QUESTIONS and ANSWERS - Viewpoint

According to a book I’ve recently read, it was suggested that when Jesus was asked a question by someone Jewish, such as the Scribes and Pharisee, His answer to them was according to the Law Covenant and not meant for the Church under the New Covenant. Is there any truth to that?

It is so very important when trying to understand Scripture that the context in which it is found, be carefully considered. In this case, we must also be able to discern what principles pertain to both covenants. It is also important to know that the Law Covenant was based on works or performance; but that the Church is under the New Covenant of grace based on faith and not works. The fifth chapter of Romans makes very clear that our justification is a free gift received through our faith in Jesus Christ. Keeping these two criteria in mind will help us discern the answer to the above question.

If Jesus was telling someone that salvation comes by keeping the law perfectly, then He was directing his answer to someone who is under the Law. For instance in Matthew 5:20: “For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Since the church’s righteousness is credited to them by the blood of Jesus’ sacrifice (Romans 4:22-25), Matthew 5:20 cannot be directed to those of the Gospel Age Church. If it were, the Apostle Paul would be way off base. What Jesus was showing them was that unless the Law was kept perfectly (which was impossible for fallen man) gaining entrance into the kingdom of heaven was an impossibility. He was using the impossible to get them to realize that they could not ever gain eternal life or enter the kingdom of heaven by way of the Law. Even His disciples had to come to this new mindset.

Among the purposes of Jesus’ ministry was to preach the good news of the Kingdom of God, to select and teach His disciples and to offer Himself to the Jews as their Messiah. Some Christian writers use the term transitionalism for this time, which means that Jesus was preparing their minds for the coming New Covenant when grace would replace works as the means of salvation to eternal life. By continually bringing up the high standards of the Law that none of them could keep, He was laying the groundwork that should have made their minds and hearts fertile to accept the Gospel message.

The Apostle Paul tells us about one of the purposes of the Law in Galatians 3:23-24: “But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” - KJV. The NIV puts it this way, “Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.” What does this mean? The Old Testament under the Law required animal sacrifices typifying and fulfilled by Jesus’ one sacrifice, ushering in the New Covenant of grace that would nullify or replace the Old Law Covenant of works. Another thing this harsh “schoolmaster” should have taught them was the utter futility of trying to the requirements of the Law perfectly. Again, part of Jesus’ purpose was to burst the ego-balloons of those who were filled with self-righteousness by showing them how far short they came from that which the perfect Law required..

In many cases Jesus showed the Jews that Law was not the way to go once He, their Messiah, came upon the scene. He clearly stated,, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no man comes to the Father but by Me” (John 14:6). Even after Pentecost and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, their former mindset was hard to break away from even among those of the church. Paul had to admonish the Galatian church with strong words.: “Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?” - Galatians 3:3

Careful contextual consideration of Jesus’ words is absolutely necessary if we are to understand the true meaning. To whom was He speaking? What was His purpose in so speaking? Without recognizing the context, we are apt to misappropriate Jesus words into meaning something He never intended. If we do this, there will be a conflict between the teachings of Jesus and the Apostle Paul which, when rightly understood shows forth perfect harmony. Let us “rightly divide the word of truth.”

E. Weeks

“The Word of Truth is like a stained glass window rare,

We stand outside and gaze, but see no beauty there,

No fair design, naught but confusion we behold;

‘Tis only from within the glory will unfold…”