Abolish the Law? Hell Nah.

Abolish the Law? Hell naw…

Father,
As we take a look at What Jesus said about the Law of Moses, help us to take it in context. Help us to really understand what he is saying and teaching, here. Help us to understand what the purpose of the law was. Help us to see what the truths behind the law are. Help us to be pure and full of integrity, so that we can see the Kingdom, here. Thank you, Jesus.
Amen

Matthew 5:17-20
“If you think I’ve come to set aside the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets, you’re mistaken. I have come to bring to perfection all that has been written. Indeed, I assure you, as long as heaven and earth endure, not even the smallest detail of the Law will be done away with until its purpose is complete. So whoever violates even the least important of the commandments, and teaches others to do so, will be called least in heaven’s kingdom. But whoever obeys them and teaches their truths to others will be called great in heaven’s kingdom. For I tell you, unless your lives are more pure and full of integrity than the religious scholars and the Pharisees, you will never enter heaven’s kingdom.”

What is the perfection or completion of which Jesus speaks here? What is the purpose of the law? Have we been incorrectly anti-nomian? What are the truths of the Law? Traditionally it has been held and taught that Jesus was the ultimate fulfillment of Moses. He was the one whom all of the sacrificial animals foreshadowed, etc. Most of us have been raised with these sorts of thoughts. The traditional view would hold that Jesus is the focal point of the law, and that because he kept every point perfectly, we no longer have to. Let’s explore this, briefly.

Jesus, here, is not claiming personal perfection, but is, as a Rabbi, stating that he has a fresh interpretation of the Law and the Prophets that the people should listen to. He is not saying that his interpretation should overshadow or replace the need to follow the Law as it was, in fact, he tells them to continue, unless their righteousness is greater than that of the Scribes and Pharisees, unless they have more purity and integrity than their religious leaders, that is. This is not Jesus’ typical use of them as whipping boys or object lessons. Rather, it is highlighting them as a positive example, which is odd.

Jesus showed us how to live in perfect communion with the Father, which will lead to the kind of wise life that I talked about last week. It will, along with sanctification in us, which is the process of becoming more like Jesus while here on earth, lead to us more perfectly fulfilling the heart of the law as well. I am not talking about the minutia of ceremonial law, or even kosher law, as beneficial as these things can be… I am talking about walking in right relationship with God, who designed it all and tells us how to get the most out of this life through the law. That uprightness with Him will manifest in desiring to and doing more right things towards others. Our hearts, thoughts, words, and actions will begin to shift as we embrace wisdom and shun folly.

This does not affect our salvation or justification before God. However, if we truly love Him, we will want to live in ways that will make His heart happier. We will want to live wisely, not overdoing things just because they are not forbidden, or avoiding things that we know we need to do. We will want to be a blessing to others, rather than leaving them wanting to curse us. So, did Jesus undo the law? Yes and no. The law is still there to be a guide for us, but the cross and the empty tomb are our answer for not being perfect in how we relate with God, ourselves, and others. However, failing to follow it no longer damns us, either. So in that, way, its teeth are broken.