Jesus said, “I have not come to abolish the law…. ” A friend asked to know why we posit that the law of Moses is abolished.
My response:(I think this may help someone who is keen on knowing):
First of all, I would like us to take a few steps backwards so that we don’t miss some vital context. In Mt. 5 vs 17 and 18, it reads:
“Do not think that I have come to do away with or undo the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to do away with or undo but to complete and fulfill them.
“For truly I tell you, until the sky and earth pass away and perish, not one smallest letter nor one little hook [identifying certain Hebrew letters] will pass from the Law until all things [it foreshadows] are accomplished.
Matthew 5:17,18 AMP
“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.
Matthew 5:17 NLT
From the above, Jesus was unambiguous that He did not come to abolish the law. However, He did not stop there but this is where many people stop their own readings. He continues “….but to fulfill them” .
In verse 18, He said not even a jot of the law will disappear from the law, UNTIL IT IS FULFILLED. This is another Clause that many people overlook. In other words, the law was not meant to stay forever. It was meant to stay until it was fulfilled.
What does it mean to fulfill? It means to complete it. It means to accomplish the purpose for which it was established. Hence, the time Jesus came walking on the streets of Jerusalem and the surrounding towns was still “old testament” time, not minding the testamental demarcation we see in the bible and I will explain this further later. He came and lived at the time of the law to fulfill the law and then set it aside.
“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons”.
Galatians 4:4-5 NKJV
So, as a child He was circumcised and dedicated in the Temple in accordance with the provisions of the Old testament law.
As an adult, He attended their feasts and kept the laws. Until his death and resurrection, the old testament was still in full force. The new testament only kicked off afterwards.
I bet you will love the rendering of this translation:
“Like a will that takes effect when someone dies, the new covenant was put into action at Jesus’ death. His death marked the transition from the old plan to the new one, canceling the old obligations and accompanying sins, and summoning the heirs to receive the eternal inheritance that was promised them.
He brought together God and his people in this new way”.
Hebrews 9:16-17 MSG
The above portion of the Bible is one of the key references that are germaine to understanding the New testament and by implication, the terms of reference for the church of Christ. Jesus cancelled the old covenant in order to establish the new.
No two testaments can coexist, much like no two constitutions of a nation subsist at the same time. One will have to give way for the other.
The book of Hebrews puts it this way:
“First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect.
Hebrews 10:8-9 NLT.
Jesus cancelled the first, so He might establish the second covenant.
“Christ ended the law, so that everyone who believes in him may be right with God.”
Romans 10:4 ICB
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
Romans 10:4 KJVA
” For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.
Romans 10:4 NLT.
It is that simple. Christ put paid to the law.
He set it aside. If the law is still existing and in force, then Christ died in vain. But, no… He took all the ordinances along with him to the cross and nailed them there.
“having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
Colossians 2:14 NKJV.
To the Galatians church, he put it this way:
“23 Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed.
24 Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith.
25 And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.
26 For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Gal. 3:23-26 (NLT)
Unfortunately, many Bible-clutching, bible-quoting and Bible-believing church goers do not know this. Many teachers and pastors don’t have a clue either. They cling to the law that was specifically given to the nation of Israel and never to the gentiles. The fact that they exist in our bibles does not mean they were given to us directly. They are shadows, but Christ is the reality and the true substance, the express image of God’s person.
“For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never make perfect those who come by the same sacrifices which they offer year by year continually.
Hebrews 10:1.
Clinging to the law is like chasing shadows and God has not called us to shadows.
Sadly, many are stuck with the book arrangements and testamental demarcations found in their bibles without giving attention to certain details of what is written therein.
Friends, the new testament did not start from the events of Mathew chapter one, but after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
His death and resurrection put paid to (ended) the old testament and it’s practices and in the same vein, heralded the new testament.
The Levitical priesthood became outdated and the priesthood of all believers kicked in.
They myriad of offerings they administered gave way to the only one offering: the offering of the body of Christ on the Cross, which was offered once and for all.
Aaronic High priesthood gave way to the everlasting High priesthood of Christ Jesus.
The veil of the Temple tore into two and God walked out of the Temple into man – God’s new dwelling place.
Furthermore, an end came to temple practices and the much-touted “dedicated place of worship”. God’s presence moved to “wherever two or three persons are gathered in Christ’s name. Glory!!!!
This is the basic and fundamental truth of God’s word that many Christians have not come to accept, simply because of the way the Bible is packaged and delivered to them.
We have to learn to divide the word of God rightly so that we can teach rightly.
Friends, I beg you, stop striving to fulfil the law of Moses. Anyone trying to do so is on a wild goose chase of religion.
Even Moses the law-giver himself could not fulfil the law. Have you ever asked yourself why he could not enter the promised Land?
Please stick with Jesus, the saviour and leave Moses alone.
Selah
GOD_SEEKERS 