"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 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." (Matthew 5:17-18)
Some have said that these two verses are the hardest to interpret and understand in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. With three interpretations of verse 17 alone, there have been a number of teachings that have circulated in the modern church as a result. Some with consequences that make the church look more worldly, or, at the other extreme, seem "too holy." Let us look at these words briefly and see how they apply to us today.
The Fulfilled Law
There are three basic interpretations of this text:
1. There are different types of law; moral, civil and ceremonial (This comes more from interpretations of the laws rather than from the Word directly), therefore, we are not bound by the ceremonial laws as Christ fulfilled them, or by the civil laws as they were specific to the Israelite nation, but we are bound to the moral laws (e.g. the Ten Commandments). One simple word in the text seems to imply this is an incorrect interpretation, "all," Jesus was clearly referring to ALL the Laws.
2. Jesus came to confirm the Law, therefore we are still bound to obey all the Old Testament Laws. However, when you look at the Jewish sacrificial system in the Old Testament, Jesus fulfilled all of them on the cross, where He declared, "It is finished," implying that there is no longer a need for the sacrifices. Clearly this interpretation is also incorrect.
3. The Jews used the words "the Law and the Prophets" to refer to the whole of Scripture, therefore:
Jesus fulfilled, but not yet completely, the Prophets through His death on the cross, and all will eventually fulfil the rest in the last days upon His return. But He also fulfilled the Law in every aspect - moral, civil and ceremonial - through His sinless life and death on the cross.
Looking at the context of the passage, it is the third interpretation that is the correct one. Jesus was making a bold statement about himself that none of the teachers of the law could have made. Jesus in obeying and fulfilling what was written in the Scriptures was saying that He came to show the true meaning of the law.
The Eternal Law
Verse 18 tells us that not the smallest letter, nor the slightest stroke of a pen, in the Scriptures will pass away until all the Law and the Prophets have been fulfilled. In terms of our studies the last few weeks, this has a couple of important implications for us.
Firstly, every single thing written in the Bible is of importance to God. It does not matter whether we consider it important or not, it is God's decision as to what is important. We may prefer certain words or phrases in one translation over another, or we may believe that certain laws or statements do not apply to us, but at the end of the day, it is not up to us. God has clearly deemed all Scripture important.
Secondly, God's Word is eternal. We can take things out of our Bibles, or ignore certain passages, but at the end of the day, what God has determined to be part of His Law and Prophets will remain there until all is fulfilled. As we read in Isaiah 55:11, "So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it."
God's Words will last until the end of time and will fulfil everything that God has determined them to fulfil. Therefore, let us heed His Word, study it, and let it work in our hearts to fulfil what God desires it to do in us. We cannot change God's Word, but God's Word can change us.
Just a Thought!
© 2012
No comments:
Post a Comment