What Did Jesus Say Or Teach About The Old Testament Law?

Did Jesus say much about the Old Testament Law? What do the Scriptures say about this question?

Murder in the Heart?

Jesus often used the phrase “you have heard it said” and then “but I say to you” but He had a very good purpose for this in the Beatitudes where He said “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment. But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire” (Matt 5:21-22). What Jesus was referring to was the Sixth Commandment, “You shall not murder” (Ex 20:13). Jesus wanted to apply this, not only to an external obedience, but to the heart of the person where the thoughts, intents and motives abide. When anyone hates someone, God sees it as murdering them in their heart. If they hate someone so much that if they could get away with murdering them, they would, then they “will be liable to the hell of fire” or the judgment of God.

Adultery of the Heart?

Once again, Jesus says “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matt 5:27-28). Not only is adultery forbidden, even looking with someone and with lust in their hearts is considered adultery; adultery of the heart. This is exactly what Jesus said by saying that whoever “who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart” and like they can murder someone in their heart, so too if they could get away with the act of sexual immorality, they would. The fact is that sin begins in the heart, including the attitudes, motives, desires, and lusts. It is these which lead to sin (James 1:15), but are also sin in themselves.

Laws of Restitution

In continuing in the Beatitudes, Jesus again says “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well” (Matt 5:38-40). The “eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” comes from the Old Testament law listed in Exodus 21 and elsewhere that “if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe” (Ex 21:23). This law was designed to prevent people from retaliating on their own and to have them bring it up before the Israelite judges. They also wanted to prevent family tribes from fighting one another and have an escalating tribal or family feud erupt. Justice was to be served but only equal to the seriousness of the crime; not more than was done to the other party but no less than either. Once more, Jesus amped up the requirements of the Old Testament laws by saying “if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you” (Matt 5:41-42).

Jesus Kept the Law

When the religious leaders where trying to trick Jesus again, they asked Him “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Matt 22:36-40). This refers to every law found in the New Testament and the Old Testament. It sums up the entire Bible, just as the Law and the Prophets do. That’s because they all point to Jesus. They accused Him many times of breaking the law but He never did. Since we know that sin is the breaking of God’s law (1st John 3:4) Jesus asked the Jews, “Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me” (John 8:46) and they could not say a word against Him. Even Pontius Pilate declared Him innocent at His trial (Luke 23:4).

Jesus on the Law

Finally, Jesus talks about the law in the Gospel of Matthew, “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. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished” (Matt 5:17-18). Jesus summary about the law is in Matthew 5:19 that “whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. “

Conclusion

Jesus never said the Ten Commandments were ever done away with. Yes, the Mosaic Law is unnecessary now with Christ’s perfect atoning death but He never spoke negatively about the Old Testament laws and He never said or taught that these laws were wrong so neither should we teach that because whoever does “will be called least in the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:19). Even the animal sacrifices pointed to Christ’s coming death on the cross and about the high cost of sin. We cannot be saved by the law or by works but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t strive to obey the law and do good works for the glory of God. We’re not saved by works but for works so that those who are in darkness might be drawn to the light and that light is the Light of the World (John 8:12). We are called out of darkness into the light to go back into the darkness to show them the Light.

Article by Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren Church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Teaching Children the Gospel available on Amazon.