The Law Meets the Gospel:Jesus came not to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it. Sin remains sin and God is opposed to it. Jesus, however, treats the Law differently from all those who have gone before Him. He overcame the Law with the Gospel.
1. His death on the cross once and for all eliminated the need for the myriad of sacrifices necessary for people to be right with God. He was the final sacrifice; all sacrificial laws are removed. 2. He claimed authority over the laws governing the Sabbath by allowing heads of grain to be picked (Luke 6: 1-5) and healing a man with a withered hand (Luke 6: 6-11).
3. He makes it known that what defiles a person is not what goes into the mouth, but rather what comes from the heart (Mark 7: 1-8, 14, 15).
4. Laws of cleanliness are set aside for lives of holiness (Luke 11:39).
5. He declared all types of food to be clean (Mark 7:19).
6. Laws governing the clean and unclean are canceled as demonstrated by Peter’s vision on the housetop (Acts 10: 9-16, 10: 44-48).
7. The covenant mark of Judaism, circumcision, was negated. “Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but obeying the commandments of God is everything.” (1 Corinthians 7:19)
Herein lays the decisive question: If Christ has done away with or fulfilled the Law, what “commandments of God” remain to be obeyed? Is it the Law of love? Of faith, hope, and love, love is the greatest (1 Cor. 13:13). Jesus gives the commandment to “do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.” (Matt. 7:12) Jesus affirms the Ten Commandments (Matt. 19: 16-19; Mark 10:19; Luke 20). He states, “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matt. 22: 37-40)
These are indeed the greatest commandments, but they do not instruct a person how to live, only what ought to govern that life. Jesus provides parable after parable to convey the notion of loving another person as one’s self. How does that affect one’s understanding of morality? Are marriages necessary any longer? Why not let people live together in a loving, committed, monogamous relationship until they get tired of one another, then they can leave without any hard feelings or commitments, and pursue another similar relationship? That was the intention of the idea of “free love” which was prominent a few decades back and which still emerges from time to time.
Though Jesus set aside laws governing rituals, cleanliness, sacrifices, Sabbath observances, etc., He strengthened the moral law. That is significant! Much of Matthew chapter 5 explains this:
You have heard that it was said to those of ancient time, “You shall not murder”; and “whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.” But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, “You fool,” you will be liable to the hell of fire… You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.” But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart… Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, “You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.” But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King… You have heard that it was said, “And eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also… You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…
In Romans, when Paul affirms the moral law of the Old Testament, obviously Jesus had not annulled it. He claimed to be in continuity with God’s original intentions. Moral and ethical laws were not dismissed. They were intensified. What a person does is secondary to what is in the heart.