Post by robin on Mar 20, 2009 15:23:15 GMT -8
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. I 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.
So, a point of discussion on Sunday was whether "everything is accomplished" in this passage was referring to A) Christ's death and resurrection or B) to the final consumation of our present age/ the final judgment and resurrection.
"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. I 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.
So, a point of discussion on Sunday was whether "everything is accomplished" in this passage was referring to A) Christ's death and resurrection or B) to the final consumation of our present age/ the final judgment and resurrection.
You are correct, I do see option "A" as most likely, and part of the reason is this.
Luke 24:44
He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."
Is there anywhere else in the gospels, besides Mat. 5, where Jesus had said anything along these lines? I realize that not everything that Jesus said was recorded, but it would seem likely that his disciples who were present when Jesus gave the sermon on the mount would make the connection.
Also:
Romans 10:1-5
1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel* is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Ephesian 2:11-15
11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh--who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands-- 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,
It seems strange to me that Jesus would even bother to say this if he was referring to an event that was just about to happen. The sentence seems to imply some continued longevity of the purpose of the law.
All I can say is that I don't see that implication. We will just have to disagree on this point.
Secondly, the easiest way to determine which option is in view here would be to determine when exactly the "heavens and the earth will disappear". Except that it notoriously difficult to determine as well . My personal view is that the old heavens and earth began to disappear at the time of Jesus' first coming and establishment of his kingdom and will finally disappear at the final resurrection at the physical return of Christ.
Lets consider the language of 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. I 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."
What I think Jesus was saying here was this. The Law being abolished will not proceed the passing away of heaven and earth, unless everything in the Law is fulfilled. I believe that Jesus was was telling his disciple to look for the fulfillment of the Law as a sign that it has been abolished, not the passing away of heaven and earth.
So, I guess as I said in the post above, I see that the Law is still important and intact, not as something we need to currently adhere to, but as something that will forever (at least until the eternal state) point to the crux of our faith- Jesus and his atoning work on our behalf.
How is a law intact, yet without needing to be adhered to? Perhaps I'm simply not understanding your use of the word.
Here is the dictionary's definition:
intact
–adjective 1. not altered, broken, or impaired; remaining uninjured, sound, or whole; untouched; unblemished: The vase remained intact despite rough handling.
2. not changed or diminished; not influenced or swayed: Despite misfortune, his faith is still intact.
3. complete or whole, esp. not castrated or emasculated.
4. having the hymen unbroken; virginal.
Hopefully I have been clear in stating my position. This subject can certainly be confusing.