“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.”
—Matthew 5:17

Reflection

Learning elementary Hebrew was not easy for me. As a young man, I did not learn the language by osmosis. Just because I hung around others who spoke Hebrew did not mean I would automatically pick it up. I had to study and work hard just to acquire the basics, and equally important, I needed someone to teach me.

As an adult, I hired a tutor who moved to the United States from Israel, and I went to her home for an hour lesson twice a week. For most people, the best way to learn a language, or most things, for that matter, is to have someone or something to instruct you.

God knew that for Israel to be a holy people, they would need instructions and guidance. This was one of the fundamental reasons He gave them the Law of Moses, which served as a guidebook for life.

The entire Torah is a holy teaching document that shows how God relates to mankind and how He desires that we relate to Him. It established a moral code and set healthy boundaries for relationships and communication. It offered structure for everything from business dealings to eating habits.

Yet following God’s Law was never meant to be merely an outward exercise. It involved both actions and the heart.

Jesus’ harshest dealings were with those who claimed to follow the Law to a tee but had lost sight of its underlying purpose, which was to reflect God’s nature and heart.

The religious leaders of His time took pride in their personal adherence to the Law, and yet Jesus routinely rebuked them for burdening people with commands God never gave. He reminded them of the words of Isaiah, that people could honor God with their lips while their hearts remained far from Him (Matthew 15:8–9).

Too often we can rest on our spiritual laurels, yet God gave the Law to teach us how to rely on Him for our daily needs of every kind.

God reminded Israel that He had led them through the wilderness for forty years, humbling them and testing what was in their hearts. He fed them with manna so they would understand that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord (Deuteronomy 8:1–3).

God is a teacher, and His Law was to be a guidebook for His people. Is it any wonder, then, that when He came to earth, He came as a rabbi?

Jesus came to teach us about God’s kingdom. Because He was the ultimate fulfillment of the Law, He came to raise the standard for those in His kingdom. He often began His teachings by saying, “You have heard it said,” and then presented a higher standard: “But I say to you.”

The new Law of His kingdom was not in contrast to God’s original Law; it was the completion of it.

Jesus was the embodiment of God’s grace, love, mercy, and countless other attributes. Those who followed Him were covered by His grace and empowered by His Spirit to obey this new Law of heaven, which Paul called the law of the Spirit of life (Romans 8:2).

Application

• Examine whether your obedience to God reflects His nature and heart or has become merely an outward religious exercise.
• Ask Father to teach you through His Word and help you rely on Him for your daily needs, trusting His Spirit to empower you to obey.

Prayer

Father God, thank You for giving us Your Word to instruct and guide us. Teach me to understand Your heart and not merely follow outward religious practices. Help me rely on You for my daily needs and live by every word that proceeds from Your mouth. Thank You for sending Yeshua, who fulfilled the Law and revealed Your grace, love, and mercy. Empower me through Your Spirit to walk in obedience and reflect Your nature and heart. In Yeshua’s name, amen.