Matthew (Written)

Tuesday, 26 November 2024

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ Matthew 5:21

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“You heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Not you shall murder.’ And ‘Whoever, he shall murder, he will be liable to the judgment’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus told the disciples that unless their righteousness exceeded that of the scribes and Pharisees, they would by no means enter the kingdom of the heavens. With that stated, He now will make points concerning God’s standard that demonstrate that mere law observance fails to address the true nature of erring before God. He begins this by saying, “You heard.”

The words “You heard” are a way of Jesus introducing a thought that is to be contrasted with the way things really should be (or that really are in God’s sight). In other words, what has been heard is either wrong, insufficient, or lacking in some way, etc. In such instances, Jesus will later clarify or correct what has been heard. Next, He says, “that it was said to the ancients.”

The word “to” is inserted. Some translations say “by.” The Greek simply says, “You heard that it was said the ancients.” Thus, the English must supply what is lacking in the Greek. Whether “by” or “to,” Jesus is referring to a time in the past when instruction was given.

Who “the ancients” are is debated. However, Jesus is not setting Himself against Moses or the law given through him. As such, the term doesn’t concern the reception of the law, but of the explanation of the law by the scribes or teachers of the past, and whose doctrine continued in the scribes and Pharisees just mentioned in the previous verse. This is more certain because the final clause of the verse will have words that are not quoted from the Law of Moses. As for what was taught to the ancients, Jesus begins with the words, “Not you shall murder.”

The words are found in the Ten Commandments as proclaimed to the people in Exodus 20. This is specifically the sixth commandment recorded in Exodus 20:13, lo tir’tsakh or “Not murder.” The Hebrew word is often mistranslated as “kill,” but that is not the intent.

Killing may or may not be sanctioned. Further, and surprisingly, it is not even the same word used when Cain killed Abel. The first time this word, ratsakh, was used was in the giving of the Ten Commandments. Thus, it is a word defined by the law itself.

It is used many times in Numbers 35 when dealing with the cities of refuge for the manslayer. There, it is alternatingly translated in English as “manslayer” or “murderer” based on the guilt or innocence of the offender. However, because the same word is used for both, it carries an underlying thought that, whether guilty or innocent, it was a form of unsanctioned taking of human life.

The Greek word is phoneuó. It likewise signifies to murder, and this is what Jesus is focusing on, the act of murdering another human being. With that, He continues with, “And ‘Whoever, he shall murder, he will be liable to the judgment.’”

The words of this clause are not a part of the law. They are a commentary on the law. This confirms that Jesus is not referring to the words of Moses specifically but on a commentary of what the Lord stated in the giving of the Ten Commandments.

The commentary of the ancients, either “by” them, and meaning the past teachers of the law, or “to” them and meaning those who were instructed by the teachers, was that when someone murdered, he was liable to the judgment as set forth in the law. For example, in Deuteronomy 16, it says –

“You shall appoint judges and officers in all your gates, which the Lord your God gives you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with just judgment. ¹⁹ You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.” Deuteronomy 16:18, 19

There is nothing wrong with the commentary that was given by the ancients. It quotes law, and it then cites what the law expects when a violation of it occurs. However, what Jesus will show in the next verse is that God’s standard is actually stricter than what this word of instruction teaches.

Life application: Jesus uttered words concerning the absolutely binding nature of the law. He then said that, for those who wish to be saved, meeting a stricter standard than what even the religious leaders demonstrated was necessary. He next will give examples to support His previous words. He is building a case for His hearers that mere observance of the law is insufficient to save anyone.

This is certain because David was an adulterer, and under his authority, he had a man murdered. And yet, he is a saved person, demonstrated by later promises found in the prophets that he would reign again in the future. Despite his failings before the law, David understood that it was not mere law observance that saved him. This is seen, for example, in his words, which are then cited by Paul –

“But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, ⁶ just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:
⁷ ‘Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
And whose sins are covered;
⁸ Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.’” Romans 4:5-8

The law demanded the imputation of sin. And yet, David speaks of the non-imputation of sin. Therefore, there was something beyond the law that brought man to that blessed state. This is what Jesus is trying to tell the people. But He is doing it from the other side of the matter, demonstrating that the demands of God are stricter than what was commonly taught within the Jewish society.

He is showing them that what they really needed was still ahead. Once He died in fulfillment of the law, God could then pour out His grace, the non-imputation of sin, through the precious shed blood of Christ. The teachings of Jesus were a necessary part of helping the world understand the enormity of what God in Christ would do. For those who pay heed and receive what He has done by faith, God is pleased with them and will lavish His salvation upon them.

Lord God, we are so grateful to You for the giving of Jesus. In Him is found total restoration for all the sins we have committed. We don’t need to work out deeds of the law to be saved. Rather, He has done that for us. Thank You for Your grace that comes through faith in what He alone has done. Yes, thank You for Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Monday, 25 November 2024

For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“For I say to you, that if not it might excel – your righteousness – above the scribes and Pharisees, no – not – should you enter into the kingdom of the heavens” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus noted that the person who would break one of the commandments of the law, even the least of them, and he was to teach men the same, he would be called least in the kingdom of the heavens, but for the one who should keep and also teach, such a person would be called great in the kingdom of the heavens. Now, to make it clear about the necessary nature of this point, He continues with, “For I say to you, that if not it might excel – your righteousness – above the scribes and Pharisees.”

The words of Jesus bring in the obvious truth that the scribes and the Pharisees were considered examples of the epitome of righteousness by the people. If this were not the case, there would be no reason to make such a comparison.

As this is the case, and as He says to His disciples that their righteousness must excel that of the scribes and Pharisees, He is noting that the righteousness of these two groups was not sufficient to obtain what He will next state. Having set those boundaries by His introductory words, He next completes the thought saying emphatically, “no – not – should you enter into the kingdom of the heavens.”

To clearly understand the meaning, Jesus has just said that unless the righteousness of His hearers was greater than that of the scribes and Pharisees, they would certainly not enter into the kingdom of the heavens. Therefore, by default, the scribes and Pharisees were not righteous enough to enter.

The very people who were considered the greatest examples of righteousness by the masses lacked the righteousness necessary to obtain what God promised. As noted in the previous commentary, Paul had said that concerning the righteousness which is in the law, he was blameless. Just prior to saying that, in Philippians 3:5, he stated that he was a Pharisee.

Therefore, the point that Jesus is making is that someone like Paul, a Pharisee who was blameless before the law concerning righteousness, could not enter into the kingdom of the heavens. The reason why is found in their own writings. In Habakkuk 2:4, it says –

“Behold the proud,
His soul is not upright in him;
But the just shall live by his faith.”

The Hebrew word tsaddiq is used, translated as just. The just, meaning the righteous (the word carries both connotations), are those who live by faith. To trust in one’s own merit through law observance, which is what the scribes and Pharisees did, was to nullify faith. But the Lord, through Habakkuk, said that faith is what justifies a man. Paul explains this in Romans 1 –

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. ¹⁷ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’” Romans 1:16, 17

He also provides an explanation in Galatians 3 –

“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.’ ¹¹ But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for ‘the just shall live by faith.’ ¹² Yet the law is not of faith, but ‘the man who does them shall live by them.’
¹³ Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’), ¹⁴ that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” Galatians 3:10-14

Paul clearly saw that the law only brought condemnation. Leviticus 18:5 says that the man who does the things of the law (meaning perfect obedience to the law) would live. But every person who ever lived under the law died. No person lived because of the law. Rather, they died under the law. Only Christ fulfilled the law, proving it through His resurrection and signifying that His death was in fulfillment of it.

Therefore, only by faith in the completed work of Jesus can a man possess the righteousness that exceeds the most meticulously faithful observers of the law, such as Paul the Pharisee. This perfectly explains Paul’s claim to boast only in the cross of Jesus –

“But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.” Galatians 6:14, 15

Circumcision, the benchmark and standard used by Paul for law observance, means nothing. As such, law observance means nothing. Only by faith in what Jesus did can we have the righteousness that allows us entrance into the kingdom of the heavens.

Life application: If one takes Jesus’ words as recorded in Matthew and applies them to his walk before the Lord, attempting to obtain a righteousness before the law that is greater than the scribes and the Pharisees, he is wasting his time.

But this is what so many do. They are duped by Judaizers and Hebrew Roots teachers who claim people must adhere to the Law of Moses in order to be saved. It is a self-condemning theology.

If you are truly interested in being saved, it is time for you to give up your arrogant attempts at meriting God’s favor through your own deeds and to simply trust – by faith alone – in the full, final, finished, and forever work of Jesus. Nothing else will do.

Lord God Almighty, You have done everything necessary to bring us back to You, justified and holy, through the giving of Jesus Christ our Lord for our sins. We trust that what He has done is sufficient to save us and to continue to save us until the day You come for Your people. Thank You, O God, for Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sunday, 24 November 2024

Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:19

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“Whoever if therefore, he shall loosen one of these commandments – the least – and he shall teach the men thus, least he will be called in the kingdom of the heavens. And whoever, if he shall keep and he shall teach, this great he will be called in the kingdom of the heavens” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus told His disciples that till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or stroke will not pass from the law until all should be fulfilled. With that remembered, He continues, saying, “Whoever if therefore, he shall loosen one of these commandments – the least.”

The word luó, to loosen, is introduced here. When one loosens something, a bond is broken. One can loosen a donkey, and the donkey is no longer bound to the post it was tied to. To loosen the temple would be to destroy it because its structure – foundation, pillars, etc. – is no longer firm.

To loosen the Sabbath is to violate or break it because it is a precept commanded by the law. The same is true here. Jesus is saying of the Law and Prophets (verse 17), “Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments.” From there, He continues with, “and he shall teach the men thus.”

Not only is the person breaking (loosening) the least of the commandments, but he is then teaching that it is ok to do so. Of such a person, “least he will be called in the kingdom of the heavens.”

Such a person, who is so presumptuous as to willfully violate a law set forth by the Lord, and who also then teaches others that it is ok to do so, will not find favor in the eyes of God who gave the law in the first place. It is unconscionable to even consider that a man could override the word of God given to the people of Israel for the guidance of their lives in His presence.

Of this precept, Charles Ellicott says, “The words seem at first to imply that even the ceremonial law was to be binding in its full extent upon Christ’s disciples. The usage of the time, however, confined the word to the moral laws of God.”

What is right or wrong with the words of Ellicott? Consider that as the words of Jesus continue. Next, He says, “And whoever, if he shall keep and he shall teach.”

Jesus is precisely saying to His disciples that there is another category of person, completely distinct and separate from the one He just mentioned. There is the meticulous keeper of every precept of the Law and Prophets. He understands it is God’s word for the people of Israel, it is binding in its every precept, and he faithfully attempts to live out the commandments as they are set forth – without adding to or detracting from what is prescribed.

Paul was such a person. In Philippians 3, he gave his points of boasting from a worldly perspective. To sum up his long list of achievements, accomplishments, and accolades, he says in verse 3:6, “concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.”

In other words, Paul was just the person Jesus is describing here. He was a meticulous law keeper whose righteousness before the law could not be questioned. Of such a person, from the perspective of the dispensation of the law, Jesus says, “this great he will be called in the kingdom of the heavens.”

Paul, at any time under the Law of Moses, would have been the epitome of one who would be exalted in the kingdom of the heavens set forth by God. At the base of Mount Sinai, he would have stood against those who fashioned the golden calf.

During the time of the Judges, he would have come against the idolatry of Micah and the tribe of Dan, standing against them and calling them out for their willful violation of the law. At the time of David, he would have counseled the king concerning his adulterous affair, telling him that what he had done was abominable in the sight of God.

This was the type of person Paul was. He faithfully and meticulously upheld the standards of the Law and Prophets set forth by God for the conduct of Israel. And yet, after listing this most valuable asset of his under the time of the law, he next said –

“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. ⁸ Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; ¹⁰ that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, ¹¹ if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:7-11

Had Paul gone off his rocker? Was he suddenly in violation of what Jesus said in Matthew 5? Was he set to be the least in the kingdom of God? No! What is wrong with Ellicott’s words? What now makes what Paul says acceptable? The answer is JESUS.

Who was Jesus speaking to? Israel.

What was the state of Israel at the time He spoke those words? Bound to the Law of Moses under the Mosaic (Old) Covenant.

What is the difference in Paul’s words of Philippians 3? Jesus had fulfilled the Law of Moses, died in fulfillment of it, and established a New Covenant in His blood.

Is the law still binding on Israel, then? Yes and No. Yes, if one has not come to Jesus. He is still bound to the Mosaic Covenant and must fulfill it perfectly. As it is impossible for someone to do so, he stands condemned before God. However, the answer is No for one who has come to Jesus. He has been imputed Christ’s righteousness, meaning Jesus has fulfilled the law on his behalf. He has kept every precept according to God’s standard, not on his own, but through Jesus’ fulfilling each on his behalf. He has entered into the New Covenant of grace. The law is done away with for him.

Are Gentiles bound to the law of Moses? No. The law was only given to Israel. No other nation or people group was given the law. Jesus was speaking to Israel about matters pertaining to Israel alone.

Life application: The problem with Ellicott’s words is that there is NO DISTINCTION between the moral law and the ceremonial law. It is a false teaching. Jesus’ words bear no such tone. The least part of the Mosaic Law was to be fulfilled, even in ceremonial matters. As James says –

“For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.” James 2:10

The Law of Moses is a codified whole. No person had the right to dismiss even the least portion of it. The entirety was binding upon the people. And in Jesus’ fulfillment of it, the entirety of it is taken away for the one who trusts in His finished work –

“For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, ¹⁵ having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments [the Law of Moses] contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶ and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.” Ephesians 2:14-16

“And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, ¹⁴ having wiped out the handwriting of requirements [the Law of Moses] that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. ¹⁵ Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” Colossians 2:13-15

“For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment [the Law of Moses] because of its weakness and unprofitableness, ¹⁹ for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.” Hebrews 7:18, 19

“In that He says, ‘A new covenant,’ He has made the first [the Law of Moses] obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.” Hebrews 8:13

“He takes away the first [the Law of Moses] that He may establish the second [the New Covenant].” Hebrews 10:9

The law is done. No person will find righteousness through the law. Only through faith in Christ’s fulfillment of it can man be saved. This is the message of the Bible. Jesus! It is all about what God has done in and through JESUS.

Lord God, thank You for Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Saturday, 23 November 2024

For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Matthew 5:18

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“Amen! For I say to you, until if it shall pass – the heaven and the earth – jot one or one stroke, no, not shall pass from the law until all should become” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus said He did not come to disintegrate the law but to fulfill it. Now, He continues that thought with, “Amen!”

It is the customary Hebrew word for “truly” or “sure.” As HELPS Word Studies notes, “…an ‘emphasis marker,’ introduces a statement of pivotal importance.” After preparing their ears, He continues with, “For I say to you, until if it shall pass – the heaven and the earth.”

It is a way of saying that the statement He will make is as binding at the time He speaks it as it will be at the end of the known world itself. It is thus an eternal truth that stands before God. That truth is “jot one or one stroke.”

The Greek word translated as jot is found only here, ióta. One can see the etymological root of our modern word iota. The jot equates to the Hebrew yod (י), the tenth and smallest letter of the Hebrew aleph-beth. It would be easy to miss a jot when transcribing a document. The stroke equates to a dash used to make a letter. Some letters are so close in appearance, that the smallest mark can make them appear differently –

כ ב – beth and kaph
ר ך – daleth and resh
תחה – he, kheth, tav

The slightest change in these and other letters can change the entire meaning of what is being said. Understanding this, Jesus continues with, “no, not shall pass from the law until all should become.”

The meaning is that there can be no change in the word of the Lord. It is fixed, it is unchanging, it is binding, and all who are under the law will be judged by every precept set forth in it… until all is fulfilled. Nobody under the law can get around the law. All under law are obligated to every jot and every stroke.

Why anyone who was never under the law would want to be put under that burden is very hard to understand. As Paul says concerning circumcision, which is the benchmark that represents the law –

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. ² Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. ³ And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. ⁴ You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.” Galatian 5:1-4

Life application: As the law is binding upon Israel, what does that mean for them? Christ has come. And so, what is their state?

The answer is that in failing to come to Christ, they forsook the grace of God and remain under the law, a law that is impossible for fallen man to fulfill. In this, only condemnation remains. Any individual Jew who comes to Christ is freed from the law. But for the nation as a whole, and all individual Jews who reject Jesus, there can be no salvation.

This is also true with those who reject Christ’s grace and voluntarily place themselves under the law (as Paul notes above). For those who were saved and later do this, his salvation remains, but any hope of rewards will be lost for their faithlessness.

However, someday, Israel will come to Christ. This is noted explicitly in Zechariah and elsewhere. It is also clearly noted in the typology of Joshua 3 and 4, the sermons of which can be found at the Superior Word.

For maximum happiness, come to Jesus by faith, accepting His full, final, finished, and forever work. In this, you will be in the sweet spot. Grace, grace! Marvelous grace bestowed upon us through the precious blood of Christ.

Glorious God, help us to trust in You and not in our own pitiful deeds of righteousness. It is Jesus who makes us righteous. What can we add to that? And so, Lord, may our deeds be in gratitude for the salvation You have provided, not in attempts to merit it in the first place. Amen.

Friday, 22 November 2024

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. Matthew 5:17

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“You, deem not that I came to disintegrate the law or the prophets. Not, I came to disintegrate but to fulfill” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus told the disciples to radiate their good works in order to glorify their Father in heaven. Now, He brings up words that are so misquoted and misapplied within the church that entire cults have used them to justify the unjustifiable. He begins with, “You, deem not that I came to disintegrate the law or the prophets.”

First, Jesus’ words are to the people of Israel, to whom the law was given. No other people on the planet were given the Law of Moses. The law was not binding on any other people in the past, and it is not binding on any other people today. The context is Jesus, speaking under the law and to the people of Israel. Nobody else.

To remove this context is to form a pretext. It is unsound. Jesus is telling Israel that they should not perceive that His mission was to destroy the law or the prophets. That was not His mission, and nobody was to accuse Him of conducting His ministry otherwise. He was born under the law, and He had no design or intent to set aside Moses in His ministry.

But some may accuse Him of such, saying He was disobedient to Moses. No! He exclaims. That was not His mission at all. Because of these words, Judaizers, such as in Paul’s time, and a myriad of cults in our time, such as the Hebrew Roots movement, seize on His words and avow that everybody must adhere to the Law of Moses. He lived under it, and so we are obligated to it too.

From there, they will take the words of the coming verse and build upon their terrible theology with those words as well. For now, it is absolutely certain that Jesus did not come to disintegrate the Law and the Prophets. He has clearly avowed that. However, He doesn’t stop there. He next says, “Not, I came to disintegrate but to fulfill.”

You can’t stop with half a verse and expect your theology to be complete and proper. Jesus did not come to disintegrate the law. The law is binding on Israel as much today as it was when Moses gave it to them at the foot of Mount Sinai.

However, Jesus’ mission was to fulfill the law – on their behalf – for those who trust in Him, thus setting it aside and offering them His grace in place of it. And fulfill it, He did –

“So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” John 19:30

Jesus fulfilled the law, finishing the task set before Him. Paul speaks of this as well –

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. ² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. ³ For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:1-4

Paul is writing to both Jews and Gentiles, telling them that the law’s requirements are fulfilled in Christ and they are set aside in Christ. This is explained, explicitly, many times in the New Testament epistles –

“For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, ¹⁵ having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶ and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.” Ephesians 2:14-16

Paul says the law is abolished through the cross for both Jews and Gentiles. He repeats this again in Colossians 2, using Christ’s physical body as a metaphor for the law –

“And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, ¹⁴ having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” Colossians 2:13, 14

The author of Hebrews says that the law is annulled –

“For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, ¹⁹ for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.” Hebrews 7:18, 19

The “former commandment” refers to the Law of Moses. The “better hope” is the fulfillment of the law by Jesus. The author of Hebrews also says the law is abolished –

“In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.” Hebrews 8:13

The words “ready to vanish away” refer to the time when Israel calls to the Lord, receiving the grace of Jesus Christ. At that time, they will no longer observe the law. He also says –

“Previously saying, ‘Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them’ (which are offered according to the law), ⁹ then He said, ‘Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.’ He takes away the first that He may establish the second. ¹⁰ By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Hebrews 10:8-10

The sacrifices of the Old Covenant were ineffectual to bring man near to God. Jesus, not coming to disintegrate the law but fulfill it, did this in accord with the will of God. In His accomplishment of that, the law is “taken away,” and the New Covenant is introduced for all who will come to Him through faith, being sanctified once and forever by the precious blood (meaning the life) of Jesus Christ.

Life application: Context matters. Know your Bible through and through. Properly divide what is being said. Attempting to earn God’s favor through law observance is to set aside the grace of the cross – “Thanks God, I know you tried, but I will get this.”

It is a proverbial slap in God’s face, and you will find yourself condemned when you stand before Him at the Great White Throne. All that effort… for nothing. Come to Jesus and be saved, once and forever. All His effort… for all things!

Heavenly Father, help us not to think more of ourselves and our deeds than we should. Christ did it all. Now, may our lives being lived for Him be a pleasing and acceptable offering back to You for what You have done through Him. May we never set aside the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.