Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,
not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter
will pass from the law,
until all things have taken place.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments
and teaches others to do so
will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”
2007-06-13 01:05:09 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Well, it kind of says "Do as I say, and think as I tell you to think."
It's the one common thread most every religion has, and the number one reason religious people can never agree with people of other faiths.
It's basically an example of the Bible preaching ignorance and using deterance (keeping people in line through force and fear) as a tool to do so. I'm sure you could find something to that extent in just about every religious text out there, and not just the Christian Bible.
2007-06-13 01:12:24 · answer #1 · answered by Ryan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At the time Jesus said these words, the Mosaic Law Covenant (all 613 statutes and regulations) were still in force. Jesus was himself a Jew and strictly obeyed the Mosaic law mandated by his heavenly father.
He says he came to fulfill because that is one of the reasons for his life on earth. The Jewish nation had failed to keep the law, Jesus as a perfect man kept the law. When he says whoever breaks the least one of the laws, he is speaking during a time when the law is still in effect. So long as he was alive, keeping the law was still obligatory. But according to Colossians 2:13-17 and Ephesians 2:14-16, the law covenant came to an end at his death. Indeed, the scriptures teach that God himself nailed the law to the torture stake, putting it out of the way.
That being so, there is no obligation to keep the Mosaic law, since it has fulfilled its purpose: as a tutor leading to Christ. See Galatians 3:23-24. Notice in verse 24, Paul says that now that the faith has arrived we are no longer under a tutor (the law).
So the law was a tutor designed to lead the Jewish nation to the Messiah.
Hope this helps.
Hannah J Paul
2007-06-13 08:21:20 · answer #2 · answered by Hannah J Paul 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The jewish nation was expected to follow the Law. Jesus didn't come to throw it away- but to be the one Jew who COULD fulfill it in every way! He would not commit sin and He would fulfill every righteous requirement in the Law.
He spoke the words you've quoted to the Jews before He initiated a NEW Covenant which would not require believers to conform to the Law of Moses. So these words are true and Historic and helpful for us to understand the Jews at the time, but the Law of Moses is no longer binding on believers of Jesus- as "by the Law shall no flesh be justified". "By faith we are saved through grace, not of works..."
2007-06-13 08:11:12 · answer #3 · answered by baronbago 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In a nut shell:
Christ came to fulfill the Law.....and we need to believe that and to teach others to believe it & obey it.
The Law is still good.....but no one can be saved by obeying it in the flesh.
There are 613 laws in scripture....if you and I kept 611 of them....we have failed in ALL of them.
This is why Christ HAD to come and make propitiation (satisfaction) for the wrath of God against sinful man.
2007-06-13 08:08:24 · answer #4 · answered by primoa1970 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Gospel has only one "L"
2007-06-13 08:10:39 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋