Testeverything521 | Jesus Lays Down The Law @Testeverything521 | Uploaded 13 years ago | Updated 5 minutes ago
As Christians, We believe that Jesus is God, and that Jesus established a new covenant.
In fact, the Biblical writer Paul talks about this on multiple occasions. However, some people have argued that Paul Hijacked Christianity. They say that Jesus never talked about establishing a new covenant, and that Jesus actually spoke against a new covenant. Lets take a look at the validity of those two claims.
1. Jesus never talked about establishing a new covenant.
2. Jesus spoke against establishing a new covenant.
Luke 22:20
"In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."
Okay.. so Jesus does talk about establishing a new covenant, but perhaps he contradicts Himself somewhere. The verse people use to make that their argument is Matthew 5:17-18.
Admittedly this is a confusing verse, so lets take a look.
Matthew 5:17-18
"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. 18I tell you the truth, 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."
The mistake that is made here is to assume the "law and the prophets" means the Mosaic law.
TaNaK
1. Torah (תורה) meaning "Instruction" or "Law."
2. Nevi'im (נביאים) meaning "Prophets."
3. Ketuvim (כתובים) meaning "Writings."
Any time you see a passage that refers to "the law and the prophets" it is another way of saying "the old testament".
Since we are talking about fulfilling the Old Testament, lets take a quick look at Jeremiah 31:31-34.
"The time is coming," declares the LORD,
"when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah.
32 It will not be like the covenant
I made with their forefathers
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they broke my covenant,
though I was a husband to them, "
declares the LORD.
33 "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel
after that time," declares the LORD.
"I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
34 No longer will a man teach his neighbor,
or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,'
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,"
declares the LORD.
"For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more."
Genesis 12:3, Galatians 3:29
With what we now know, lets read this passage again.
Jesus did not come to destroy the old testament, rather He came to fulfill it (like Jeremiah 31:31-34). He affirms that the Old Testament is still valuable, but by fulfilling the old testament he also confirms that we are under a new covenant.
As Christians, We believe that Jesus is God, and that Jesus established a new covenant.
In fact, the Biblical writer Paul talks about this on multiple occasions. However, some people have argued that Paul Hijacked Christianity. They say that Jesus never talked about establishing a new covenant, and that Jesus actually spoke against a new covenant. Lets take a look at the validity of those two claims.
1. Jesus never talked about establishing a new covenant.
2. Jesus spoke against establishing a new covenant.
Luke 22:20
"In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."
Okay.. so Jesus does talk about establishing a new covenant, but perhaps he contradicts Himself somewhere. The verse people use to make that their argument is Matthew 5:17-18.
Admittedly this is a confusing verse, so lets take a look.
Matthew 5:17-18
"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. 18I tell you the truth, 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."
The mistake that is made here is to assume the "law and the prophets" means the Mosaic law.
TaNaK
1. Torah (תורה) meaning "Instruction" or "Law."
2. Nevi'im (נביאים) meaning "Prophets."
3. Ketuvim (כתובים) meaning "Writings."
Any time you see a passage that refers to "the law and the prophets" it is another way of saying "the old testament".
Since we are talking about fulfilling the Old Testament, lets take a quick look at Jeremiah 31:31-34.
"The time is coming," declares the LORD,
"when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah.
32 It will not be like the covenant
I made with their forefathers
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they broke my covenant,
though I was a husband to them, "
declares the LORD.
33 "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel
after that time," declares the LORD.
"I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
34 No longer will a man teach his neighbor,
or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,'
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,"
declares the LORD.
"For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more."
Genesis 12:3, Galatians 3:29
With what we now know, lets read this passage again.
Jesus did not come to destroy the old testament, rather He came to fulfill it (like Jeremiah 31:31-34). He affirms that the Old Testament is still valuable, but by fulfilling the old testament he also confirms that we are under a new covenant.
