THE LAW OF

GOD

Lesson 10 for September 6, 2014

THE LAWGIVER“This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, the one who received the living oracles to give to us.” (Acts 7:38)

In the Old Testament, “the Angel of the Lord” is Jesus. He is given divine attributes and is called “the Lord” (Joshua 5:13-15; Judges 13:17-20; Zechariah 3:1-2)That Angel appeared to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:2-6) and on mount Sinai (Acts 7:38)Jesus gave the Israelites the Ten Commandments and the laws that are found in the Pentateuch.

JESUS KEPT THE LAW

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” (Matthew 5:17)

Jesus didn’t come to destroy de Law.He came to deepen the meaning of the Law, thanks to His teachings and His example.

“His mission was to ‘magnify the law, and make it honorable.’ Isaiah 42:21. He was to show the spiritual nature of the law, to present its far-reaching principles, and to make plain its eternal obligation… [Jesus] was a living representation of the character of the law of God.”

E.G.W. (Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, cp. 3, pg. 49)

THE EXTENDED LAWIT WAS SAID…

“You shall not murder.” (Ex. 20:13)

“You shall not commit adultery,” (Ex. 20:14)

“If he doesn’t like her… let him give her a certificate of

divorce.” (Dt. 24:1)

“You shall not swear falsely.”(Lv. 19:12)

“An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” (Ex. 21:24)

“You shall love your neighbor.” (Lv. 19:18)

BUT I SAY TO YOU…

“Whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of

the judgment.” (Mt. 5:22)

“Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery

with her in his heart.” (Mt. 5:28)

“Whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes

her to commit adultery.” (Mt. 5:32)

“Do not swear at all.” (Mt. 5:34)

“Do not to resist an evil person.” (Mt. 5:39)

“Love your enemies.” (Mt. 5:44)

Jesus extended the Law and explained its true meaning. He based His teaching on his own authority as Lawgiver.

THE HARDNESS OF THE HEART“He said to them, ‘Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.’” (Matthew 19:8)

How did Jesus extend the meaning of adultery in the 7th Commandment? Matthew 5:28-32

Jesus explained that adultery also involves the immoral thoughts and desires.

Jesus used a hyperbole (“If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you”) to teach us that we must take the measures necessary to avoid (or flee from) temptation before it becomes a sin.

Jesus bore polygamy and divorce for some time because of the weakness of Israel. But now, He dignifies the holiness and perpetuity of marriage.

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.”

(Mark 7:10-12)

According to the Pharisees, if a man dedicated all his possessions to God (that is, he bequeathed his belongings to the Temple), he was exempt from keeping the 5th Commandment and he still could use his possessions.

Human philosophies and traditions can never substitute or modify the Ten Commandments God wrote down.

“And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” (Mark 7:7)

THE ESSENCE OF THE LAW“‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?’ Jesus said to him, ‘”You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the first and great commandment.’” (Matthew 22:36-38)

God wants us to surrender all to Him, being motivated by love.That surrender will result in obedience to the divine will, which is reflected in His Commandments.The rich young man kept the Commandments (Matthew 19:16-22), but he was not willing to leave everything behind when the Teacher told him, “come and follow me.”Obedience without love is worthless.Obedience and surrender to God must always come together. If they don’t, we will live just a facade of a Christian life.

“In His teachings, Christ showed how far-reaching are the principles of the law spoken from Sinai. He made a living application of that law whose principles remain forever the great standard of righteousness—the standard by which all shall be judged in that great day when the judgment shall sit, and the books shall be opened. He came to fulfill all righteousness, and, as the head of humanity, to show man that he can do the same work, meeting every specification of the requirements of God. Through the measure of His grace furnished to the human agent, not one need miss heaven. Perfection of character is attainable by every one who strives for it. This is made the very foundation of the new covenant of the gospel. The law of Jehovah is the tree; the gospel is the fragrant blossoms and fruit which it bears.”

E.G.W. (Selected Messages, vol. 1, cp. 26, pg. 211)