May 4, 2006
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In Matthew 5:17-20, Jesus says:
” Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fultill them. 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. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
So now I’m confused. Here’s what it says in the explaination. This is in the NIV Study Bible about those verses:
5:17 “the Law. The first five books of the Jewish Scriptures (our OT), the Prophets. Not only the Latter Prophets-Isaiah, Heremiah and Ezekiel, which we call Major Prophets, and the 12 Minor Prophets (lumped together by the Jews as “the Book of the Twelve”)-but also the so-called former Prophets (Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings). Taken together, “the Law” and “the Prophets” designated the entire OT, including the Writings, the third section of the Hebrew Bible…..fulfill. Jesus fulfilled the Law in the sense that he gave it its full meaning. He emphasized its deep, underlying principles and total commitment to it rather than mere external acknowledgment and obedience.”
And then he goes on to talk about Murder, Adultery, Divorce, Oaths, An Eye for an Eye, Love for Enemies, Giving to the Needy, Prayer, Fasting, Worry, and Judging Others.
So is this saying that the original 10 commandments have been replaced by these? Which means that the commandment about keeping the Sabbath holy would have been something that was necessary in the OT days but not now?????
Comments (4)
That is a really good question- I am going to try to explain with some verses and a snippet I “borrowed” what I think
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Hebrews 4
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4:4
For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “And on the seventh day God rested from all his work.”
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4:9
There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God;
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Mark 2
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2:27
Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath
“He had much more regard to our souls. The sabbath was made a day of rest, only in order to its being a day of holy work, a day of communion with God, a day of praise and thanksgiving; and the rest from worldly business is therefore necessary, that we may closely apply ourselves to this work, and spend the whole time in it, in public and in private; but then time is allowed us for that which is necessary to the fitting of our bodies for the service of our souls in God’s service, and the enabling of them to keep pace with them in that work”
I think what the fulfillment via Jesus is that man had kept these laws and commandments because God said to and only the fear of God kept them inside the letter of the law. But when Jesus came as man he made people understand that the laws were really made for man’s benefit not just solely because God is Holy and they should be afraid of breaking them. He did fulfill the laws by not breaking them and living a sinless life and offering Himself as a sacrifice BUT He also through stories and teaching taught how we would benefit from having the law. For example when He goes on in Matthew 5 to use the commandments as examples- he explains the broader picture of why these laws are there. If you really are a follower of Christ then why call your brother a fool?- that is not nice- not Godlike. If you have not had sex with another woman to keep the law, then why do you look at women and wish to have those thoughts LIKE adutlery? An eye for an eye but Jesus says if you really are a follower when they take your eye- give them your cheek and your tunic and whatever you have because you belong to Me now – you are no longer your own. The laws were/are there to make us better people not afraid of God punishing us for not following- to make us more Godlike. That is why Jesus says not one letter of the law will pass away.
Does that make any sense- it sounded like it did when I typed it.
sorry about all the garbage that got in there- i am unsure how it happened- scriptures are Hebrews 4:4 and 9 and Mark 2:27
Yes, thank you, that does make it more clear.
I’m reading different passages and books and it does get a little confusing at times. Plus with having a mormon sister and Jehovah’s witness co- worker, both of whom are trying to ‘teach’ me, you can imagine! This is why Bible study is so important, I think, but my schedule with work makes that kind of hard.
With God’s will, though, it will all work out. He knows I’m trying to learn and I have to learn to just give it over to Him and He will show me what I need to know.
i can only imagine how fun that must be- i will pray more for you-lol anyway i get to see you soon- i am totally excited.