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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: I CAME TO FULFILL THE LAW |
Bible Note: There What you call Christ's Law, is in fact, God's Law. As it states in Matthew 5:17, Jesus did not come to abolish or to rewrite God's Law. John gives the best single explanation as to the true meaning of this subject. John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. In Matthew 5:18-19, Jesus Himself reaffirms that He is not changing Gods Law. Matt 5:18 "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. 19 "Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. People reading Gods Law in the Old Testament have a feeling that God's Law is one of cruelty and harshness - they tend not to see God's compassion and love for man in His laws and in the application of His laws. Often, Gods words are taken out of context. An example of this is Deuteronomy 19:21 "Thus you shall not show pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. But, if you read Deuteronomy 19:17-20, you will understand God is talking about justice among men living on earth. The same justice God commands in Deuteronomy 16:18-20 Deut 16:18 "You shall appoint for yourself judges and officers in all your towns which the LORD your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. 19 "You shall not distort justice; you shall not be partial, and you shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous. 20 "Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue, that you may live and possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you These words of justice in Deuteronomy is a single small example of God being a compassionate and just God - this is the truth and mercy which is what Jesus is trying to teach us. From this, we also begin to understand how to gain entry in heaven, by acting as a 'Christian'. I quote this because, Jesus is teaching the same (Christian behavior), which God had already taught us in the Old Testament. Brian |