The Law of Moses is no more, but that does not mean the New Covenant is without many commands.

[Bible Highlighter]

The Law of Moses is no more, but that does not mean the New Covenant (New Testament) is without many commands.

There are two wrong extremes on this issue. With one position being on one end of the spectrum, and the other position being on the other end (or opposite side) of the spectrum.

Wrong Extreme Position #1. Some believe we have to obey certain aspects of the Law of Moses like the Saturday Sabbath, circumcision, dietary laws, etc. as a part of the faith.

Wrong Extreme Position #2. Some believe that all we have to do is:
(a) Believe in Jesus alone for salvation (and not lift a finger for God or worry about sin all that much), or:
(b) Believe in Jesus and obey like one or two commands and we are golden (Note: This is usually just love God and love your neighbor generally, and it is not really specific or detailed as to how NT Scripture tells us how to love with the many sub commands given to us). ​

What is the correct position?

The Old Law is no more as a contract, and we look to the commands in the New Testament to obey the Lord our God (after we are saved by God’s grace).

The Old Law is no more as a contract, and we look to the commands in the New Testament to obey the Lord our God. For we are New Covenant (New Testament) believers. Granted, we must first be saved initially or foundationally by God’s grace. Then we as believers must enter the Sanctification Process (after we saved by His grace). This is important to understand because we need both God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ for salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9), and we need Sanctification as a part of God’s continued plan of salvation (See: John 5:24, Romans 8:13, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, James 2:24) (1 Thessalonians 4:4-5) (1 Peter 1:16) (Hebrews 12:14). For without holiness, no man shall see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).

However, Paul argued against going back to the Old Law to be justified (i.e. the Old contract), and he argued against Law Alone Salvation-sim without God's grace.

Anyways, Paul argued against going back to the Old Law to be justified (i.e. the Old contract), and he argued against Law Alone Salvation-sim without God's grace.​

Those who want to go back to some aspect of the Old Law:

Some want to be under some aspect of the Old Testament Law of Moses (Note: The Law of Moses contained 613 Laws; When Paul spoke against the Law, he was referring to the Old Testament Law of Moses (the 613) and Law Alone Salvationism without God's grace and he was not referring to the commands of Jesus Christ and the commands from His followers.). For these individuals who seek to be justified by expired ceremonial laws within the Law of Moses (to some capacity), I will only make my case once with them and move on because we are not to argue on matters in regards to the Law of Moses.

"But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain." (Titus 3:9). ​

Scripture says we cannot be justified by the Law of Moses.

"And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." (Acts of the Apostles 13:39).​

The Saturday Sabbath is no longer in effect.

"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;" (Colossians 2:14).

"Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:" (Colossians 2:16).​

So we are not to allow (or let) for others to judge us in regards to sabbath days. So if a believer tells me how I must keep the Saturday Sabbath, I will not allow them to do judge me on this matter. I will move on beyond them and ignore their posts after sufficiently laying out the truth of Scripture for them (with the example of this very post). Surely it is not a problem if a person wants to keep the Sabbath (Romans 14), but it is a problem when they say we must keep the Saturday Sabbath and or is a requirement for salvation.

God's moral laws came into existence for man and would forever exist for him after the Fall of Adam and Eve (after they received the knowledge of good and evil). A Moral Law is any law telling you to do good without a specific law telling you that such a thing is so (See Romans 2:14). These moral laws existed before the Law of Moses.

In the New Covenant (or New Testament) these Moral Laws (like: “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” Do not covet,” “Do not commit adultery,” etc.) are repeated from the 613 laws within the Law of Moses and they still in effect (i.e. They have been carried over into the New Testament). However, the Old Testament Law of Moses as a whole or package deal is no more (contractually speaking). Ceremonial commands: Things like the commands on circumcision, animal sacrifices, the Saturday Sabbath, etc. are no longer binding under the New Covenant. This is because the written Law given to Israel is no longer in effect (as a whole). The Old Law is no more. How so?

The Old Law is No More - The Law has changed:

"When God speaks of a "new" covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and will soon disappear." (Hebrews 8:13) (NLT).

”Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.” (Romans 7:4).

"But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter." (Romans 7:6).

"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;" (Colossians 2:14).

20 "Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22 Which all are to perish with the using; ) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh."
(Colossians 2:20-23).

“By abolishing in His [own crucified] flesh the enmity [caused by] the Law with its decrees and ordinances [which He annulled]; that He from the two might create in Himself one new man [one new quality of humanity out of the two], so making peace.” (Ephesians 2:15) (AMPC).

"The old [former] rule [commandment; regulation] is now set aside [nullified; abolished], because it was weak and useless [ineffective]." (Hebrews 7:18) (EXB).

9 “Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.” (Hebrews 9:9-10).

16 “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.” (Hebrews 9:16-17).

”And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament…” (Hebrews 9:15).

27 “And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:27-28).

50 “Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; “ (Matthew 27:20-51).

8 “Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.” (Hebrews 10:8-9).

“And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.” (Acts of the Apostles 15:1).

“But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.” (Acts of the Apostles 15:5).

“Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment” (Acts of the Apostles 15:24).

28 "For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well." (Acts of the Apostles 15:28-29).

7 "But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious." (2 Corinthians 3:7-11).

“But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.” (2 Corinthians 3:14).


Jesus was making changes to the Old Law in preparation to the change of the New Covenant that went officially into effect with His death:

Biblical proof?

Jesus clearly was making changes to the Law (even before the cross):
(Which means He was not teaching primarily Old Covenant, but New Covenant):

The Old Way says:
"Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth"
(Matthew 5:38 cf. Exodus 21:23-25).

The New Way (by Jesus) says:
"But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also." (Matthew 5:39).


The Old Way says:
"Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment" (Matthew 5:21 cf. Numbers 35:30-32).

The New Way (by Jesus) says:
"But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire." (Matthew 5:22).


The Old Way says:
"Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:" (Matthew 5:34 cf. Numbers 30:1-2, Deuteronomy 23:21).

The New Way (by Jesus) says:
34 "But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:
35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." (Matthew 5:34-37).


The Old Way says:
"And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant." (Psalms 143:12).

"And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent." (Joshua 6:17).

"And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword." (Joshua 6:21).

16 "But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:
17 But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee" (Deuteronomy 20:16-17).

"They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them" (Psalms 106:34).

The New Way (by Jesus) says:
"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;" (Matthew 5:44).

Note: Yes, I am aware that the Old Way (Old Testament) also teaches to love one's enemies (Exodus 23:4-5) (Proverbs 25:21), but this was in context to their own Israelite people, and not pagan nations. Pagan nations were to be destroyed when God commanded the Israelites to destroy them. But Jesus taught a radically different way. Love your enemies, and do good to them that hate you, and to pray for those who persecute you.


The Old Way says:
20 "But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel:
21 Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the harlot in her father's house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you.
22 If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel." (Deuteronomy 22:20-22).

4 "They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?" (John 8:4-5).

The New Way (by Jesus) says:
"He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. " (John 8:7).


Even after the cross, there were changes being made:

The Old Covenant says this about circumcision:
"And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant." (Genesis 17:14).

Yet, the New Covenant says this about circumcision:
"Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing." (Galatians 5:2).


The Old Covenant says this about the Sabbath:
32 "And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day.
33 And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation.
34 And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.
35 And the Lord said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.
36 And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the Lord commanded Moses." (Numbers 15:32-36).

Yet, the New Covenant says this about the Sabbath:
"Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:" (Colossians 2:16).

So it appears things have changed.

This makes sense because again, Hebrews 7:12 says the Law has changed.

"For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law."
(Hebrews 7:12).

“For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
(John 1:17).

Jesus said,
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." (Matthew 5:17).

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Jesus came not to abolish the Law (in the sense of destroying all forms of Law), but Jesus came to fulfill the Law (i.e. to nail to the cross those ordinances that were against us [like the Old Covenant ceremonial laws], and Jesus came to give us a more fulfilled and perfect way of obeying God via the commands that come directly from Him and His followers). For Jesus offered a more perfect way of loving God, and loving our neighbor (Which of course is only possible via if we are first saved by God's grace through faith).

Those who want to over simplify New Covenant Demands from our Lord:

Some believers just say that the only commands we need to keep is to love God, and love our neighbor. Note: They may even include 1 John 3:23 in that. But usually they do not go beyond these three commands. See, the problem with telling me to just generically love God is that Joe may have a different idea in how to love God vs. say Frank. Joe may think loving God means drawing cute little heart pictures that says, "God I love you." Frank may think that loving God is baking cookies as an offering unto God every morning. People can have all sorts of strange ideas about loving God. But the Bible helps us to define how to love Him properly. The Bible gives us the proper sub commands in what loving God looks like. Some will say we are to love our neighbor as a part of the 2-3 commands that we should obey. This is true. We are to love our neighbor, but if they cut out the details of the Bible of how to love our neighbor, then it simply is a redefining of how we are to love others. A person may think that loving others is saying "I love you" in words alone and they offer no actions of love towards that person. They don't help them if they are struggling physically to get across the street, or they don't help them in giving them some money when they have none. They just say, "I love you." Such words would be meaningless. So loving your neighbor has to be defined according to the Bible and not just some generic "love your neighbor" type command with no real break down of how to do so with other sub commands mentioned in the Bible.

New Testament Commands That Are Called A Command:

1. “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord, and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength: this is the first commandment.” (Mark 12:29-30 gives us the full complete description of the 1st commandment in the Bible).
   
   
2. “And the second is like, namely this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:31).
   
   
3. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. (1 John 3:23).
   
   
4. “Repent” (i.e. Seek forgiveness with the Lord Jesus Christ) (Acts of the Apostles 17:30 says, “God… now commands all men everywhere to repent”).
   
   
5. A new commandment I give unto you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if you have love one to another (John 13:34-35).
   
   
6. “Watch” (“For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch you therefore: for you know not when the Master of the house comes,...” - See: Mark 13:33-37).
   
   
7. “Honor your father and mother” (God commanded, saying, Honor your father and mother - Matthew 15:4, Matthew 19:19, Mark 10:19, Luke 18:20) (Ephesians 6:2-3 says “Honour your father and mother (which is the first commandment attached with a promise).
   
   
8. Tell the women to keep silent in the churches. For it is not permitted unto them to speak, but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also says the law; And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is a shame for women to speak in the church (1 Corinthians 14:34-35).
   
   
9. Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother who walks disorderly (2 Thessalonians 3:6).
   
   
10. Keep the following commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ: Fight the good fight of faith, and lay hold on eternal life, whereby you are called, and have professed a good profession before many witnesses (1 Timothy 6:12-14).
    
    
11. Keep the commandments (Matthew 19:17) (Note: The young rich ruler asked, which ones (i.e. meaning: Which commands should he keep?); Jesus replied, “Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Matthew 19:18-19).

Now, there are approximately 430 direct or explicit commands in the New Testament. A command does not always need the words "command" to be in the verse or passage in order for it to be a command. If God tells us directly in His Word to do something, that is a command. So the idea that all we have to worry about is 2 or 3 commands is not accurate. Paul spoke in the way that he did in Romans 13:8-10 so as to get men out from under the Law of Moses.

 

[eleos1954]

Define Laws of Moses. Did Moses write the 10 commandments (which includes the Sabbath)? NO ... God Himself did.

What was done away with was the earthly sanctuary system as it fulfilled it's purpose and it's purpose was pointing to Jesus as Savior and how salvation through Him is accomplished in the REAL sanctuary that is in heaven ... He is the final sacrifice for all and is our High Priest and ministers from His sanctuary in heaven.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Old covenant: Commands
New covenant: Imperatives

 

[.Mikha'el.]

Ummm... Matthew 5:18... Last I checked, Heaven and Earth are both still here...

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Define Laws of Moses. Did Moses write the 10 commandments (which includes the Sabbath)? NO ... God Himself did.

What was done away with was the earthly sanctuary system as it fulfilled it's purpose and it's purpose was pointing to Jesus as Savior and how salvation through Him is accomplished in the REAL sanctuary that is in heaven as He is the final sacrifice for all and is our High Priest.

We see here an allusion to the Law of Moses as in reference to the 10 commandments.

John 7:19 "Did not Moses give you the Law, and yet none of you carries out the Law? Why do you seek to kill Me?"

Seeking to kill is a violation of one of the 10.

Moses gave the 10 commandments: "For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'" (Mark 7:9-10).

When you read the 10 commandments, you "read Moses" (2 Corinthians 3:3, 2 Corinthians 3:15).

Interchangeability of terms in Nehemiah 9:13-14 proves there is no distinction found in the Old Testament laws of God and Moses!

Anyways, the tablets of stone (the 10) have been done away with.

7 "But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious." (2 Corinthians 3:7-11).
​

The 9 out of the old ten commandments have been carried over into the commands given to us by Jesus Christ and they are no longer the 10. So yes, we are to not murder, not steal, not commit idolatry, etc. because that is what Jesus tells us to do, but Jesus never commanded us to keep the Sabbath, and neither did His followers, either.

"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (John 1:17).

Source used:
10 False distinctions between the 10 Commandments and the ceremonial law exposed!

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Old covenant: Commands
New covenant: Imperatives

According to the King James Bible using the Pure King James software search program, the variation on the word "command*" appears 175 times. Yet, in the search, the words "imperative" or "imperatives" do not appear in the KJV. So things are not as you say, my friend.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Ummm... Matthew 5:18... Last I checked, Heaven and Earth are both still here...

Surely if the Old Law was still in effect, then we would be sacrificing animals still and the temple veil would not have been torn from top to bottom.

In Matthew 5:18: I believe Jesus referred to the word "law" as in reference to all law in general. In other words, Jesus came not to abolish the Law (in the sense of destroying all forms of Law), but Jesus came to fulfill the Law (i.e. to nail to the cross those ordinances that were against us [like the Old Covenant ceremonial laws], and Jesus came to give us a more fulfilled and perfect way of obeying God via the commands that come directly from Him and His followers). For Jesus offered a more perfect way of loving God, and loving our neighbor (Which of course is only possible via if we are first saved by God's grace through faith).

Think of the Law in being kind of like an apple seed. If I took a hammer and smashed the apple seed, I would be abolishing or destroying the Law altogether in it's entirety. But if I took that apple seed and planted it into the ground and watered it, and I fed it proper nutrients, the apple seed could grow into an apple tree (Which is it's intended fulfilled purpose).

In other words, the Old Law is fulfilled by the New Law (Which was given to us by Jesus Christ and His followers). For many of the New Laws conflict with the Laws in the Old Covenant. One cannot obey both the Old Covenant Law and the New Covenant Law. It is impossible. These two different sets of Laws (i.e. the Old and the New) conflict with each other.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Ummm... Matthew 5:18... Last I checked, Heaven and Earth are both still here...

Also, Jesus was referring to the "Law or the Prophets." (a.k.a. "the Law and the Prophets").

For Jesus says, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets:" (Matthew 5:17).

So when Jesus refers to the "Law" in Matthew 5:18, he is referring to the package deal of the "Law or the Prophets." (i.e. Also called: "The Law and the Prophets" in Matthew 7:12, Matthew 22:40, Luke 16:16, etc.).

Seeing there is a ton of End Times Prophecy in the prophetic books in the Old Testament, this means that Heaven and Earth will remain until all of the prophecies in the prophetic books are accomplished or fulfilled. The "Law" portion of the "Law or the Prophets" has been fulfilled already when Christ died upon the cross. Yet, the "the prophets" portion of the "Law or the Prophets" has yet to be fulfilled.

The Old Law is No More - The Law has changed:

"When God speaks of a "new" covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and will soon disappear." (Hebrews 8:13) (NLT).

”Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.” (Romans 7:4).

"But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter." (Romans 7:6).

"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;" (Colossians 2:14).

20 "Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22 Which all are to perish with the using; ) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh." (Colossians 2:20-23).

“By abolishing in His [own crucified] flesh the enmity [caused by] the Law with its decrees and ordinances [which He annulled]; that He from the two might create in Himself one new man [one new quality of humanity out of the two], so making peace.” (Ephesians 2:15) (AMPC).

"The old [former] rule [commandment; regulation] is now set aside [nullified; abolished], because it was weak and useless [ineffective]." (Hebrews 7:18) (EXB).

9 “Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.” (Hebrews 9:9-10).

16 “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.” (Hebrews 9:16-17).

”And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament…” (Hebrews 9:15).

27 “And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:27-28).

50 “Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; “ (Matthew 27:20-51).

8 “Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.” (Hebrews 10:8-9).

“And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.” (Acts of the Apostles 15:1).

“But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.” (Acts of the Apostles 15:5).

“Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment” (Acts of the Apostles 15:24).

28 "For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well." (Acts of the Apostles 15:28-29).

7 "But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious." (2 Corinthians 3:7-11).

“But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.” (2 Corinthians 3:14).
​

Jesus was making changes to the Old Law in preparation to the change of the New Covenant that went officially into effect with His death:

Biblical proof?

Jesus clearly was making changes to the Law (even before the cross):
(Which means He was not teaching primarily Old Covenant, but New Covenant):

The Old Way says:
"Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth"
(Matthew 5:38 cf. Exodus 21:23-25).

The New Way (by Jesus) says:
"But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also." (Matthew 5:39).


The Old Way says:
"Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment" (Matthew 5:21 cf. Numbers 35:30-32).

The New Way (by Jesus) says:
"But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire." (Matthew 5:22).


The Old Way says:
"Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:" (Matthew 5:34 cf. Numbers 30:1-2, Deuteronomy 23:21).

The New Way (by Jesus) says:
34 "But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:
35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." (Matthew 5:34-37).


The Old Way says:
"And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant." (Psalms 143:12).

"And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent." (Joshua 6:17).

"And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword." (Joshua 6:21).

16 "But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:
17 But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee" (Deuteronomy 20:16-17).

"They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them" (Psalms 106:34).

The New Way (by Jesus) says:
"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;" (Matthew 5:44).

Note: Yes, I am aware that the Old Way (Old Testament) also teaches to love one's enemies (Exodus 23:4-5) (Proverbs 25:21), but this was in context to their own Israelite people, and not pagan nations. Pagan nations were to be destroyed when God commanded the Israelites to destroy them. But Jesus taught a radically different way. Love your enemies, and do good to them that hate you, and to pray for those who persecute you.


The Old Way says:
20 "But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel:
21 Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the harlot in her father's house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you.
22 If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel." (Deuteronomy 22:20-22).

4 "They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?" (John 8:4-5).

The New Way (by Jesus) says:
"He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. " (John 8:7).


Even after the cross, there were changes being made:

The Old Covenant says this about circumcision:
"And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant." (Genesis 17:14).

Yet, the New Covenant says this about circumcision:
"Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing." (Galatians 5:2).


The Old Covenant says this about the Sabbath:
32 "And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day.
33 And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation.
34 And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.
35 And the Lord said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.
36 And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the Lord commanded Moses." (Numbers 15:32-36).

Yet, the New Covenant says this about the Sabbath:
"Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:" (Colossians 2:16).​

So it appears things have changed.

This makes sense because again, Hebrews 7:12 says the Law has changed.

"For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law."
(Hebrews 7:12).

“For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
(John 1:17).

Jesus said,
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." (Matthew 5:17).

 

[OldWiseGuy]

According to the King James Bible using the Pure King James software search program, the variation on the word "command*" appears 175 times. Yet, in the search, the words "imperative" or "imperatives" do not appear in the KJV. So things are not as you say, my friend.

You do have to think about it a little.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

You do have to think about it a little.

Care to enlighten the rest of us? Or are you going to hold to this only enlightened knowledge for yourself alone? Why not help the rest of us?
Did not Jesus says to Peter to feed the sheep?

Side Note:

Oh, and keep in mind that other Christians (that you would like to maybe teach) could also stumble across this website reading. So I am not so sure why you are trying to hide your cards so close to your vest here, friend.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Care to enlighten the rest of us? Or are you going to hold to this only enlightened knowledge for yourself alone? Why not help the rest of us?
Did not Jesus says to Peter to feed the sheep?

Side Note:

Oh, and keep in mind that other Christians (that you would like to maybe teach) could also stumble across this website reading. So I am not so sure why you are trying to hide your cards so close to your vest here, friend.

Didn't your Greek dictionary give alternate meanings for the word command.

It's there for all to see. Jesus didn't command us to obey as "a direct order". He instructed it as a moral imperative. He enjoined or adjured us to grow in grace and knowledge. One doesn't need any further knowledge to obey a direct order.

God doesn't intend us to live our lives with mouths gagged, blinders on, and with hands in our pockets.

I'm actually following Jesus' example of being vague, so that what I say will be carefully considered (although you have considered it negatively). I could preface my comments with "Lo", or "Behold" as well, as did the writers when special attention was to paid to a narrative.