Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Were the Ten Commandments Fulfilled by Jesus?

Matthew 5:17 -  Don't think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn't come to destroy, but to fulfill. -- World English.

The question is asked: Was it the Law of God, the Ten Commandments (TC), that was fulfilled by the Lord?

The question evidently assumes that the Ten Commandments are the Law of God, but not a part of the Law Covenant. The assumption appears to be that Jesus did not fulfill the Ten Commandments, as they are not part of the Law Covenant. After comparing Exodus 34:28; Deuteronomy 4:13, 14, and Hebrews 8:6-8, there should be no question on the part of anyone that the Ten Commandments were a part of the Law Covenant which is to be supplanted by the New Covenant sealed with the blood (death) of Christ, its Mediator Jesus the Head and the Church his Body.

Paul spoke of one of the ten commandments as being related to the Law Covenant to which the Jew becomes dead through Jesus. James refers to the ten commandments as part of Law Covenant. -- Romans 7:1; Romans 7:2; Romans 7:3; Romans 7:4; Romans 7:7; Romans 7:11; James 2:9; James 2:10; James 2:11.

Jesus, in order to obey his God, had to fulfill any of the laws of God given to Israel through Moses, including the ten commandments. (Romans 3:19; Romans 7:1) If we are to think that Jesus fulfilled all of the Law but that he did not fulfill the ten commandments, then this would mean that he was not obedient to the commands of God as given in those commandments to Israel. And if he did not fulfill the ten commandments, which would further mean that none of Israel is saved; the apostles, and any son of Israel that was born into this world under those commandments (Galatians 4:4), are all under a curse by those commandments. Likewise, if Jesus did not fulfill those commandments, then he was disobedient to his God and Father, and Jesus himself would also be under a curse by those commandments.

On the other hand, if Jesus fulfilled the ten commandments but not the rest of the commandments given to Israel, then Israel is still cursed by those commandments that Jesus did not fulfill, and Jesus himself would also be so cursed. -- Deuteronomy 11:26; Deuteronomy 11:27; Deuteronomy 11:28; Deuteronomy 27:26; Romans 3:19,20; Galatians 3:1; James 2:9; James 2:10; James 2:11.

Either way, if Jesus would not have fulfilled all given through Moses, then Jesus fell short of fulfilling all the commandments of God to Israel, and the ransom sacrifice of Jesus would have been of no effect, since Jesus himself would have been under a curse.

The reality is that Jesus fully obeyed and fulfilled all the commandments, thus providing the means of releasing the Jew from the curse of the Law so that he may become a child of God through Jesus.

No comments:

Post a Comment