Hello everyone! I am wondering how different theological traditions reconcile these two passages. Please let me know what tradition you are from and how you go about making sense of this apparent contradiction.
God bless you!
Michael
Jesus begins this section with the assurance that He has not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets (
Matt. 5:17, NKJV). Although there is no reference to it, many see this as a formulaic expression for the entire Old Testament (see also
Matt. 7:12,
11:13,
22:40,
Luke 16:16,
Acts 13:15,
24:14,
Rom. 3:21). In spite of what His opponents claimed, Jesus did not attack the very book that revealed the will of His Father. Instead, His purpose was to fulfill the law and the prophets, not to do away with them.
The word used for fulfill (plero) literally means to fill up, or complete. It carries the sense of filling to the brim. There are two ways to understand
fulfill. One is to place the emphasis on Jesus as being the fulfillment of Scripture
(for example, Luke 24:25-27, John 5:39). However, the key to understanding this text lies in the immediate context, which shows that Jesus did not come to destroy Scripture but to *
reveal its inner essence. (ie giving more detail
)
Having established His overall intent,
Jesus switched emphasis from the Old Testament in general to the law in particular (10 Commandments). Almost as if He knew that people would one day accuse Him of abolishing the law (the 10), He cautions that as long as heaven and earth remain, the law (10 Commandments) will exist until everything is accomplished (
Matt. 5:18, NIV). With this statement, Jesus confirms the perpetuity of the law. He helps us to overcome and keep the law, we can not keep them without Him. This is how one starts being transformed into His image and we do strive to do so out of Love for Him and for no other reasons.
John 14
14 If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. 15
If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
In fact, the law is so important that all those who violate its precepts will be called the least in the kingdom. Jesus is quick to point out that He is not promoting the empty righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees but instead a righteousness springing from a heart that loves God and seeks to do His will. He was saying that they (the Pharisees) are wrong in what they are doing.
* Example: (revealing inner essences of law
)
Murder (Matt. 5:21-26)
After He clarified His intention to uphold the law, Jesus started to explain a righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees. He begins by citing the sixth commandment (
Exod. 20:13) and summarizing, from the law of Moses, the penalty for violation (
Exod. 21:12,
Lev. 24:17).
The sixth commandment does not include all cases in which one person kills another. In cases of manslaughter, a person could flee to a city of refuge and gain temporary asylum (
Exod. 21:13,
Num. 35:12). However, one who intentionally took another's life would receive swift judgment. In His explanation, Jesus does not focus on the act itself
but on the motive and intents of the one who commits the act. One might take a life accidentally, but the person who purposes to take a life has gone through a period of deliberation. The sin took place before the person even carried out the terrible deed. Many potential murderers are stopped only by a lack of opportunity.
Jesus provided inner detail/explanation of Law (the 10), He did not abolish them. He filled the Law fuller, magnified the law, provided more detail about the law (the 10).
In Acts 15 (ceremonial/sacrificial law)
Some Jewish believers expected Gentiles to be circumcised and “to keep the law of Moses” (Acts 15:5). It could be that, according to them, Gentiles would be keeping the law of Moses by being circumcised, but perhaps they had in mind something else. Peter seems to suggest that the problem included ritual laws of uncleanliness. Speaking of the Gentiles, he says that God “made no distinction between us (Jews) and them (Gentiles), purifying their hearts by faith” (verse 9). In other words, God did for both Jews and Gentiles what the ritual ceremonial laws could not do, i.e., He purified their hearts (Acts 10:15; 11:9).
What laws were abolished? the ceremonial/sacrificial laws
The ceremonial law consisted of ordinances, ceremonies and sacrifices in the sanctuary system that pointed to the future redemption through Jesus Christ. This law typified the mysteries contained in the plan of redemption in Jesus.
After Christ’s death, the ceremonial law is no longer to be observed. Therefore "blotting out the
handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days
excluding the 7th day Sabbath, because it's part of the 10) Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ" (Colossians 2:14-17). The l
aws consisting in ordinances, typifying Christ’s death were the ones nailed on the cross, "having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the
law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace" (Ephesians 2:15). "For the law having a shadow of good things to come (pointing to Christ), and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect" (Hebrews 10:1).
Very important when the word law or laws appears in scripture to read in context carefully to determine what law or laws are being referred to.
I have no tradition, no denomination, I love the Lord and I study His Word and depend on Him to guide me through day by day.
Apologize for the post being so long. ;o) God Bless.