The
Mosaic Law & Its Application
The
contention surrounding Matthew 5:17 is
most often concerned with the words “abolish and fulfill”. The exegesis of the
text reveals that Jesus came “not to sweep away the righteous demands of the
law, rather to fulfill (bring the intended meaning) its righteous demands.”[1] While the Mosaic law was a
critical component of daily living for the Israelites and their land, “Christians
are in no way tied to either the land nor its laws,”[2] rendering the law
non-binding. Christ Jesus is the standard for the gospel, moral teaching and
governance of the church,[3] not the Mosaic Law, especially
in light of the fact that the New Covenant (Hebrews 8-9) renders the Mosaic Law
obsolete. Christians are no longer under the Law (Gal. 3:25, 2:15-16; Rom. 7:4,
6:14-15; 1 Cor. 9:20; Eph. 2:15). The Law remains a guide to shed light on sin
and the human nature, but the Christian is now bound to an internal governance
by the Holy Spirit, his Word, and the fellowship of the church (Jer.31:31-33; Ezek. 36:24-28).
[1]. J. Daniel Hays, Applying The Old Testament Law Today, Bibliotheca
Sacra, Iss. 158 no 629 (2001):29, accessed July 19, 2018.
[2]. Ibid., 30.
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