Jesus and the Law?

Question

Jesus said in Matthew 5:17 that He came to make the teachings come true. But in the 21st verse up to the 48th verse He didn't agree with the teachings. Please explain this to me.

Answer 1

Mat 5:17-19 -

"I am not coming to destroy the law, but to fulfill it. I am not seeking to weaken it, but to establish it."

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.—Gal_3:24-26

People think, "Well, I'm pretty good."
"Oh?" says the Law. "Here's your standard."

And suddenly, as they read through the Law, they realize they're sinners in need of a Savior.

It is important to notice that Jesus did not say that the law would never pass away. He said it would not pass away until all was fulfilled.

The law was not given as a means of salvation (Act_13:39; Rom_3:20 a; Gal_2:16, Gal_2:21; Gal_3:11; it was designed to show people their sinfulness (Rom_3:20 b; Rom_5:20; Rom_7:7; 1Co_15:56; Gal_3:19) and then drive them to God for His gracious salvation. It was given to the nation of Israel, even though it contains moral principles which are valid for people in every age (Rom_2:14-15). God tested Israel under the law as a sample of the human race, and Israel's guilt proved the world's guilt (Rom_3:19).

The law had attached to it the penalty of death (Gal_3:10); and to break one command was to be guilty of all (Jam_2:10). Since people had broken the law, they were under the curse of death. God's righteousness and holiness demanded that the penalty be paid. It was for this reason that Jesus came into the world: to pay the penalty by His death. He died as a Substitute for guilty lawbreakers, even though He Himself was sinless. He did not wave the law aside; rather He met the full demands of the law by fulfilling its strict requirements in His life and in His death. Thus, the gospel does not overthrow the law; it upholds the law and shows how the law's demands have been fully satisfied by Christ's redemptive work.

Therefore, the person who trusts in Jesus is no longer under the law; he is under grace (Rom_6:14). He is dead to the law through the work of Christ. The penalty of the law must be paid only once; since Christ paid the penalty, the believer does not have to. It is in this sense that the law has faded away for the Christian (2Co_3:7-11). The law was a tutor until Christ came, but after salvation, this tutor is no longer needed (Gal_3:24-25).

Yet, while the Christian is not under the law, that doesn't mean he is lawless. He is bound by a stronger chain than law because he is under the law of Christ (1Co_9:21). His behavior is molded, not by fear of punishment, but by a loving desire to please his Savior. Christ has become his rule of life (Joh_13:15; Joh_15:12; Eph_5:1-2; 1Jo_2:6; 1Jo_3:16).

A common question in a discussion of the believer's relation to the law is, “Should I obey the Ten Commandments?” The answer is that certain principles contained in the law are of lasting relevance. It is always wrong to steal, to covet, or to murder. Nine of the Ten Commandments are repeated in the NT, with an important distinction—they are not given as law (with penalty attached), but as training in righteousness for the people of God (2Ti_3:16 b). The one commandment not repeated is the Sabbath law: Christians are never taught to keep the Sabbath (i.e., the seventh day of the week, Saturday).

The ministry of the law to unsaved people has not ended: “But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully” (1Ti_1:8). Its lawful use is to produce the knowledge of sin and thus lead to repentance. But the law is not for those who are already saved: “The law is not made for a righteous person” (1Ti_1:9).

The righteousness demanded by the law is fulfilled in those “who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Rom_8:4). In fact, the teachings of our Lord in the Sermon on the Mount set a higher standard than that set by the law. For instance, the law said, “Do not murder”; Jesus said, “Do not even hate.” So the Sermon on the Mount not only upholds the Law and the Prophets but it amplifies them and develops their deeper implications.

In returning to the Sermon in verse 19, we notice that Jesus anticipated a natural tendency to relax God's commandments. Because they are of such a supernatural nature, people tend to explain them away, to rationalize their meaning. But whoever breaks one part of the law, and teaches other people to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven. The wonder is that such people are permitted in the kingdom at all—but then, entrance into the kingdom is by faith in Christ. A person's position in the kingdom is determined by his obedience and faithfulness while on earth. The person who obeys the law of the kingdom—that person shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

From v. 20 we see to gain entrance into the kingdom, our righteousness must surpass the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees (who were content with religious ceremonies which gave them an outward, ritual cleansing, but which never changed their hearts). Jesus uses hyperbole (exaggeration) to drive home the truth that external righteousness without internal reality will not gain entrance into the kingdom. The only righteousness that God will accept is the perfection that He imputes to those who accept His Son as Savior (2Co_5:21). Of course, where there is true faith in Christ, there will also be the practical righteousness that Jesus describes in the remainder of the Sermon.

Answer 2

Carefully read the part with the jots and the tittles, and you will realize that the sentence structure is somewhat mixed up ... sort of like "having your cake and eating it too" ... it doesn't quite make sense at first.

Jesus said the law would remain in effect, unchanged, until the end of the world, OR until he fulfilled all things.

Then Jesus fulfilled all things ... and the law ... all of it ... every jot and tittle of it ... was no more.

Jesus knew that the law only condemned. It never saved. That's why he had no more use for it.

Jesus saves. That's why he became a man, and that's why he died on the cross ... to accomplish something the law never could.

Answer 3

The religious traditions of that time did not get to the condition of the heart. For ex: When Jesus gave the example in the law about. "Thou shalt not commit adultery." He stated that if you look upon a woman with lust in your heart you have already committed adultery. Jesus is addressing the thoughts and intents of the heart. If you are not an adulterer but your mind is occupied with lust, porn, evil thoughts and so on- That is sin too! He was sinless and needed to make sure that we would know there is a higher plane. He took it to the next level. True righteousness- a clean heart and mind is ready for worship and God's favor.

Answer 4

The standard teachings of the Pharisees were laced with legalism and overlooked the character and attributes of God altogether.

Jesus came to teach His Word the way it was meant to be taught, freeing the people from the bondage of the Pharisees. But that would mean that the Sanhedrin could no longer control the Jews and how they worshiped God.

Answer 5

Prior to Jesus' mortal ministry, the Law had been corrupted. The leaders had prescribed numerous rules to govern all aspects of life. This lead to contention over specific points, condemning others for numerous infractions, and ignoring the foundation or the spirit of the law. This foundation was well known as shown in Luke where a lawyer gives a great summary of the law:

Luke 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.

Christ came in fulfillment of prophecy to accomplish the Atonement (e.g., the great and last sacrifice), but also to reestablish a proper foundation of the Gospel previously established.

Answer 6

He does not build or revise the Written Torah "Law" of our Maker given through Moses, He calls people to return or "repent" to it. Deu 4:2 You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of YHVH your God that I command you. Joh 7:19 Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me? Luk 16:30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. Luk 16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

Answer 7

My take on it is that he is not contradicting the law but explaining the spirit of the law. You follow the letter of the law such as not having sex outside of marriage. Jesus is saying that lusting after a married woman is just as bad as sleeping with her. Avoid acts that tempt and lead to sin and you won't have to worry about actually commiting the sin.

Answer 8

He takes the teachings to more of a spiritual level in 21-48. He dows not say He does not agree.

Answer 9

He's not disagreeing with the teachings, but expanding on them so that people will understand them. He is also teaching us how to apply the Law in the age of grace.

Answer 10

He was emphasizing on what the scriptures meant, 4 instance da law sayz not 2 murder and Jesus explained that there iz another type of murder besides da physical. c'mon man get in da Spirit.