Jerusalem 3 times each year and sacrifice an animal. There is no getting around that. Either the Mosaic Covenant, "The Law", is fully in force and applicable or it is not and then we are under a different Covenant.
Daniel: So the Law is fully in force in a sense it point out our sin, which we will mourn at as we look at his holiness, and be comforted. NT teachings do not contradict in term of animal sacrifice and worship with the OT. Read Hebrew 9 and Hebrew 10. It is too long, so I cannot paste it here. Jesus was the high priest, his blood is shed to cleanse our sin, and He is the sacrificial lamb. In fact, the law is a shadow, which point to Jesus as the sacrificial lamb. Psalm 40:6: explain that this sacrifice of animal is not desire by God, although it is required by the Law. The Law is still fulfilled, blood was shed to cleanse our sin. This is the spirit of the Law. And I do not know where you get the idea that one must go to Jerusalem. Our body is the temple. The law is the mirror to our life, w/o the law, we don�t know what sin is, and therefore there is no desire for salvation. This is the whole point of the Law!
On Acts:
1. It is referring to circumcision and customs, which Paul later explain, the Gentiles had been circumcised (Colossians 2:11) and customs in the Law had nothing to do with salvation in Acts also. But the spirit behind of the customs must be kept, that is to remember God.
So the 10 commandments applies, so does the principle behind many small laws in Moses. Law is not covenant and covenant is not law, that one, one must differentiate.
One of the problems with your position is that you are making an arbitrary distinction between the "The Mosaic Covenant" and "The Law of Moses" when there is no difference. They are one in the same. The Scriptures do not make the distinction that you are making. Whenever you see the phrase "The Law of Moses" it means the Mosaic Covenant. The Scriptures clearly demonstrate this.
Exod 34:28
28 And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables THE WORDS OF THE COVENANT, the ten commandments.
(KJV)
Do you see this? The Ten Commandments are the Covenant. No distinction.
Deut 4:13
13 And he declared unto you his COVENANT, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.
(KJV)
So we see from the above scriptures that the Ten Commandments are in fact "The Covenant" or let's say the centerpiece of the Mosaic Covenant. There is no distinction.
Who was this Covenant given to?
Exod 31:16-18
16 Wherefore... THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL... shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.
17 IT IS A SIGN BETWEEN ME AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
18 And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.(KJV)
The Mosaic Covenant, the Law of Moses, is an exclusive covenant made between God and the Children of Israel. Not the world. This Covenant is not universal for all mankind. There are absolutely no scriptures that support your claim that the Mosaic Covenant, aka The Law of Moses, are universal laws upon mankind.
By the way. The Mosaic Covenant, aka The Law of Moses, contains 613 laws given to ISRAEL by God to be kept while that Covenant is in force.
Deut 5:1-3
1 And Moses called..... all ISRAEL, .....and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them.
2 The LORD our God MADE A COVENANT WITH US in Horeb.
3 The LORD made NOT this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day.
(KJV) [Moses them recounted the 10 Commandments in the following verses].
We see clearly from these statements that the Old Covenant, and particularly the 10 Commandments, were NOT universal laws binding on all mankind since creation, but were specific to Israel, from the days of Moses onward.
The foundation of your argument relies on the Mosaic Covenant, aka The Law of Moses as being separate and also as being universal laws upon all mankind (non Jews) since their enactment on Mt Sinai.
Since the scriptures demonstrate that this Mosaic Covenant was an exclusive Covenant given only to Israel and that there is no distinction between The Mosaic Covenant and The Law of Moses, then your position falls apart.
Now, covenant includes the law + customs + cleansing of the sin. If covenant is only the law, why use the word law then? Why in NT, Jesus, Paul, John, etc. called us to follow the law then? Your position falls apart here: contradiction in the NT. You cannot explain why the many verses that ask us to follow the law esp on
(note: this is not the orignal verse).
Luke 16:17 which means the Law is to be followed.
Romans 2: 13-15 which means even you don't have the law, you become righteous by following the law. Note, it did not say you are save by following the Law.
Romans 3:31 which means the law is not void
1 John 3:4: which means transgression of the law is a sin, which made is universal. Because everybody have sinned and because sin is the transgression of the law.
Yes, the covenant is given to the Jews but the law is given to everyone,
"This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Jeremiah 31:33 & Hebrews 8:10
Both said to be His people, we have the law in our mind in the new covenant. Are we His people? Then we have the law in our mind!
Ah one more thing, you still cannot point out how the teachings of Jesus is contradictory to the Moses Law.
