when Jesus came, why did Jesus say He didn't come to erase all the laws, but to fulfill them?
2007-12-28 04:58:39 · 18 answers · asked by Heather B 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
You are totally right. All of Scripture still stands (though since the majority insisted on having a king, we are stuck with him whether we want him or not) "Christians" were sun worshipers, and they wanted to continue to worship the sun, so they convinced themselves they could be saved in disobedience to the Laws of the Savior.
2007-12-28 05:04:05 · answer #1 · answered by hasse_john 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This is not a question that can be answered in full by just a few sentences.
First, let's consider the Law. The Law is not a one-statement thing as the word suggests. The Law is a series of many laws. Part of the Law is the 10 Commandments which Jesus pointed out can be summed up in two statements: To love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and spirit; and to love man as you love yourself.
There was also the ceremonial law, which is part of what is typcally called the Mosaic Law. This involved the system of sacrifices and ritual cleansings and meals. These ceremonies were all intended to point to some spiritual or heavenly truth.
There was also another part of the Mosaic Law which was more like our laws today. They direct how man relates to man and his surroundings. For example, there were instructions on how to clean your house and who you can and cannot charge interest when you lend money.
A correct translation of the passage you alluded to tells us that Jesus stated He didn't come to do away with or erase the Law (note that it is singluar and not plural) but to fulfill it (again singular and not plural). To understand this correctly, we need to allow the Bible to be its own commentary by looking at other passages of scripture that deals with the topic.
Paul stated that the Law was our schoolmaster to point us to Christ. To fulfill a law, you must understand its purpose and the purpose of the Law was to show us that we cannot measure up to God's standard. Even if we keep the ceramonial law, we did not measure up to the other portions of the Law. And James tells us that if we offend the Law in one point, we are guilty of the entire Law. So you see, we needed a better sacrifce than the Law could provide. Jesus was that sacrifice. He fulfilled the Law by providing Himself as the perfect sacrifce (Hebrews explains this) for our sins.
The sacrificial laws (known to the Israelites as "The Law") were fulfilled (not done away with). Because the laws were fulfilled, they are not needed today. We do not need to follow them, now. It is a little like driving a car. Once you stop at the stop sign, you don't have to back up and stop again, and back up and stop again, and back up and stop again.... Instead, you fulfilled the law at that point and can move on.
All the laws in the OT were not done away with or erased. There is no place in the NT that indicates it is not OK to murder a person, for example. Jesus was refering to the Sacrificial or Ceremonial laws. They weren't done away with, they were simply fulfilled for us. Hebrews tells us that Jesus' sacrifice was a once-for-all sacrifice. It never needs to be redone and it was sufficient for everyone.
I hope this helps!
Terry
2007-12-28 13:36:15 · answer #2 · answered by Terry K 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This means He came to fulfill the old Leviticial laws.
Like animal sacrifice and the such.
The Mosaic laws are still the direction of God.
The only change in the Ten Commandments is that we(as Gentiles) worship The Godhead on Sunday(THE LORDS DAY)
2007-12-28 13:06:17 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus didn't come to abolish the law. Matt 5:18: "I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished." It's just that most Christians, especially in America, want to pick and choose which laws they have to follow.
If he came to abolish OT law, why do Christians still cite Lev 18:22 to claim homosexuality is an "abomination?" Yet at the same time, most have no problem eating pork or seafood, despite Lev 11:7 and 11:11 specifically saying they are unlclean?
I'd like just one Christian to make clear to me which laws in Leviticus still apply, and which ones don't, and to provide justification for their choices.
EDIT: to Vicky. According to Leviticus 1:1, the Levitical laws ARE Mosaic laws...
2007-12-28 13:03:28 · answer #4 · answered by phoenixshade 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Some interpret this in that the OT laws had failed to be adequately kept by mankind in order to have a relationship with him.
As time passed the laws had to be adjusted due to humanity's failure to observe them.
finally God himself had to come down and fulfill them so that through grace they might attain salvation.
On the other hand there are many who believe portions of those laws ought to be kept like the keeping of the sabbath, the wearing of veils, and a whole host of rules to pick and choose your religious flavor from.
2007-12-28 13:04:47 · answer #5 · answered by Pi 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
This idea comes from a few translations that state that the laws have been "nailed to the cross"...when in actuality the translation is more like...the "record of debts made known by the laws" were nailed to the cross.
There is a difference.
Why does comparing OT and NT lead down a slippery slope?
2007-12-28 13:05:19 · answer #6 · answered by The Sponge 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The left is the left, and the right is the right, pay attention to the left first, then the right, do not mingle them together! It is unwise, know the first first, then the second second, when it tells you to search for the truth this should sound a alarm within, that is to look very deep, understand the old completly!
Here is a word, the "HORSE", it is your chose to look or not!
2007-12-28 13:11:21 · answer #7 · answered by B R H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because they are not done away with.... by the words of jesus, the old testament stands until it is all fulfilled, and it will not all be fulfilled until the end of days.
2007-12-28 13:09:18 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because all the rituals and sacrifices they were doing prior to His ministry were in similitude of His sacrifice. They used to sacrifice a lamb to atone for their sins. But because the Lamb was sacrificed, the law was fulfilled in Him, and we no longer needed anything physical to sacrifice. Instead, He requires the sacrifice of a 'broken heart and a contrite spirit'.
2007-12-28 13:07:06 · answer #9 · answered by catalyst 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because grace and truth came thru Him. No one can keep the law and Jesus could because He was sinless and perfect.
He came to pay for all the sins of all mankind. John 19:30.
2007-12-28 13:01:43 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋