Jesus’ teachings on Jewish Law can be drawn from various passages throughout the New Testament, where He both affirms and deepens the understanding of the Law. Here are three passages from the ESV Bible that provide insight into His perspective on the Law:
- Righteousness and the Law:
- Romans 2:13: “For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified” . This verse highlights Jesus’ emphasis on the importance of not just hearing the Law, but actively living it out.
- The Law and Faith:
- Galatians 2:16: “Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified” . Here, Paul reflects on Jesus’ teaching that faith in Him transcends the traditional Jewish adherence to the Law for justification.
- The Fulfillment of the Law:
- Romans 3:28: “For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law” . This statement encapsulates the New Testament revelation that faith in Jesus Christ is central to righteousness, surpassing the legal adherence to the Jewish Law.
Three Main Takeaways:
- Active Obedience: Jesus emphasized that righteousness in God’s eyes is not about mere acknowledgment of the Law but involves active obedience and living out the principles of the Law in one’s life.
- Justification by Faith: A central theme of Jesus’ teaching on the Law is that justification before God comes through faith in Him, not merely through the works of the Law. This shifts the focus from legalistic observance to a relationship with God through faith.
- Fulfillment of the Law: Jesus’ life and teachings fulfill the Jewish Law. He did not come to abolish it but to complete it, offering a deeper understanding of its purpose and leading to a life of faith and obedience to God.
