Law of God | December 8
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.
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.
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.
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.”
Matthew 5:17-20
Jesus, we sometimes think of the Law as being something that Moses received, as a Jew, for the Jews, carved in stone a long time ago. We see that our entire culture more or less rejects large portions of that Law.
Here Jesus, You tell us that, no, the Law is not based on ancient traditions but that it is alive today and that we are to obey it to the very letter. Worse, perhaps, than not obeying is to teach others that the Law no longer applies. Then You tell us that if we adhere to the Law and teach others to do so as well, that we will be honored by You and welcomed into Your eternal kingdom.
Finally we see that people who “keep the Law” but whose hearts remain unhealed are a people whose judgment awaits. Help us this day to not only trust and obey but to do so in the strength of Your Spirit. In Your Holy name we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project
