This is an area of much debate in the church: Does the Old Testament law matter for Christians, and do we have to follow it? Some contend that the New Testament (New Covenant) made the old obsolete. Others believe the Old Testament is still in effect along with the new, and that Christians must follow the written code of the Old Testament. Still others take a position somewhere in between.
One reason some believe the Old Testament law must be followed is what Jesus said:
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, nor the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. -Jesus in Matthew 5:17-19
What makes this difficult to understand is what Paul wrote:
He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. Colossians 2:13-14
This has led some to believe that Paul came along later and modified the religion; that Paul preaches something different than Christ. But that makes even less sense for two reasons: 1) Christ commissioned Paul, and God knows everything, knowing exactly what Paul would teach in advance, and 2) some things Jesus said support Paul's teaching. Here is a good example:
Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean.' -Jesus in Mark 7:15
And in verse 19 of the same chapter Mark writes that Jesus declared all foods "clean". This would mean that Jesus abolished the dietary laws. And in Matthew 12:3-8 Jesus downplayed the importance of the Sabbath, and He clearly taught that in some circumstances a person can break the law and still be innocent. So what should we take from all this?
Its about the principles. Each and every law in the OT was made to teach a principle. The clean and unclean laws were made to teach the Israelites purity and holiness, and being set apart. This is also why Jews were commanded not to associate with Gentiles. Consider the principle here:
A woman must not wear men's clothing, nor a man wear women's clothing, for the LORD your God detests anyone who does this. Deuteronomy 22:5
With this command God teaches us that we must not blur the line between male and female. God made man and woman, and He made us different, so blurring the line between man and woman is perverting the natural order made by God. But does it mean that a man sins by dressing like a woman in a comedy play? If you hold strictly to the law, then you would have to say yes. That is why Jesus set us free from the law; free from legalism. But we must obey the principle laid out: Men must not try to look like women, and women must not try to look like men.
So you see there is a paradox at work in the Bible. Jesus clearly said that the Law and the Prophets will not pass away, but Jesus also freed us from the written code. We no longer have to keep a list of rules, but we must follow the principles expressed in those rules. We must keep ourselves clean, as the dietary laws teach, but we are free from the laws themselves. And another thing to understand: Some matters of the law are greater than others. Jesus made this clear a number of times.
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices - mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law - justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. -Jesus in Matthew 23:23
One reason some believe the Old Testament law must be followed is what Jesus said:
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, nor the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. -Jesus in Matthew 5:17-19
He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. Colossians 2:13-14
This has led some to believe that Paul came along later and modified the religion; that Paul preaches something different than Christ. But that makes even less sense for two reasons: 1) Christ commissioned Paul, and God knows everything, knowing exactly what Paul would teach in advance, and 2) some things Jesus said support Paul's teaching. Here is a good example:
Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean.' -Jesus in Mark 7:15
And in verse 19 of the same chapter Mark writes that Jesus declared all foods "clean". This would mean that Jesus abolished the dietary laws. And in Matthew 12:3-8 Jesus downplayed the importance of the Sabbath, and He clearly taught that in some circumstances a person can break the law and still be innocent. So what should we take from all this?
Its about the principles. Each and every law in the OT was made to teach a principle. The clean and unclean laws were made to teach the Israelites purity and holiness, and being set apart. This is also why Jews were commanded not to associate with Gentiles. Consider the principle here:
A woman must not wear men's clothing, nor a man wear women's clothing, for the LORD your God detests anyone who does this. Deuteronomy 22:5
With this command God teaches us that we must not blur the line between male and female. God made man and woman, and He made us different, so blurring the line between man and woman is perverting the natural order made by God. But does it mean that a man sins by dressing like a woman in a comedy play? If you hold strictly to the law, then you would have to say yes. That is why Jesus set us free from the law; free from legalism. But we must obey the principle laid out: Men must not try to look like women, and women must not try to look like men.
So you see there is a paradox at work in the Bible. Jesus clearly said that the Law and the Prophets will not pass away, but Jesus also freed us from the written code. We no longer have to keep a list of rules, but we must follow the principles expressed in those rules. We must keep ourselves clean, as the dietary laws teach, but we are free from the laws themselves. And another thing to understand: Some matters of the law are greater than others. Jesus made this clear a number of times.
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices - mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law - justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. -Jesus in Matthew 23:23
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