The books of Moses contain very many different commandments and laws for the people of Israel. Among other things, there are laws concerning sacrifices, purity, ceremonies, morality, the Sabbath, and regulations concerning priests. Prohibited and permitted foods, cultivation of fruit trees, and many other matters were also regulated by law.
The Jewish scribes, who were a group trained as experts in religious law, were most familiar with the various laws. The Pharisees, many of whom were teachers of the law, were a lay movement that sought to strictly follow the Law of Moses and the so-called traditions of the elders, i.e., the practical applications of the Law of Moses, in their lives.
The greatest commandment of the law sums up all the Ten Commandments
The Gospels suggest that the Jews even argued about which laws were most important. A Pharisee asked Jesus,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied,
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matt. 22:36-40)
Jesus’ answer in a shorter form is: “Love God above all else and your neighbor as yourself.” This so-called Great Commandment, sometimes also called the Twofold Commandment of Love, is a condensed expression of the Ten Commandments: the commandments concerning God and your neighbor that were written on two tablets of stone. Thus, of all the laws of Moses, Jesus wants to highlight the Ten Commandments as the most important and even summarizes them as the Great Commandment.
It is easy to see that the Ten Commandments require love for God and people – not just an inner feeling or attitude, but above all actions inspired by love. The other laws in the books of Moses primarily concern the people and society of Israel.
The Golden Rule
Like the Great Commandment, the content of the law is also summarized in another well-known statement used by Jesus, which is called the Golden Rule:
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets”. (Matt. 7:12)
The content of the Golden Rule can also be found in other religions and philosophies. This demonstrates its universal validity. Everyone can use their reason and emotions to put themselves in another person’s position and understand what they would want others to do for them in their situation.
The content of the Golden Rule is the same as that of the Great Commandment. For example, our neighbor wants to be helped; God, on the other hand, wants us to believe in Him, call on Him for help, accept His gifts, and thank Him for all that is good.
The classic principle of justice
Luther also often quotes the ancient principle of justice, according to which everyone should be given their due. For example, one’s neighbor must be given what he needs. But what about God? He must be given only honor, thanks, and praise. He must be allowed to be God, who Himself is the giver of all things.
Because of their sinful nature, people resist God’s plan of salvation. Free salvation offends human pride, and people would like to achieve salvation at least in part by themselves, by giving God good deeds and their own piousness in return. However, God is the giver of salvation, and we must not elevate ourselves to His position.
Natural law
God’s law can also be seen as a broader concept than the Ten Commandments. In his letter to the Romans (Rom. 2:13-15), Paul writes that the law applies not only to the Jews but also to all Gentiles. They do not know the Ten Commandments or the Law of Moses at all, but they nevertheless know the law as “natural law.”
“Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.” (Rom. 2:14-15)
Natural law also requires worshiping God and loving one’s neighbor, although this may be obscured by sin and ultimately remains unfulfilled. However, this failure to fulfill the law is due more to the corrupt will of fallen man than to ignorance.
Literally translated, Paul states that the works of the law are written on the hearts of the Gentiles. This shows the common misunderstanding of God’s law, namely that the law can be fulfilled by works. The law does speak of works, but ultimately it requires faith and love.
Fulfilling the law
In his preface to the Epistle to the Romans, Luther says that doing the works of the law and fulfilling the law are two different things. The demands of the law are so great that no human being can fulfill them. It requires perfect purity in thoughts, words, and deeds. And even if a person were capable of fulfilling all the other commandments, say, of the Ten Commandments, but broke one, he would be a transgressor of the entire law (James 2:10).
Only the sinless Son of God, Jesus Christ, has fulfilled the law: he alone has loved God above all else and his neighbor as himself in all circumstances. However, this fulfillment of the law has been accomplished on our behalf, and therefore it is credited to those who believe in Jesus.
Jesus also fulfilled the law in the sense that he suffered the punishment prescribed by the law for sin: death. He bore the sins of the world on the cross, atoning for them, even though he himself had committed no sin.
The law is necessary
A person without faith is subject to both the unreasonable demands of the law and its judgment. Thanks to the law imprinted on his heart, he knows how he should live in God’s world, but he is powerless to fulfill the law without faith. The entire Bible testifies against him: the Ten Commandments, the Great Commandment, the Golden Rule, and natural law all demand the same perfection.
Furthermore, because the law is already in man’s heart, the preached law can also touch and speak to him when he realizes that the law condemns him for his sin. God’s law also calls people in what is called general revelation: God speaks to and awakens people in the circumstances of life, in the history of nations, in nature, and in their own conscience. However, the message of salvation is only found in Jesus Christ and in the Bible, which testifies about Him.
So, is God’s law necessary for people? As a social law, it is essential because it restricts and punishes evil. Otherwise, the “law of the jungle” would prevail in the world, where the strong would devour the weak, and sheep would be prey to wolves. Natural law is the basis of social law, and the authorities are God’s servants, enforcing the law. Theologically, also, the law is necessary when used correctly and within its prescribed limits.
He who does his best commits a mortal sin
Paul wrote to the Romans that the law is righteous and good (Rom. 7:12), but a little later he stated that Christ is the end of the law (Rom. 10:4). The law awakens a sense of sin in people and condemns its transgressors to perdition. It demands of sinners what they cannot fulfill. Therefore, it also arouses hatred.
Luther compares the law to a doctor who demands that a sick person—a sinner—jump, run, and do things he is incapable of doing. On top of everything else, this must be done with a good and cheerful spirit. The sick person feels anger toward such a command and toward the doctor. Likewise, those who seek salvation through the works of the law feel anger toward God’s law. Sin becomes even greater.
When the law touches a person who tries to please God by obeying the law, they are driven to either self-righteousness or despair. A self-righteous person lives with the belief that they are acceptable to God on the basis of their deeds – at least if they have done their best. This kind of cooperation between God and man, in which man does his best to be saved and God takes care of the rest, has been called semi-Pelagianism. Martin Luther fought against it. He wrote:
“He who does his best commits a mortal sin.”
Nothing that is halfway is acceptable to the holy God. Despair can arise when a person realizes, despite all their efforts, that they are unable to fulfill God’s law and thereby be acceptable to God. The purpose of the law is not to drive people to self-righteousness or despair, but to Christ, whereby the law is completely rejected as a means of salvation. People who fear death and damnation, as well as God’s wrath and judgment, because of the work of the law need a sure means of salvation because of their helplessness.
God’s mercy in Christ
According to the Bible, God has prepared salvation in His Son, Jesus Christ. He comes as the Savior of those who recognize their sins and repent. There is no need to despair, for the messengers of the Kingdom of Peace proclaim to penitent people that all sins are forgiven in the name and blood of Jesus. The law has then fulfilled its purpose, and by believing in the good news, people are freed from the law and come under grace. The law is no longer their teacher; instead, they are taught by God’s grace.
Grace, which gives salvation, rest, and peace of conscience, also has a better effect on human life than the demanding law:
“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” (Titus 2:11-12)
Author: Kingdom of Peace
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