We read in Mathew 5:17-18 that
Jesus did not come to abolish the Law but came to fulfil them. How can we
reconcile this to a reading of the Pauline Epistles particularly in Romans 6:14
which says that we are not under the law but under grace; or reconcile it to Ephesians
2:15 which says that Christ has abolished the law?
To solve this riddle, we need to
understand straightaway that the word “law”
or “ordinance” as used in the aforementioned Pauline Epistles do not refer to
God’s laws!
Indeed, Ephesians 2:15 mentions
the abolishment of “the law of commandments expressed in ordinances”. The
word ordinance in the passage was translated from the Greek word dogma and
refers generally to opinions, judgments, and decrees. Such ordinances could be
public decrees by government officials or religious decrees by religious
officials.
The fact that Paul was not referring
to God’s law in the above quotes is revealed by his statement about God’s Law
in Romans 3:31 – “Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all!
Rather, we uphold the law.” Still concerning God’s Law, Paul writes in Romans
7:12, “So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and
good.”
Even before Paul, Jesus was
already said to have taken a firm stand against the dogmas of old, calling them
the commandments of men! So, whilst addressing the Pharisees of His time,
Christ was quoted to have said: Why do you also transgress the commandment of
God because of your tradition? . . . Thus you have made the commandment of God
of no effect by your tradition. Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you,
saying: . . . "And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the
commandments of men." (Mathew 15:3-9)
Certainly, Jesus Christ with the
authority and power of the Son of God that He is abolished the laws, dogmas and traditions
added by men to God’s Commandments as these only constituted a yoke and bondage
on people who are thirsty for the pure Truth brought by Christ. He set men free
from the bondage of such unprofitable requirements but He confirmed the Laws
that issued from His Father which we all must keep for our own salvation.
Indeed the Laws of God lead us to Heaven!
Now, a word about grace. Jesus
brought us the Word of His Almighty Father and this Holy Word is the gift and
grace from God which shows us the path to Heaven, the path of salvation. So it
is correct to say we are no more under the law (i.e. the yoke imposed by men
through their traditions and wrong interpretations of God’s Commandments) but
under grace (i.e. the gift of God to man which is the Word of God which at the
same time are the Laws of God explained in all Purity by Jesus, devoid of human
embellishments).
In conclusion, just as it is written
in Matthew 5:17, "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the
Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill”, Jesus lived and fulfilled the
Laws of His Father fully and He remains a great example to us on the true path
to the Light! Therefore, we are told in 1 John 2:6-- Whoever claims to live in
him must live as Jesus did. And then in John 13:17 it is written that the Lord
said: Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
May we receive the strength to be
obedient children to the Eternal Laws that issue from He Who in His mercies
granted us our existence.
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