Many struggle with the Bible, especially the Old Testament. So, what was Jesus’ view?
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them.
Matthew 5v17
Very deep answer, but what did he mean? If Jesus had fulfilled the law as scholars had understood fulfilment, he would have had no opposition from the religious. The opposition highlighted the issue. A legal fulfilment would have detracted from Jesus’ heart.
When I focus on Jesus as the son of God, then the relationship becomes clear. John wrote about Jesus, the Word,
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
John 1:1-2
Jesus is integral to the Word of God. His life is a fulfilment of all that law intended. It was through him, the living Word, that both creation and the Bible came into being. I don’t analyse the law and then evaluate Jesus. I come to know Jesus and I am helped to understand what was written through him.
For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
Matthew 5v18
Since the whole Bible is integral to Jesus, to take something from the law is to take something from Jesus. It would be to diminish him.
I am still left perplexed, but having a person to walk with me through these challenges gives me hope.
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash