Dear Explorer,
Read Matthew 5:17-20
Remember the Law and the Prophets is what the Jews called their Jewish Scripture which is the same as our Old Testament. The Law refers to the over 600 laws given by God to Moses when he set up the Israelite nation. But Paul tells us the real purpose of the Law.
Read Romans 3:20
If the Law given to the Jews through Moses was NOT a tool to make them righteous (in a right relationship with God), then what was its purpose?
Paul says that its purpose was to make them aware of the sin in their lives.
Do you remember that I said that God had chosen the nation of Israel to be a cocoon to perfectly prepare them for the Messiah? You need to realize that part of that cocoon, the silk if you please, were these 600 Laws. The purpose of the cocoon was to prepare the people of Israel for the Messiah.
If we continue that analogy, I think you will see what Jesus is saying in these verses.
What happens to the cocoon once a butterfly has emerged and flown away?
The wind usually blows it away. It is finished. It is done. It is trashed. It is useless.
Now Jesus is speaking very carefully here because He wanted His Jewish friends and us to really understand.
Here's dale's translation of Jesus' words. I think Jesus is saying here:
I didn't come to tear down the precious cocoon before the butterfly emerged. God has perfectly protected the cocoon and arranged for each tiny detail so that the cocoon will be totally and perfectly ready for its big event. God has blessed those who have obeyed the Laws included in the cocoon. But now it's time to realize that the cocoon will soon accomplish its purpose.
The cocoon was not supposed to produce more laws, the cocoon's job was to produce the Messiah. And once I complete that plan, the cocoon will have no more purpose. Its job will be complete. It will be done. It will be finished. It will be of no value. It will have fulfilled its purpose.
Many people get confused by Jesus saying that He wasn't going to change anything about the Law. But read carefully. In Matthew 5:18, Jesus said the cocoon would be protected even if Heaven and Earth disappeared! But keep reading. He said the cocoon would be protected until when?
Until everything was accomplished. It is my belief that the cocoon had not completed its job until Jesus' death and that's why it was still in use as Jesus spoke and why He talks here as if its completion is still in the future.
I think that's enough digging for today. We'll look at this section again tomorrow and continue our discussion.
In His service, dale
Next study