- Jul 9, 2002
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Greetings! Welcome! Here is the Scripture I would like to discuss:
Matthew 5:17-20 NASB "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. (18) "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. (19) "Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (20) "For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Note that Jesus has the entire Law and prophets in view here. Note also that He says we are not to "annul" even "the least of these commandments", nor are we to teach others to do so. Again, He has the entire Law and prophets in view. It is an inescapable fact that the people Jesus was directing this teaching to were to obey the entirety of the Law and prophets, and teach others to do so. There is no way around that fact. I've tried really hard to find one, believe me.
Yet it is also an inescapable fact that the Apostles taught that we were not bound by the Mosaic Law, but that we were not under the Law (Acts 15; Galatians). I don't think you need me to post more Scriptures to support that point, but I can if you wish.
The answer to this dilemma is found in Dispensationalism, and nowhere else I am aware of. To the best of my knowledge, Dispensationalism explains that this teaching was either, 1) for the Millennial Kingdom, or 2) this teaching was directed only to ethnic Israel. Either way, this teaching of Jesus is not DIRECTLY applicable to the predominantly Gentile church during this dispensation. Not saying it is of no value to the church (as some slanderously accuse dispensationalists of saying!), but that it's intended audience was Jews under the Law and/or Kingdom Age believers.
If someone could explain how to understand this passage, without minimizing the import of Jesus' words, in another way I would be happy to hear it.
God bless you;
Michael
Matthew 5:17-20 NASB "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. (18) "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. (19) "Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (20) "For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Note that Jesus has the entire Law and prophets in view here. Note also that He says we are not to "annul" even "the least of these commandments", nor are we to teach others to do so. Again, He has the entire Law and prophets in view. It is an inescapable fact that the people Jesus was directing this teaching to were to obey the entirety of the Law and prophets, and teach others to do so. There is no way around that fact. I've tried really hard to find one, believe me.
Yet it is also an inescapable fact that the Apostles taught that we were not bound by the Mosaic Law, but that we were not under the Law (Acts 15; Galatians). I don't think you need me to post more Scriptures to support that point, but I can if you wish.
The answer to this dilemma is found in Dispensationalism, and nowhere else I am aware of. To the best of my knowledge, Dispensationalism explains that this teaching was either, 1) for the Millennial Kingdom, or 2) this teaching was directed only to ethnic Israel. Either way, this teaching of Jesus is not DIRECTLY applicable to the predominantly Gentile church during this dispensation. Not saying it is of no value to the church (as some slanderously accuse dispensationalists of saying!), but that it's intended audience was Jews under the Law and/or Kingdom Age believers.
If someone could explain how to understand this passage, without minimizing the import of Jesus' words, in another way I would be happy to hear it.
God bless you;
Michael