The Law That Jesus Taught

Jesus respected the Law of Moses. Jesus said in Matthew 5:17, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

We can notice the following things about Jesus and the Law.

1) Jesus did not come to abolish the Law.
2) Jesus came to fulfill the Law.
3) Jesus promises that not a single letter or stroke of the pen will disappear until everything is accomplished.

Jesus promises to not being the agent of abolishing the Law, but to fulfill the Law. What did he mean by fulfilling the Law and how was he going to fo that? Let's look at some other teachings that Jesus had concerning the Law and Jesus' teachings.

Jesus promptly begins comparing the Law with His teachings in Matthew 5:21, “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,[a] and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister[b][c] will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’[d] is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell."

The Mosaic Law here is, "You shall not kill." Jesus contrasts this with His teaching, whichh is, "You shall not treat others with anger." Jesus' law is much stricter than Mosaic Law. Jesus' law prevents the Mosaic Law from being broken by eliminating the cause for killing.

Jesus compares another Mosaic Law in Matthew 5:27, You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’[e] 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

The Mosaic Law is, "You shall not commit adultery." Jesus' law is, "You shall not lust." Jesus fulfills the law by eliminating the cause for adultery.

Jesus refers to Deuteronomy 23:21-23 when he says in Matthew 5:33, “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;"

Oaths were made as a promisory note, usually for a favor or purchase. Jesus here says, "All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’;" In other words, just do as you say and don't put yourself in a position where you may fail to keep an oath.

Jesus says in Matthew 5:38, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’[h] 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also." In other words, instead of demanding recompense, which may result in more anger, go the extra effort in ending the conflict. Jesus thus fulfills the law be refuding the need for the law.

Jesus says in Matthew 5:43, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you," Thus Jesus fulfills the law by going beyond what the law required.

So, in all of these instances, Jesus wrote new laws, laws that followed principles that could only be written on the hearts of individuals. If these laws are followed, is there really any need for all the other laws and stipulations? Jesus did not come to abolish the Laws of Moses. Jesus' laws do not erase the Law of Moses. Jesus re-wrote the Laws of Moses in such a way that obeying his laws would fulfill God's Laws, not just the written code of Moses. This is why Jesus could say in Matthew 5:20,

"For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven."

Furthermore, Jesus gave many other Laws and principles for his followers to live by.

-Do not practice your righteousness in public for your own glory.
Matthew 6:1, "“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven." Read example all the way to verse 18.

-Serve God not money.
Matthew 6:18, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal."

-Don't worry about material things in life, but just about seeking righteousness.
Matthew 6:25,33, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ... "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

-Don't be judgemental.
Matthew 7:1, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged."

-Don't waste your efforts on those that don't appreciate it.
Matthew 7:6, "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces."

-If you have a need, ask, pray.
Matthew 7:7,11, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you... how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"

-Watch out for false prophets. You will know them by their deeds.
Matthew 7:15-16, "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?"

-Don't just give lip service to Jesus. Live according to his teachings.
Matthew 7:21-23, "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’"

-Listen to Jesus and put his words into practice.
Matthew 7:24, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock."

-If the Gospel is not accepted, just shake the dust off and go to the next town.
Matthew 10:14, "If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet."
Mark 6:11, "And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”

-When preaching the gospel, ive innocent lives, but don't be naive.
Matthew 10:16,23, "Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves... When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another."

-Don't have evil thoughts.
Matthew 15:19-20, "For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20 These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”
Mark 7:20-23, "He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

-Be Humble.
Matthew 18:4, "Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

-Do not cause others to sin.
Matthew 18:7, "Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!"

-Deal with the wrongs of others carefully.
Matthew 18:15-17, "“If your brother or sister[b] sins,[c] go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’[d] 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector."

-Forgive each other from the heart.
Matthew 18:35, "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

-Do not divorce.
Matthew 19:6, "So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
Mark 10:11-12, "He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12 And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”

-Keep these commandments.
Matthew 19:18-19, "Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’[c] and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’[d]”

-Realize that not living for  worldly possessions will give you more reward in heaven.
Matthew 19:29, "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife[e] or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life."
Matthew 20"24, "whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant..."

-Pay your taxes to the government in power AND give to God what belongs to God.
Matthew 22:2w1, "“So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

-Love God with everything you've got and love your neighbor as yourself.
Matthew 22:37, "37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[c] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’"

-Do not exalt yourselves.
Matthew 23:12, "For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

-Be Vigilant.
Matthew 25:13, "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour."

-Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Luke 6:31, "Do to others as you would have them do to you."

-Judge not, comdemn not.
Luke 6:37-38, "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you."

OTHER PRINCIPLES JESUS TAUGHT

-You cannot serve both God and money.
Luke 16:13, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

-You must be born again to enter the Kingdom of God.
John 3:3, "Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

-You must believe that Jesus is God to go to heaven.
John 8:24, "I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.”

-If you keep Jesus' Commands, you will remain in his love.
John 5:10, "If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. "

-Jesus' followers are to love one another as Jesus loves them.
John 5:12, "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you."

-You must believe in the One True God AND Jesus Christ.
John 17:3, "Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."

CONCLUSION

***-Put what Jesus said into practice and you will be like a house built on a solid foundation.
Luke 6:47-19, "As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

Jesus did not teach a civic code of law.  The Law of Moses was a civic code of law with punishments, courts, and reconciliations.  Jesus did not teach the Law of Moses.  What Jesus taught was very different.  Jesus taught a personal code of ethics which did not confllict with the principles of the Law of Moses, but rather fulfilled those laws when practiced. Truly, Jesus sought to write God's Law on the hearts of his followers.