Intro

This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. You can use most podcast platforms if you wish to listen. All you need do is do a search for Dreamwalker1960.

Discussion

Matthew 5:17-20 – “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. 19 So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. 20 “But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!

These are the words of Jesus Christ about the laws of Moses. He also said this:

Matthew 22:36-40 – “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” 37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

By living these two greatest commandments we fulfill the laws of Moses. Does this mean we should ignore them? Millions believe this due to what is said in Galatians:

Galatians 2:15-21 – “You and I are Jews by birth, not ‘sinners’ like the Gentiles. 16 Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.” 17 But suppose we seek to be made right with God through faith in Christ and then we are found guilty because we have abandoned the law. Would that mean Christ has led us into sin? Absolutely not! 18 Rather, I am a sinner if I rebuild the old system of law I already tore down. 19 For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law—I stopped trying to meet all its requirements—so that I might live for God. 20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.

How does this section begin though:

“You and I are Jews by birth, not ‘sinners’ like the Gentiles.”

Here is the key dividing line that must be kept in mind when reading these verses. Being born Jewish, they were subject to the law of Moses. Yet, their acceptance that Christ is their Savior these laws are no longer a factor.

However, to fulfill Christ’s mission we must remember these words:

“I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.”

So, we must at least adhere to following those laws of Moses to fulfill treating others as we would treat ourselves. When you fully reject the laws of Moses you are in turn fully rejecting Christ who made it clear He came to fulfill these laws, and that they still need to be followed per His own teachings.

When you fully take Christ teachings into consideration. This is evident that Christ still taught these laws in everything He instilled through His instructions.

Then why do people insist that they are right and that the Christ is wrong?

Yes, you got what I said correct. They insist that the laws must be fully and completely abandoned. So, I will go back once again to the words of Jesus Christ Himself:

Matthew 5:17-20 – Do not think that I have come to do away with or undo the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to do away with or undo but to complete and fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until the sky and earth pass away and perish, not one smallest letter nor one little hook [identifying certain Hebrew letters] will pass from the Law until all things [it foreshadows] are accomplished. 19 Whoever then breaks or does away with or relaxes one of the least [important] of these commandments and teaches men so shall be called least [important] in the kingdom of heaven, but he who practices them and teaches others to do so shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness (your uprightness and your right standing with God) is more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (Amplified Classic)

Let us look at the KJV now of verse 17:

Matthew 5:17 – Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Destroy – G2647 – kataluó – (a) trans: I break up, overthrow, destroy, both lit. and met., (b) I unyoke, unharness a carriage horse or pack animal; hence: I put up, lodge, find a lodging.

Fulfil – G4137 – pléroó – I fill, fulfill, complete; to make replete, to furnish, satisfy, execute, verify, end.

1. Replete – fully or abundantly provided or filled

Now look at verse 19:

Matthew 5:19 –  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Christ makes it clear that we are to continue to follow the laws of Moses, but as is shown in Matthew 22 we complete this task by treating others as we would treat ourselves. When not diminishing other and treating them as our equals we treat them as we wish to be treated.

When doing this there is no cheating others. There is no enslaving others. There is no killing others. There is no evil. Why? Because we are treating others as we seek to treat ourselves.

Now there will be those that say I am preaching legalism.

Then they have not been paying attention. This is not me saying these things. This is the words of Jesus Christ Himself.

If the Son of God says that we are to follow the laws. Then we are to follow the laws. If we are to follow the laws of man but not God that makes the entire Bible void and useless. This is how atheist see the Bible. This is how those that totally deny God see these teachings.

So, you are saying you side with the atheist and those that deny God?

Ponder upon that for a moment.

Does this not fulfill these verses that describes the last church described in the book of Revelation?

Revelation 3:15-16 – “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!

Yes, it does.

Why because most have abandoned that which will cause them to do good works for God. (James 2:14-26) Which will cause them to bear fruit for God.

John 15:1-10 – “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. 5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. 9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.

“When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.”

Obey the commandments. That is not legalism. That is listening and following Jesus Christ in faith and works.

And what is the result if we do not keep Christ within us?

John 15:6 – If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (KJV)

I turn back to one of my early podcasts and I give you the breakdown of this verse:

He is cast – G906 – ballo – to throw [Strong’s]

“To throw” or “to cast,” “to cast off fruit. ‘Often in the NT “ballo” is used in different ways in connection with the thought of judgement, partly as a committal to the element which exercises it. Partly of expulsion from the community of salvation, when used with “exo.” [TDNT]

Forth – G1854 – exo – out [Strong’s]

Is withered – G3583 – xeraino – to desiccate, to shrivel [Strong’s]

Men gather – G4863 – synago – sunago – to lead together, collect or convene, to entertain [Strong’s]

Them into – G1519 -eis – to or into [Strong’s]

The fire – G4442 – pyr – pur – fire [Strong’s]

A judgement [TDNT]

They are burned – G2545 – kaio – to set on fire, consume [Strong’s]

With the TDNT the emphasis of this word is keyed to self-burning. Voluntarily giving oneself over to be burned.

The main takeaways from the translation of this verse is if you accept Christ as your Savior and you choose not to follow his teaching and live a truly Christian life. You instead choose to live in the world of man which entertains you. You are broken off from the Divine Vine that is Christ and you are cast willingly into the fires of judgement. Which agrees with Revelation 3:15-16.

As you think and ponder these words. I will leave you to think where you stand with God.

God Bless

SPECIAL ADDENDIM

In a comment made on the Facebook page for my podcasts someone made a haughty reply to this Bible study. (To understand why I use the word “haughty” please read “Blog for Podcast #65 (The Haughty)

In this comment the author implied that this law should still be followed:

Exodus 21:20-21 – “If a man beats his male or female slave with a club and the slave dies as a result, the owner must be punished. 21 But if the slave recovers within a day or two, then the owner shall not be punished, since the slave is his property.

My reply to this person was this:

Just for those that assume they know better than God through Jesus Christ.

Any of the old laws that don’t stand up to:

Matthew 22:37-40 – Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

In other words: Do unto others as you would have done unto you.

Were voided upon the cross.

2 examples:

People do not enslave themselves.

People usually do not beat themselves.

Those that use this as an excuse not to follow the laws within the Bible. Need to rethink how they live their lives.

These two greatest commandments, which the moment Christ spoke them, I feel, should have changed the 10 Commandments into 12 Commandments. Became the litmus test for all the laws within the Bible.

As shown in my two examples when comparing to the law listed in Exodus. Anyone who loves their fellow humans as they love themselves would not enslave themselves or beat themselves. because we are placing the others before ourselves.

Philippians 2:1-4 – Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. 3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

God Bless