Sunday, May 06, 2018

Jesus' Commandments-1 (SD58)

Let's study the commandments of our Lord Jesus and see how they fulfill the Law and the Prophets.

Law and the Prophets
Mat 5:17 "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.
    Our Lord Jesus did not come to destroy the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill them. It is very important for Christians to understand what He meant by this statement.
   Must we fulfill them too? Or are we completely free from the Law and Prophets?

Mat 5:18 "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."
    Before the New Heaven and New Earth, all our Lord's promises and words in the Law must be fulfilled.

Least of the Commandments
Mat 5:18 "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."
  Christians should try not to break any of the least of the commandments of the Law otherwise they will be the least in the kingdom of heaven.
Note Christians breaking the least of the Law will not be cast into damnation. But those in the New Covenant will suffer unless they repent
There are many commandments in the Law and I have chosen this example as one of the least.
Lev 19:32 ' You shall rise before the gray headed and honor the presence of an old man, and fear your God: I am the Lord.'
    I am sure every one of us have broken this Law of having to rise up before our old parents, uncles and relatives (grey headed).
Mat 7:12 "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."
   Thank God for our Lord Jesus with the New Covenant that when we care, comfort, respect, honour and love the elderly, we have fulfilled this Law.

Righteousness of Scribes
Mat 5:20 "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."
    The righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, who had kept the Law faithfully, were far below the expectations of God. Though God was seated in the mercy seat, yet they could not see that they too must be merciful. Since they lacked faith and mercy they had become hypocrites.
Mat 23:23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone."

Filled with Grace and Truth
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
    To ensure that Christian's righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, our Lord Jesus (full of grace and truth) came to earth to be made flesh. At His death, He abolished the Old Covenant (Judaism) by tearing the temple's veil into two. After His resurrection, the Spirit of Christ given to His disciples (Christians who follow and love Him by obeying and keeping His words and commandments) will impart:-
1. Grace - so that Christians will be filled with His love and mercy
2. Truth - so that Christians will understand His words and will, and are free from the bondage of carnality, selfishness, deceptions, covetousness, worldliness, distorted truth and heresies.