Did Jesus Destroy The Law?
There is a common belief among some Christians today that after Jesus’s resurrection, He fulfilled the commandments of God and we as believers, no longer have to keep God’s commands. Let’s examine the scriptures to see what Jesus says about the matter.
God’s Commandments vs. Man’s Tradition
In Mark 7 we are privileged to listen in to a conversation between Jesus and the Pharisees and scribes. The discussion is about the disciples not keeping the tradition of the elders. The teachers of the law observed the disciples eating without washing their hands and decide to question Jesus…
Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?” Mark 7:5 NKJV
Jesus responds to them by comparing keeping God’s commandments vs keeping the traditions of man. He even says that Isaiah prophesied about their hypocritical condition…
“Well, did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:
‘This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.”
He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.” Mark 7:6-9 NKJV
The Pharisees and scribes were teaching the commandments of men ‘AS’ doctrine. They had replaced obedience to God’s commands with obedience to their traditions. We can see this today where people will go to great lengths to keep traditions but reject the laws and commands for God.
Jesus goes on to tell them that they reject the commandment of God, that they may keep their tradition and then gives a few example of this…
“He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”—’ (that is, a gift to God), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.” Mark 7:9-13 NKJV
He says that by living this way we make the word of God of no effect.
Jesus then called the multitude to Him and addressed the tradition of washing hands before eating, how this does not defile a man but what comes out of the heart does defile a man…
When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and understand: There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!” Mark 7:14-15 NKJV
“What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.” Mark 7:20-23 NKJV
In Matthew chapter 5 Jesus goes up the Mount of Beatitudes and sat down, then His disciples came to Him, and He taught them. In verse 17 Jesus tells them do not think I have come to destroy the law or the prophets but to fulfill. I believe it’s the ‘fulfill’ statement in this verse that is the source for the thinking that Jesus fulfilled the commandments of God, and we no longer have to.
But Jesus begins to clarify this statement with a time frame for when the law and the prophets would be done away with…
Jesus Expands The Law of God
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 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. 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 5:17-20 NKJV
He then says that if our righteousness does not exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees we will not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
“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.” Mathew 5:20 NKJV
Let’s remember that the righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees was replacing the commandments of God for the traditions of the elders.
He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.” Mark 7:6-9 NKJV
So, it seems that if we want to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, we need to practice keeping the commandments of God over our traditions.
Then Jesus expands on the commandments, and He is expecting us to follow them.
He expands on the 6th commandment, “You Shall Not Murder”
“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.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.” Matthew 5:21-22 NKJV
He expands on the 7th commandment, “You Shall Not Commit Adultery”
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his hear” Matthew 5:27-28 NKJV
Jesus also points out the seriousness of obeying God’s commandments by stating that, if one of our members causes us to sin remove it for it is better to lose a member and enter into the Kingdom than to keep it and the whole body is cast into Hell.
“If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” Matthew 5:29-30 NKJV
Other examples of keeping God’s commandments…
Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life? ”So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
Matthew 19:16-17 NKJV
Jesus says to Him, if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.
John the apostle in John 14 tells us that keeping the commandments shows God we love Him, and it seems to be tied to receiving the Holy Spirit.
“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— he Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”
John 14:15-18 NKJV
Paul the apostle in 1 Corinthians 7 tells us that keeping God’s commandments is what matters.
“Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.”
1 Corinthians 7:19 NKJV
The Book of Revelation also refers to the saints as those that keep the commandments and have faith in Jesus Christ.
“Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.“
Revelation 14:12 NKJV
John also opens The Book of Revelation by telling us he is our brother and companion and why he was on the island of Patmos. He was sent there for keeping the word of God – Torah, Commands – and the testimony of Jesus.
“I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ”
Revelation 1:9 NKJJV
There are many other scriptures in the bible that refer to us keeping God’s commandments and they seem to go hand in hand with our faith in Jesus Christ, because having faith in Christ will cause you to be obedient to God. He is our living example of how to walk in a way that is pleasing to the Father.
“Who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.”
Hebrews 5:7-9 NKJV
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”
Ecclesiastes 12:13 NKJV
Let’s walk like Jesus walked!
