Law and Grace - Part 2

The lesson on October 30, 2022 was part 2 of the “Law and Grace” study. After a review of the previous lesson, we were directed to “the weightier matters of the law” from Matthew 23:23 KJV. This passage is where Jesus was addressing the scribes and Pharisees calling them hypocrites! In this verse, Jesus explains what the weightier matters were, being judgement, mercy and faith. These are major topics for the Apostle Paul and part of his gospel. We look at the first use of the Hebrew word Law, 08451 תּוֹרָה towrah {to-raw’} or תֹּרָה torah {to-raw’} in Genesis 26:5 KJV. Abraham obeyed God and kept God’s charge, commandments, statues and laws. Hence, law existed before Moses and the written law given at Mount Sinai. Some of these laws were part of the Code of Hammurabi. The second use of “torah” was in Exodus 12:49 where one law should apply to the homeborn and foreign visitors. There are 214 verses and 220 hits in the Old Testament where “torah” is mentioned. One of the statements that we were to ponder was “We are NOT “under” the law so we do not need to obey the LAW.”. We learned of the Greek word ἄνομος, ον simply without law. These passages are where this word is used: Mk. 15:28; Lk. 22:37; Acts 2:23; 1 Cor. 9:21; 2 Thess. 2:8; 1 Tim. 1:9; 2 Pet. 2:8. All of the modern bibles have omitted Mk. 15:28. We were then shown appendix 15 of the Companion Bible which shows where law existed before Sinai. Consequently, some of these laws made it into the Mosaic law. The idea of household rule is in one of our favorite words: Dispensation! We ended with the promise to look into this deeper.

The scripture reading was from Exodus 19:1-6 KJV “1 In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount. 3 And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; 4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. 5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.”