www.biblemeanings.info/DivineHuman within
BibleMeanings.info
|
|
|
|
Chapter II.
It's being said that the Lord fulfilled All the Things of the Law, L 8 . At the present day many persons believe that when it is said of the Lord that He fulfilled the law, the meaning is that He fulfilled all the commandments of the decalogue, and thus became righteousness, and also justified the men of this world through this matter of faith. This however is not the meaning. The meaning is that the Lord fulfilled all things written concerning Himself in the Law and the Prophets, that is, in universal Holy Scripture, because this treats solely of Him, as has been said in the foregoing article. The reason why many have believed differently, is that they have not searched the Scriptures and seen what is there meant by "the Law." The Law there means, in a restricted sense, the ten commandments of the decalogue; in a wider sense, all things written by Moses in the five books; and in the widest sense, all things of the Word. It is well known that By the Law in a restricted sense are meant the ten commandments of the decalogue.L 9 . That by the Law in a wider sense are meant all things written by Moses in his five books, is evident from the following passages. In Luke:--Abraham said to the rich man in hell, They have Moses and the Prophets, let them bear them; if they hear not Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead (Luke 16:29, 31). In John:-- Philip said to Nathanael, We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets did write (John 1:45). In Matthew:-- Think not that I am come to loosen the Law and the Prophets; I am not come to loosen, but to fulfill (Matthew 5:17). All the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John (Matthew 11:13). In Luke:-- The Law and the Prophets were until John since then the kingdom of God is evangelized (Luke 16:16). In Matthew:-- All things whatsoever that ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 7:12). Jesus said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself; on these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 22:37, 39, 40). In these passages, "Moses and the Prophets," and "the Law and the Prophets," mean all things that have been written in the books of Moses and in the books of the prophets. That "the Law" specifically means all things that have been written by Moses, is further evident from the following passages. In Luke:-- When the days of her purification, according to the Law of Moses, were fulfilled, they brought Jesus to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord; as it is written in the Law of the Lord: Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord; and to offer a sacrifice, according to that which is said in the Law of the Lord: A pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons. And the parents brought Jesus into the temple, to do for Him after the custom of the Law. And when they had performed all things according to the Law of the Lord (Luke 2:22-24, 27, 39). In John:-- Moses in the Law commanded us that such should be stoned (John 8:5). The Law was given by Moses (John 1:17). From these passages it appears that where such things are spoken of as are written in the books of Moses, they are sometimes called "the Law," and sometimes "Moses." (So also in Matt. 8:4; Mark 10:2-4; 12:19; Luke 20:28, 37; John 3:14; 7:19, 51; 8:17; 19:7.) Many things that were commanded also, are called by Moses "the Law," as: Concerning the burnt-offerings (Lev. 6:9; 7:37). Concerning the sacrifices (Lev. 6:25; 7:1-11). Concerning the meat-offering (Lev. 6:14). Concerning leprosy (Lev. 14:2). Concerning jealousy (Num. 5:29, 30). Concerning the Naziriteship (Num. 6:13, 21). And Moses himself calls his books "the Law:"-- Moses wrote this Law, and delivered it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who bare the ark of the covenant of Jehovah; and he said to them, Take the Book of this Law, and put it at the side of the ark of the covenant of Jehovah (Deut. 31:9, 11, 26). It was placed at the side, because within the ark were the tables of stone, which in a restricted sense are the Law. Afterwards the books of Moses are called "The Book of the Law":-- And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the Book of the Law in the house of Jehovah. And when the king had heard the words of the Book of the Law, he rent his garments (2 Kings 22:8, 11; 23:24). L 10 . That by "the Law," in the widest sense, are meant all things of the Word, is evident from these passages:--Jesus said, Is it not written in your Law, I said, Ye are gods? (John 10:34). (This is written in Ps. 82:6.) The multitude answered Him, We have heard out of the Law, that the Christ abideth forever (John 12:34). (This is written in Ps. 89:29; 110:4; and in Dan. 7:11, 14.) That the word might be fulfilled that is written in their Law, They hated Me without a cause (John 15:25) (This is written in Ps. 35:19.) The Pharisees said, Have any of the rulers believed on Him? But this multitude that knoweth not the Law are cursed (John 7:48, 49). It is easier for heaven and earth to pass than for one tittle of the Law to fall (Luke 16:17). (Here "the Law" means all Holy Scripture.) L 11 . That the statement that the Lord fulfilled all things of the Law means that He fulfilled all things of the Word, is evident from passages where it is said that the Scripture was fulfilled by Him, and that all things were consummated: as from the following:--Jesus went into the synagogue, and stood up to read, and there was delivered to Him the book of the prophet Isaiah, and He unrolled the book, and found the place where it is written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me, He hath sent Me to preach the gospel to the poor, to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And He rolled up the book and said, This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears (Luke 4:16-21). Search the Scriptures, for they testify of Me (John 5:39). That the Scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with Me hath lifted up his heel against Me (John 13:18). None of them is lost, but the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled (John 17:12). That the word might be fulfilled which He spake, Of them whom Thou gavest Me have I lost none (John 18:9). Jesus said to Peter, Put up again thy sword into its place. How then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? But all this was done that the Scriptures of the Prophets might be fulfilled (Matt. 26:52, 54, 56). The Son of Man goeth as it is written of Him, that the Scriptures be fulfilled (Mark 14:21, 49). Thus the Scripture was fulfilled which saith, He was accounted among the transgressors (Mark 15:28; Luke 22:37). That the Scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They divided My garments among them, and upon my under-vesture did they cast a lot (John 19:24). After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now consummated, that the Scripture might be fulfilled (John 19:28). When Jesus had received the vinegar, He said, It is consummated, that is, fulfilled (John 19:30). These things were done, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, A bone of Him shall not be broken. And again another Scripture saith, They shall look on Him whom they pierced (John 19:36, 37). Besides other places, where passages are adduced from the Prophets, without its being at the same time said that the Law, or the Scripture, was fulfilled. That all the Word has been written about the Lord, and that He came into the world to fulfill it, He also taught His disciples before His departure, in these words:-- Jesus said to His disciples, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to suffer these things, and to enter into His glory? And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself (Luke 24:25-27). Jesus said to His disciples, These are the words which I spake unto you while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning Me (Luke 24:44). That in the world the Lord fulfilled all things of the Word, even to the veriest singulars of it, is evident from these His own words:-- Verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall not pass from the law, till all things be accomplished (Matt. 5:18). From these passages it may now be clearly seen that by its being said that the Lord fulfilled all things of the law is not meant that He fulfilled all the commandments of the decalogue, but that He fulfilled all things of the Word. |
