Law 2.0

Review

Three components of God’s law

Command

Choice

Consequence

Law of Moses

Our definition for the law of Moses is:

God’s commands for Israel’s conduct

Timing of the Law of Moses

After God delivered the Israelites from bondage in Egypt

As the Hebrew refugees were transitioning into a nation

As the God of Abraham was revealing Himself to the Hebrews and establishing Himself as the ruler of their nation

Key thought

The law of Moses is based on the principle that God ruled Israel

During the sermon on the mount Jesus warned against breaking even the least of the commandments (Mt. 5:19)

Jesus taught His disciples to understand the principle of the law

Their interpretation of living under the law said it was wrong to heal on the Sabbath

Jesus interpreted living under grace means it is wrong to neglect doing good when it was within their power to do so.

The Law 2.0

In the sermon on the Mount Jesus raises the bar higher than the Jews understood

The key phrases to look for are:

“Ye have heard it said”

“But I say unto you”

The Law: Thou shalt not kill

Matthew 5:21 AV

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

The Law 2.0: “inappropriate anger”

Matthew 5:22 AV

But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Jesus does not destroy the law that says “thou shalt not kill” . .

He lifts the law of “thou shalt not kill” to a higher level than the Jews understood it.

The Law: “thou shalt not commit adultery”

Matthew 5:27 AV

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

The Law 2.0: “looking and lusting = adultery”

Matthew 5:28 AV

But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

In the same sermon Jesus raised the bar for how the Jews understood adultery

The Law: “certificate of divorce”

Matthew 5:31 AV

It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

The Law 2.0: Divorce restricted

Matthew 5:32 AV

But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

Jesus interpreted the law of divorce in a much stricter fashion than the Jewish law had allowed

What we learn about living under grace

Jesus raised the standards of the law the Jews were accustomed to

Living under the law required careful obedience to the law of God

Living under grace requires following a strict pattern of the character of God

Jesus interpreted the principle of the law to teach how God expects His people conduct their life

Living under the law meant making sure their outward conduct matched the commands of God

Living under grace means making sure our inward character matches the character of God

From the inside out!

Mark 7:14–23 AV

14 And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: 15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. 16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. 17 And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. 18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; 19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? 20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

The law (and tradition) equated righteousness with outward behavior

Jesus equated righteousness with the heart, but emphasizes the heart is reflected in words and deeds.

Jesus summaries the law 2.0

Matthew 22:37–40 AV

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Jesus combined two Old Testament passages: (Deuteronomy 6:5 & Leviticus 19:18)

Deuteronomy 6:5 AV

5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Leviticus 19:18 AV

18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

The law 2.0: The law and the prophets

Matthew 7:12 AV

12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Conclusion:

How did Jesus want us to live under Grace?

Paul gives some clarity in his writings:

1 Corinthians 9:20–21 AV

20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

Romans 13:8–10 AV

8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Romans 6:15 AV

15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

Understanding how to live under Grace is found in Galatians 2:20

Galatians 2:20 AV

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Jesus fulfilled the law; now He lives in us and enables us to fulfill the law of God!