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NASB | Matthew 5:17 ¶ "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 5:17 ¶ "Do not think that I came to do away with or undo the Law [of Moses] or the [writings of the] Prophets; I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. |
Subject: Did Christ not fulfill the law? |
Bible Note: First I do believe that Cain's sin was not in offering "grain" to the Lord, but that he did not give God the best, but only from the leftovers so to speak. Gen.4:3-4 And at the end of days it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. Abel also brought of the FIRSTLINGS of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offerings, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. "The end of days" implies the end of the growing season, rather than the firstfruits of the crop. But I do agree that because Adam and Eve ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, that they and their offspring KNEW right from wrong. You said: If Torah was not around before Moses how could the Lord warn Cain that sin was crouching at his door? Again, I believe Cain knew right from wrong because his parent's ate from the tree of the "knowledge of good and evil". But that is not the Torah (teaching and instruction) from God. As to the Lord's "commandments", you are making the assumption that the Torah is the Ten Commandments. But the verse in Matthew 5 is not talking about only the Ten Commandments. It is talking about the Torah, the first five books of Moses. All the teachings and instructions given to the children of Israel by God through Moses. You said: I can't think of any of the Lords commandments that I don't want to follow, can you? In another post, I mentioned to you certain teachings in the Torah that I personally would not want to "keep". I'm grateful that we are not obligated to keep the Torah. I'd prefer not to hate my enemies, give an eye for an eye, nor many of the others teachings (commands) in the Torah. You said: Jesus made it very clear that can keep G*ds commands in Matthew 5:48 "Be perfect , therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect". But we can only be "perfect" through the teachings of the Holy Spirit. I mean that our obedience in the flesh is nothing... if it is not a "law" that God has written on an indivdual heart. If God has written on your heart to let's say "keep the dietary laws", then do so. Period. It would be sin if you didn't. But if He hasn't written that on someone else's heart, but instead tells them to be grateful for the pork that He has provided them to eat... it isn't sin for them to eat pork. And that same example could be used concerning most if not all of the Torah. You said: Jesus made it very clear that can keep G*ds commands in Matthew 5:48 "Be perfect , therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect". A reminder. It is God who calls and God who "justifies". We cannot make ourselves "perfect" by obeying Torah. If one could, there would have been no need for the new covenant at all. All those things in Matthew 5 spoke of "heart motives" and there is only ONE Person that can fix a heart and perfect it. And that is God Himself. As He teaches... so we shall obey His voice. You said: The Lord says in John 14:15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command. I would then ask you... which command should we obey? An eye for an eye (Torah), or love your enemies (Matt.5:39). Love your neighbor and hate your enemy (Torah), or love your enemies (Matt.5:44)? Swear in the Lord's name (Torah), or not at all (Matt.5:34). So who's commands do you think we are suppose to obey? Those given to Israel through Moses, or those taught by Jesus Christ? |