The Law

In an attempt to answer a few questions about the law we can look at Mat 11:25-30. Believers are not to be weighed down by the law because we are saved by grace through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. In 1 Timothy 1:9-10 the law is used not for the righteous but for the sinners. Though we are all sinners, we are not all righteous. We of course could be changed in a flash and through that change become righteous through Christ. How is it that the law should be used for the sinners of which we all are?

Matthew Henry writes regarding Matthew 11 that “It is the duty and interest of weary and heavy laden sinners to come to Jesus Christ. Renouncing all those things which stand in opposition to him, or in competition with him, we must accept of him, as our Physician and Advocate, and give up ourselves to his conduct and government; freely willing to be saved by him, in his own way, and upon his own terms. Come and cast that burden upon him, under which thou art heavy laden. This is the gospel call, The Spirit saith, Come; and the bride saith, Come; let him that is athirst come; Whoever will, let him come” (Blue Letter Bible, 2008).

The first point that is to be understood is that indeed we all do sin and that stands in opposition to God. These sins are our burdens that we are to freely give to the Lord. Without the law how would we understand what our burdens are or what sin is? We truly are in need of God’s law to help us understand what it is that we need to lay at His feet.

Matthew Henry’s commentary regarding 1 Timothy 1:9-10 states that “…whatever tends to weaken either our love to God or love to the brethren tends to defeat the end of the commandment…” and that “…the main purpose of the law is the love of God…” (Blue Letter Bible, 2008). If the law is used in the spirit of condemnation, to bring burdens upon people and to hold them back from being complete in Christ by reminding them of previous violations of the law this is detrimental to the believer. When the law is used for correcting and rebuking the believer in an effort to restore him or her to the truth, this would be beneficial to the entire body of Christ for learning and for edification. For the unbeliever it is obvious that the law MUST be used in such a method of love that the unbeliever’s heart would be touched in such a way to cause an understanding first of God’s love and then second of his or her own sinfulness that is contrary to God. Only through the understanding of God’s love is there repentance.

Matthew Henry cautions us not to defeat the purpose of love, “Those therefore who boasted of their knowledge of the law, but used it only as a colour for the disturbance that they gave to the preaching of the gospel (under pretence of zeal for the law, dividing the church and distracting it), defeated that which was the very end of the commandment, and that is love, love out of a pure heart, a heart purified by faith, purified from corrupt affections” (Blue Letter Bible, 2008).
He further comments that having a pure heart, good conscience and faith is something that must be exercised every day so that we do not end up teaching others things that we do not know. He especially cautions ministers not to, “…swerve from the great law of charity-the end of the commandment [because] they will turn aside to vain jangling…” which is, “unprofitable and useless” (Blue Letter Bible, 2008). He further states that, “…if we could keep the law, righteousness would be by the law (Gal. 3:21)” (Blue Letter Bible, 2008). That would mean that works would win us to Christ and as believers we know our works have no bearing upon our salvation. Is this another can of worms? We are truly saved by His grace, no matter our works, that the law would have no power over us because the law is sin and sin is death and death will not have the final say nor will it have any type of victory over the believer. We will look to death and say, “Where death is your sting?” Through the power of grace we are able to overcome the power of the lawless one that constantly holds the law over our heads in an effort to thwart the love of God towards His children. Mr. Henry is right when he says that, “It is the grace of God that changes men’s hearts” (Blue Letter Bible, 2008). And that being said, it is not the law, but the fulfilling of the law that changes our walks believers and non-believers alike.


Scriptures for further study:
Rom 8:1-9 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

1Cr 15:48-58 As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven. I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed–
in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true:

“Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
“Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Blue letter bible. (2008). Henry Commentaries. Retrieved August 8, 2008, from
http://blueletterbible.org/Comm/mhc/Mat/Mat011.html

Blue letter bible. (2008). Henry Commentaries. Retrieved August 8, 2008, from
http://blueletterbible.org/Comm/mhc/1Ti/1Ti001.html

Blue letter bible. (2008). Scripture. Retrieved August 8, 2008, from
http://www.blueletterbible.org