Understanding Jesus’ Relationship with the Old Testament Law

This blog post summarizes the sermon: What are we to do with the Old Testament? (Pt 1)

Pastor’s Sermon Notes

Jesus faced significant misunderstanding during His ministry regarding His relationship with the Old Testament law. This confusion continues today as Christians wrestle with how to apply the Old Testament to their lives.

What Was the Source of Misunderstanding?

The primary source of confusion came from two areas:

• Jesus’ relationship with the Law of Moses
• His relationship with the writings of the prophets

People expected the Messiah to follow both strictly, but they often saw Jesus appearing to break these laws.

What Actually Constituted the Law of Moses?

The Law of Moses included:

• The Ten Commandments
• 613 total commands given by God through Moses
• Instructions for worship, sacrifices, and daily living
• Both positive commands (things to do) and negative commands (things not to do)

Notably, the Law of Moses did NOT include the oral traditions and interpretations added by religious leaders over time.

Why Did People Misunderstand Jesus’ Actions?

The religious leaders had elevated human traditions to the same level as Scripture – and sometimes even above it. When Jesus ignored these traditions, people saw it as Him breaking God’s law.

Key examples include:

• Hand-washing ceremonies before meals
• Sabbath regulations
• The tradition of Corban (declaring possessions as dedicated to God)

What Was Jesus’ True Relationship with the Law?

Jesus fulfilled the law perfectly:

• He never sinned
• He kept every command both in action and heart
• He came to accomplish the law’s purpose, not abolish it
• His death served as the perfect sacrifice the law required

Life Application

Consider these questions this week:

1. Are there religious traditions I’ve elevated above Scripture?
2. Do I understand the difference between God’s commands and human traditions?
3. Am I following Jesus’ example of honoring God’s Word while avoiding legalism?

Challenge:

Take time this week to examine your religious practices. Are they based on Scripture or tradition? Ensure you focus on following God’s Word rather than man-made rules.

Remember:

Jesus came not to abolish the law but to fulfill it perfectly on our behalf, offering us salvation through faith in Him rather than through our own ability to keep the law.

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