Biblical Law?

Question

Matthew 5:17-18 says quite clearly that Jesus demands Christians follow Old Testament law completely, to the smallest possible point. Why don’t they?




5:17 - Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
5:18 - For verily I say unto you, till haven and earth pass, one jot or one title shall in no wise pass from the law till ALL be fulfilled.

(KJV)

Answer 1

If you look at those verses in isolation, yes, it would seem that Jesus would want Christians to abide by the entire corpus of the Old Testament. However, if you look at the New Testament in its totality, and not merely just lift a verse out of context, you will see that Jesus and his disciples de-emphasized many aspects of Old Testament theology that pertained to ceremonial prescription, ritualistic cleanliness, and religious militancy found in the rabbinical code. What was emphasized was the moral spirit of the Old Testament and the respect for ones fellow man that was mandated in the Old Testament. Even a cursory reading of Jesus' verbal exchanges with the Pharisees, and the writings of Paul and Peter to the fledgling church, demonstrate this fact.

Answer 2

Talking specifically here to the coming of a Messiah.

However Jesus didn't actually invalidate the laws. As for the stoning of of a wench like you, Jesus didn't say the law was wrong, he said let he among you without sin cast the first stone. That means someone better than you and no one could be found.

Sit back and think about it. Do you honestly think anyone on this Earth is BETTER or MORE PURER or SIN FREE enough to cast stones at YOU!

Who. Jim Darwin. Tofu Jesus. WhyNotAskDoNut. The What Should I Do Retard. Me

Whose better than you! Nietzsche, Mao, Jefferson, Marx, Britney Spears?

Answer 3

Jesus's fulfillment of the law while not erasing it from the Bible, did change the way man participated in the law. For example... take the sabbath. The sabbath rest was sybolic of the rest all receive in thru the messiah. When the messiah had yet to come the obsevance of this law was expected. After His coming, we find our rest in Him and to go back and observe something when it forshadowed we have the true rest would be like fasting during the feast of the Lord.

Answer 4

Some of the laws are irrelevant now. For instance, we don't have to offer sacrifices since Jesus was the final sacrifice. Later, Paul was shown some food that was considered unclean and told to eat it. He objected, saying he'd never eaten anything unclean, and God said that nothing He's made is unclean, and so Paul ate it.

Those actions did away with the laws regarding cleanliness and sacrifices. You need to understand the purpose behind the laws to know why they were given, and why some are irrelevant. However, the moral laws will never change, bc God's character doesn't change. The moral laws describe His character, and everyone should emulate Him.

Answer 5

I'm sorry dear, but I must disagree with you. Those verses say nothing of our obligation to the law one way or the other. Jesus is speaking of His place, His role in the law.

The Law had a purpose. Once fulfilled, the Law served it's purpose.

Answer 6

The passage you cite is not a directive to followers.
It is a statement the Jesus will fulfill the law.
In essence, because He knows that mankind cannot.
His sacrifice did away with the Levitical Law:
(God cannot contradict Himself.)

Answer 7

No I'm sorry, you misread. Jesus says that He was the fulfillment of the law. We are not under law, we are under grace. Be careful just picking out a verse here and there and throwing it up in someone's face, hon. Later in scripture there is a church that is confused about what "laws" they should follow and the disciples told them, do not commit sexually immorality, do not eat meat from strangled animals, etc. Gentile believers were never under Jewish law. The law was a schoolmaster, the bible, says, to bring us to Christ.

I also pray for God to purify you....which I think you need according to that picture on your avatar...in Jesus' name.

Answer 8

This is why I hate that Christians think that their all moderate and tolerant. When clearly it states in their own holy book the opposite. At least fundamentalist have read the book and try to follow it.

Answer 9

Wow, that was a heck of a good answer, Lawrence Louis. Right on the money!

Answer 10

The Bible is full of contradictions. Jesus is called the Prince of Peace, yet he said, "I am not come to bring peace, but a sword." That would explain a lot. Love your avatar, and your profile. Rock on.