This is just a short "update" on my "The Word of the Law" note--I've had a few emails telling me I am wrong about Torah Observance and Grace...many think they can't go hand in hand. So let me elborate on Matthew 5:17-20.
The Message reads: 17-18"Don't suppose for a minute that I have come to demolish the Scriptures— either God's Law or the Prophets. I'm not here to demolish but to complete. I am going to put it all together, pull it all together in a vast panorama. God's Law is more real and lasting than the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet. Long after stars burn out and earth wears out, God's Law will be alive and working.
19-20"Trivialize even the smallest item in God's Law and you will only have trivialized yourself. But take it seriously, show the way for others, and you will find honor in the kingdom. Unless you do far better than the Pharisees in the matters of right living, you won't know the first thing about entering the kingdom.
The KJV reads:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled, 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
The English Standard Version reads:17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you(I) will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
So according to many study notes that I have read and these that I am going to post are the ONES I AGREE with. To fully understand these verses one must make note that there were THREE categories of law: Ceremonial, Civil and Moral.
1) Ceremonial Law: These relate specifically to Israel's Worship. (See Leviticus 1:2, 3 for an example). Its primary purpose was to point forward to Christ; these laws, therefore, were no longer necessary after Jesus' Death and resurrection. While we are no longer bound by ceremonial laws, the principles behind them--to worship and love a Holy God--Still apply. Jesus was often accused by the Pharisees of violating ceremonial law.
2) Civil Law: These applied to daily living in ISrael (See Deuteronomy 24:10, 11 for example). Because modern society and culture are so radically different from that time and setting all of these guidelines cannot be followed specifically. But the principles behind the commands are timeless and should guide our conduct. Jesus demonstrated these principles by example.
3) Moral Law: (Such as the Ten Commandments) is the direct command of God, and it require strict obedience (see Exodus 20:13 for example). The Moral Law reveals the nature and will of God and it still applies today. Jesus obeyed the Moral Law completely.
I realize that several people will not agree with me on this, and that is alright, to each their own. However, I believe that if we as Christians start to really look at our lives and begin to live life with GRACE and OBEDIENCE then our lives will truly shine forth the LIGHT of God.
*Explanations taken from "Life Application Bible: NIV"
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